I have had a tank with 24 red cherry shrimps in for around 3 month now. I wake up Tuesday morning to find small white things on the glass, they look and move like worms but again there is only rcs in the tank.. could they be babies?

Sounds like Planaria, I don't think they can cause harm to Shrimp but they are just unsightly, I'm not sure how to get rid of them but I do know that if you split them, one will turn into two.

Hi there,

 

do they look like this:

or this?

1st pics are ostracodes, small "shrimps", the 2nd are planarias, worms which can kill and eat shrimplets...

I had good luck cleaning 2 of my tanks, getting rid of planarias usinf a medecine against intestinal worms. The product here is called fluvermal (Flubendazole).

I have been looking at the tank again tonight and I have seen both in there! Is there a way to get rid of the bad ones without harming the small shrimplets and other shrimps in the tank? Also what are causes of them to come?

Planarias should have come with a plant or something else introduced in the tank, and not cleaned enough.

In my case, I remarked the planarias several days after I introduced catappa leaves in the tank. Now, not only I wash carefully the leaves, but I also "cook" them in the microwave.

As I said, I succesfully got rid of this pest using dewormer. Not sure you can find Fluvermal in your location - this is a french product - but some use No-Planaria, or pet dewormer.

See there: http://www.planetinverts.com/killing_planaria_and_hydra.html

If you have snails and love them, be aware that the treatment may kill them too.

 

Hope that helps ;)

Edited June 1, 201511 yr by Matuva

Thank you! :) I haven't introduced anything new into the tank just changed its location.. but I will try that treatment. I don't have snails no so I will just have try the treatment. Will they harm the shrimps that are already in the tank? And can the planaria be taken out the tank by cleaning? They are just on the glass at the moment.

If properly dosed, the treatment should not arm the shrimps and the shrimplets. Fenbendazole is dosed at 1 gram per 10 gallons.

I treated day 1 and again day 3, then did a 20% water change day 7. Pay special attention to not overdose. Tanks were and are still clear of planarias now... and no more ramshorn snails

You can try removing the planaria by hand, but do not cut them. One planaria cut in 2 will make 2 planarias.

Google will give you plenty of link for DYI planaria traps ;) 

Edited May 31, 201511 yr by Matuva

Interesting link here : http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=338898 , and there : http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=351649

Edited May 31, 201511 yr by Matuva

IMO over feeding is one of the most common ways to get planaria. You can buy a product called no-planaria. I usually try dosing at half the recommended dosage. The most important thing is to follow the directions and it is apparently shrimp safe. I would cut back on feeding as well. Planaria will kill shrimp and especially shrimplets. You can also buy planaria traps and there are threads on this site about this exact subject. The photo of the branch has seed shrimp. These will not harm shrimp they just dont look nice especially if there are loads of them. They are also caused by over feeding.  IMO I would say it is a combination of overfeeding and lack of water changes that has caused your problem. 

No planaria will kill snails and maybe catch and put elsewhere while treating. 

Water changes will help just don't do big water changes. Shrimp prefer stability. 

if you want a tried and tested product which will kill them and not harm your shrimp you will want to get this product called internal parasite clear. Majority of use here use it and if you do a search on the forum you will find alot of the reviews all being positive.

http://www.aquariumonlinestore.com.au/products-page/medications-additives/internal-parasite-clear-50g/

Might be rhabdocoeola instead of planaria, harmless in that case.

http://globalworming.umaine-biology.net/platyhelm.htm

Planaria (tricladida) have a triangular shaped end.

Edited June 1, 201511 yr by Matuva

I had an outbreak of planaria in a couple of tanks. Didn't want to use any chemicals ( the cat drinks out of the tank LOL). I added some peppered cories, and now there don't seem to be any more planaria. Probably not the recommended treatment, and I don't know if any shrimp were eaten, but there are still plenty of shrimp so not a problem.

The Corys will be fine with the adult shrimp but will probably eat the babies. I have a pair that live in my cull tank . The shrimp sit right next to them however I have seen the Corys chase babies so not the best solution

I had an outbreak of planaria in a couple of tanks. Didn't want to use any chemicals ( the cat drinks out of the tank LOL). I added some peppered cories, and now there don't seem to be any more planaria. Probably not the recommended treatment, and I don't know if any shrimp were eaten, but there are still plenty of shrimp so not a problem.

​I wouldn't leave them in the cories will definately eat your shrimp. I lost 100 plus red cherries. At the time I wasn't overly concerned but eventually they were all eaten.  That is definately planaria.

Edited June 1, 201511 yr by Callan