Little Black Worm - Escaped...

[Ohyouknow]

120g Freshwater Tank, housing 1 T. Lineatus, 1 malawi cichlid, and 1 rainbow shark. Last WC was 9/21 (50%) - Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 10. 1 Shrimp and 1 scallop per meal, once a day, skipping 1 day a week (varies, last skip day was Sunday.)

Today, I put in my scallop and shrimp, along with 3 cichlid pellets (the shark and cichlid both eat those, as well as 'tidy up' anything Vicious leaves behind.) After dropping in food, (which is frozen, and thawed in a bit of tank water prior to feeding, and chomped before hitting bottom) I noticed a black worm. It was grayish black, and moved like an inch worm over my fahaka's side, above his eye, and down onto his face before I was able to try and knock it off (which I did, and I lost it... in the tank. Daughter was having a meltdown over me being mean to the worm...)

I was not able to get a picture, or even see it extremely well enough to describe it other than black - I know, crappy description.

Any ideas on what it could be, or what it is I should look for? Think it is something to be concerned about?

[eieio]

a leech?
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:fYqD ... eeches.gif

[Ohyouknow]

I seemed to have found one - it was on the glass, above the water line. It seems to be ALL black, body more of a dark gray.

[Cuchulainn]

If U never feed any worms to the fish in that tank, I too would be alarmed. Doesn't sound like U are over feeding at all, but wheres that "worm guy" JP he may know what it is.....
U have found two worms so far in the tank? Where any of them alive still?

[Ohyouknow]

I used to feed frozen bloodworms, but that's it. I really doubt it's those. I have 2 - alive - in a little plastic baggie... I might make a run to the pet store soon, see if they know? (Not that you can trust everything they say, but still might be some food for thought.)

In better light, they almost look like tiny caterpillars. Almost... hairy? I wish my camera would take a picture of them... I'll keep looking - They look 'grey' because it's like they have lighter white stripes across the body. I haven't seen any wounds on any of the fish. I think it MIGHT be planaria. My yellow cichlid dropped eggs everywhere the other day - and upon further inspection it looks like my rainbow shark is like a puppy (watched him drag a chunk of scallop off into his rocky abode. I thought it all got eaten, maybe the stashing and stray eggs are being 'enough' overfeeding? (Although I'm thinking the cichlid ate the eggs, or most of them at least. Tempted to try getting a male in there too - but have a feeling that'll turn out bad.)

Interesting read, though:
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/man ... Worms.html

[Cuchulainn]

its interesting that U say they move like an inch worm and are hairy-they sound like a terrestrial animal of sorts. I had aphids using one of my small shrimp/kreb tanks as a breeding ground this past summer when I had it in my sun room amongst all my flowering plants-hope the worms are harmless

[Ohyouknow]

I'm not SURE they are hairy. They are quite small, they seem fuzzy, almost... kind of. I don't know. I want a 2nd opinion - but my three year old will have a melt down if I have them in a baggie LOL... (hence pet store idea)

[J-P]

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/worm/oligo.html

could that be your guy? They do appear banded and hairy

If so they are related to earthworms and are harmless.. probably a hitchhiker from some plants.

[J-P]

Also see:
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/ccn/info/Scie ... S/xxv.html

http://www.micrographia.com/specbiol/he ... ig0100.htm

all part of th Oligochaeta class

[Ohyouknow]

These are all dark, those are all transparent. It's not like stuff in their gut coloring either. It's like, if they stretch out, you can see lighter stripes - faintly. However, the bristles/feet action looks similar, just all very dark. I have a feeling that they have been hunted and eaten by my fahaka too - as the plants have been quite mauled (huge chunks missing, and some of the fake plants missing parts now too.) He hadn't been attacking plants for quite some time.

[J-P]

that particular pic.. yes they are clear, but the also come in brown and red.. only Phylum Annelida is transparent.

their "fuzzies" help them move through the water. I have the feeling it is similar to Lisa's red worm. Same sub class, different family