Those tiny wiggly worms in your tank !

[andy_s]

Thanks Samir, i've been keeping discus for around 12 mths and only recently have had the same problem.

I've treated it for anchor gill (twice) and ripped out all my planting in case it was eggs within the roots etc.

From your post it looks like it was my sand base (about 3 inches deep) - i took that out about 1 week ago and the problem seems to have gone.

It's just nice to know the cause of the problem

[worliman]

hi samir,

worliman again, i think i am haveing the same problem ?, thanx once again. keep up da good work.

worliman

[oscar]

Quarter inch of substrate

Cripes.

[actinicblue]

good info! thanks

[montelovers]

We were also suggested to use pearl gouramis to take care of our problem with a couple of tanks. After introducing a small pair in each of the tanks, the problem (planaria) disappeared after 2 days. Haven't seen any planaria reappear either.
We move the gouramis to the affected tanks as needed. When they're done, we move them back out to the community tank. Worked like a charm.. for us anyway.

[Ghoti]

Is this planaria thing particular to Discus?

I've had community tropicals in planted tanks and malawi cichlids and always had at least 10cm (4 inches) of substrate and never seen these worms. However I do weekly water changes and maintain ammonia and nitrites at zero (or very little over) and nitrates below 40ppm.

good luck, good management or just yet to have discus?

Cheers,
Scott

[swampy1972]

I've heard the Shrimp keepers talking about planaria, so I'm not sure they're specific to Discus. I've only seen them once in my tanks.

[BigDaddyAdo]

They have nothing to do with the fish. They can appear in any tank.

[AhBee562]

good info :0 i learned somthing today haha

[newdiscusfanatics]

Hi any advice on getting rid of nematodes with out risk of harming fish?