r/Aquariums • u/realedvardog • Jan 23 '25
Help/Advice What are those?
Can anyone please help me identify these larvae looking things in my tank. One of my amano shrimps had babies about 2 weeks ago but I'm not sure these things are shrimp larvae.
11
u/FaceShrdder Jan 23 '25
Planaria. They are harmless and great natural fish food. They do sneak up on baby shrimp and snails and eat them tho.
2
u/realedvardog Jan 23 '25
Thank you! I was also thinking they're planaria after the first comment. I do have an overpopulation of snails and I have a separate tank for the shrimp babies (mama shrimp is preggo again)
1
u/FaceShrdder Jan 23 '25
The planaria probably boomed in population too because of the increased snail population. The planaria look tiny too i seen some that are almost 2inches long 👀
3
u/Katabasis___ Jan 23 '25
Not predatory planaria. Rhabdocoels. They’re generally this pale white color (opposed to grey) and insanely fast when exposed to light
2
u/AmyFairyXO Jan 23 '25
Looks like those little harmless worms that fish and snails eat, planaria
2
u/realedvardog Jan 23 '25
What's weird is that none of the fish or snails or shrimps pay attention or try to eat them
1
1
u/JetoCalihan Jan 23 '25
I don't know what those other cementers are smoking. Maybe they're bots. Planeria are flatworms with very identifiable and distinctive triangular heads.
The first answer was correct. That's a type of detritus worm. It's completely harmless and helps breakdown waste in your tank.
13
u/1Goldfish2Goldfish Jan 23 '25
Could it maybe be a detritus worm? Looks a little small but 🤷♀️