Attack of the worms

[jojowhisky]

Hello all,

Is anyone able to id this worm?

Im not sure if it is the dreaded planaria or harmless rhabdocoela??

Just dosed my shrimp tank with planaria meds 2 days ago but these are still alive?!

I have shrimplets in my tank so im pretty panicky about these worms.

 

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These are the pictures, tried my hardest to get a clear shot. Sorry for the bad photo skills.

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[jayc]

I'm going to borrow a picture from the interwebs for this question.

Planaria have an arrow shaped head. Rhabdocoela on the other hand has a rounded head.

 

What planaria meds did you use?

It should have worked for Rhabdocoela as well.

If you can, use Planaria Zero from Benibachi. They use Betel nut extract, which is a natural remedy for flatworms.

And is much safer than Panacur C or Fenbendazole.

 

If you are worried for the shrimplets, use half dose. Do a 50% water change 2 days later (don't skip this).Gravel vac if you can. Then repeat dose and water change 2 days later to get those hiding under the substrate. If you can, stir the gravel/substrate during the treatment.

Make sure there is plenty of surface agitation for oxygen exchange throughout the treatment period.

Edited November 15, 2018 by jayc

[Zoidburg]

Definitely rhabdocoela flatworms. They don't get any bigger. Planaria do grow larger, though. Hit or miss if products that kill planaria will also kill these guys.

[jojowhisky]

I'm going to borrow a picture from the interwebs for this question.
Planaria have an arrow shaped head. Rhabdocoela on the other hand has a rounded head.

 
What planaria meds did you use?
It should have worked for Rhabdocoela as well.
If you can, use Planaria Zero from Benibachi. They use Betel nut extract, which is a natural remedy for flatworms.
And is much safer than Panacur C or Fenbendazole.
 
If you are worried for the shrimplets, use half dose. Do a 50% water change 2 days later (don't skip this).Gravel vac if you can. Then repeat dose and water change 2 days later to get those hiding under the substrate. If you can, stir the gravel/substrate during the treatment.
Make sure there is plenty of surface agitation for oxygen exchange throughout the treatment period.

Hey jayc,
I used planaria off!
Its a drug from thailand, smells like betal nut extract (rather earthy kind of smell), couldnt get benibachi as it was sold out everywhere. Have ordered it from japan. Item will reach prob next week.
The other product available here is borneo wild's exterminate but the package recommends you remove all shrimp in it i think, cant do that now without leaving out some coz the tank has fry all over the place.
From what i read, rhabdocoela does not die from planaria treatments? I dont know if i should be happy abt this coz it could mean they are not planaria and im jus a paranoid mess.

I did increase the surface agitation (spray bar tilted higher) and airstone. Got it real good into the substrate (coz im paranoid). Took a reading last night and the ammonia level was >0.05ppm, im also not seeing dead bodies.

Im happy to leave them alone if its rhabdocoela but if they are planaria they got to go!!!!!

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[jojowhisky]

Definitely rhabdocoela flatworms. They don't get any bigger. Planaria do grow larger, though. Hit or miss if products that kill planaria will also kill these guys.

You think so?! So they are not planaria?
This is great news, have been so worried abt the situation. I have as well read that planaria treatments will not kill rhabdocoela.
Because after i dosed the treatment, i did not see any casualties. Also my ammonia readings are so low. And they are crawling around, real real small flatworms.
Cant seem to see a triangular head with 2 eye dots, they look round to me.
Its a joke, when you are paranoid, your eyes tell you its a triangular head but ur head tells you its a round head (bonkers)

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[Zoidburg]

No Planaria, Planaria Zero and now Planaria Off? LOL So many names!

Yes, it's rhabdocoela flatworms. You can tell because a) they are small and b) they don't have a triangle shaped head. Someone actually took a good photo of planaria in substrate near some shrimp. They can get larger than this. (not my photo!)

[jojowhisky]

No Planaria, Planaria Zero and now Planaria Off? LOL So many names!
Yes, it's rhabdocoela flatworms. You can tell because a) they are small and b) they don't have a triangle shaped head. Someone actually took a good photo of planaria in substrate near some shrimp. They can get larger than this. (not my photo!)

And really expensive all these planaria treatments!! Such good money strategy!
Anyways, that picture the planarian is already too big for my comfort if you are saying they can get bigger, i know i would really freak out if those were in my tank. Creepy!!!!!!


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[jayc]

I see you bought that at Polyart!

You must be Singaporean. Polyart is one of my fav shops to visit when I'm in Singapore.

I have not heard of planaria off! so can't comment how good it is.

At least it is not planaria.

 

Minimise the food that falls in the cracks of the substrate. That might help. But it can be difficult when you have to feed baby shrimps. 

 

[jojowhisky]

I see you bought that at Polyart!
You must be Singaporean. Polyart is one of my fav shops to visit when I'm in Singapore.
I have not heard of planaria off! so can't comment how good it is.
At least it is not planaria.
 
Minimise the food that falls in the cracks of the substrate. That might help. But it can be difficult when you have to feed baby shrimps. 
 

Yep singaporean!
This product i could say it is a good product, though we have established that i have rhabdocoela instead, this product DID NOT KILL the berried and baby shrimps.
So this is indeed shrimp safe. ( just like the uncle at the lfs assured).
Just gotta increase surface agitation, do not overdose and also THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR FISH. Shopkeeper told me somebody killed their discus because he dosed this in his discus tank:(
You would wanna mix this well in some of your tank water prior to pouring the mixed solution into the tank as this does not dissolve instantly in the tank.
Just so glad i dont have them killer wormies in my tank, nasty little buggers they are[emoji1785]

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