Help Id on this invert, flatworm or leech?

[tsmith_old_guard]

I just planted this aquarium 2 weeks ago. I have a dozen Amano shrimp for algae control, no other fish or shrimp. This will be a neocaridina shrimp tank once its seasons. I got into the office early today, before the aquarium lights went on and I saw 3 of these guys swimming in the water column. Once the lights came on, they disappeared quickly. I was concerned that this flatworm of whatever type might be predatory toward shrimp the way leaches and planaria can be. I figure I need to medicate the tank. My LFS recommended Flatworm eXit by salifert. I have some. I wanted to see if anyone might help me identify it. Honestly, once my plants had filled in and I was done planting, I was going to nuke the tank with fenbendazole to make sure there were no hydra, planaria, snails, etc. before I introduced neocaridina shrimp. Thoughts, suggestions, treatments, etc.?

 

[Koan]

mosquito larvae!!

Bigger fish will eat them , but in the meantime I would net them out before they turn into fliers and come after you

 

[tsmith_old_guard]

mosquito larvae!!

Bigger fish will eat them , but in the meantime I would net them out before they turn into fliers and come after you

It’s not mosquito larva. I currently have some of those in a jar and this different. Way too thick for mosquito larva. As an interning side note, I do have bloodworms, they hatch out as midge fly and mate and start the cycle again.

 

[tsmith_old_guard]

Well, the die is now cast. I came into the office today to check on the aquarium and I saw a bunch of transparent flatworms on the glass, which I am assuming are planaria. I don't have any fish in the aquarium to pick them off so I am nuking the tank with Flatworm Exit.

 

[JayP]

I had Planaria in my nano shrimp tank and of the 2 products I tried, No-Planaria is the one that did the trick. Lots of shriveled up planaria on the glass 24 hours later and I then did another treatment a week later and more shriveled up. Haven't seen any more since and the shrimp and plants were unaffected.

I would try to get a good look at them with a magnifier. Planaria have distinct triangular heads while other detritus worms do not.

 

[Koan]

currently have some of those in a jar and this different. Way too thick for mosquito larva

That crazy thrashing movement is classic for mosquito larvae, and there are 180+ species of them in the eastern US. All different sizes and shapes,

 

[hamfist]

Well, the die is now cast. I came into the office today to check on the aquarium and I saw a bunch of transparent flatworms on the glass, which I am assuming are planaria. I don't have any fish in the aquarium to pick them off so I am nuking the tank with Flatworm Exit.

Don't assume they are planaria. If they don't have that recognisable triangular head then they are simply harmless Rhabdocoela ......

 

[tsmith_old_guard]

I think they may be Rhabdocoeia, it's been years since I had a aquarium and I always had some tetras, platties, or angel fish in the tank, so I never saw and meiofauna. I tried to catch some but it was like trying to scoop up mucous, didn't work very well. They have/had a very squishy watery body. Thanks for the feedback. I think you are correct. @hamfist