A Plan For Planaria

[@FishForThought]

very good to know that trap actually seems to work quite well! might need to use it if I ever get those little buggers in my cherry shrimp tank.

[@Iamaguienapig]

I’d do it if I knew my other fish would eat them yeah. My Betta definitely would. He’d eat the dog if he could. 😂

[@WeldonTanks]

So glad you shared this! You do not get enough recognition for the content you produce.

[@KZ.Ellis1]

Wel-Don Tanks couldn’t have said it better myself!

[@FrederickDunn]

I'm very pleased to learn of the species of fish that ingest the Planaria. That seems like a great way to recycle them into another habitat where they would be less harmful. I'm sold on the trapping method you've demonstrated here. I agree, it's unsettling to observe them in a tank of fish and knowing they may predate on snails is another vote for trapping them out. Thanks a lot!

[@FrederickDunn]

I'm sorry you've had problems getting back to work. I'm a photographer and cinematographer and took a 70% income hit last year. It's hard indeed.

[@plcc07777]

As for me, I prefer the trap and would only use the poison as a very last resort. Stay positive, Shawn and remember, We're all in this together.

[@martyking6942]

Planaria are excellent bioindicators. Aquatic pollution can be measured using aquatic fauna like freshwater planarians which is only present in unpolluted streams or lakes. You have excellent water quality in that aquarium. I wouldn't upset the balance by killing the planaria. You stated you have lots of baby shrimp in that tank so the planaria probably aren't doing much harm to the shrimp population. Rather than possibly upsetting the balance of that aquarium I would continue to trap the planaria and feed them to you're known planaria eaters. Trapping will reduce the planaria population and give you lots of free live food. Thank you for taking the time to make the video. Looking forward to an update.

[@FitLabb]

Been watching your videos for at least a couple years and this was a very good topic that I’m glad you covered. Thank you for continuously producing valuable content like you do. As a new fitness content creator myself, I can appreciate just how much time and effort goes into making each and every video, so thank you for doing this so consistently for so long! You’re an asset to the aquarium hobbyists out there and have a great down-to-earth genuine way about you that makes it enjoyable to watch your videos. Wish you all the best with your work situation, and hope you and your family are staying safe & healthy in these crazy times. If you ever need health or fitness advice during these times or beyond, you now know a fellow aquarium hobbyist who also doubles as a celebrity trainer, and I’m also regularly making free videos that can help you out! Have a great day.

[@JS-gk9et]

The glass trap seems highly effective, and not ugly - nice. Wish work was back to normal for you. Hope you and family can make it through, and keep Sunday vids as well. Thanks.

[@tracys_plants]

Wow! Amazed at how many you caught so quickly. I love planaria, we studied them in biology years and years and years ago. They are fascinating. I doubt I’d love them in my tanks though. 😬. I think your plan to get the numbers down then treat is definitely the way to go. Loved this video aside from your roller coaster ride with your job.

[@Ashbear431]

I'm doing a homework assignment. Thank you for all the fun facts. I enjoyed it.

[@michaelagostino3483]

I have noticed 2 things that can help slow or lessen the rate Planaria population in my shrimp tanks. Both of these techniques have all but eliminated Planaria in my shrimp tanks. (1) Shrimp Lollies. These are wooden sticks like skewers that have various shrimp foods pasted on to them. You just shove the end that does not have the food on it in the ground and stand them straight up, within minutes my shrimp are all over them. Within 24 hours of putting them in the tank they are picked clean leaving behind just a wooden stick that is easily removable. The food does not fall off the lollies. I know that Flip Aquatics and HAN Aquatics sell them. Now if they have them in stock, order plenty, because they go out of stock fast and they offer at least 4 different varieties for your shrimp. (2) Use glass or some sort of feeding dish to lessen the spread of food in your tanks. I bought some glass cigarette ash trays (off Amazon think it was a 2 pack for like 4 bucks) for this. I bought the glass because they are heavier an stay in place easier plus with the glass you can watch your shrimp eat easier and checkout their health at the same time.

[@alegomanYTPs]

i dont like my shrimp eating all in the same spot because there is a chance that the babies could get caught in the feast and actually get accidentally eaten or injured by the adults

[@sal9842]

I love these kind of videos, how to help with the planted tank problem thanks so much this helps sooooo much . Wow sorry about job thing but hang in there seriously 👍 we all love you...not just as the only one of the best Chanel’s to watch an learn from but as a good friend . Still in prayer for you & your family.🙏

[@GMikeSEA]

Thank you so much for all you've contributed through the years. I've been a follower since your fluval spec 5 gallon video. It convinced me to buy one. Regarding the planaria, I had a cherry shrimp tank that was infested. I discovered that my blood parrot (in an adjacent tank) who had a voracious appetite, would eat them like candy. I would routinely remove them when they engulfed a shrimp pellet using the soda straw technique. Then empty the straw into the parrots tank. He always knew when I was about to do this and would go crazy in anticipation. So sorry to hear that your return to work has been delayed.

[@BigMacksTrains]

Thanks for making this video. I have been keeping fish for years and did not know that theses worms existed. I guess I need to take a look at my current tanks and see if I have them. Love the shirts. I have had people stop me and ask where I got them. Thanks again for all you do for the hobby.

[@TobyCreates]

I absolutely love my new Pecktec shirt! Great job with the design. It’s really the only way I can support you right now!

[@pecktec]

Thanks Toby no worries.

[@MridulSinghMusic]

That trap truly is a great way to catch planaria without killing them and leaving them to rot! I've fed planaria to guppies, endlers, mollies, badis, and some goodeids.

[@bingomole74]

I use the trap (actually 3) and they work a treat at keeping the numbers down. Most of the time I just dump all the caught planaria and not my goldfish tank. It and the Dojo’s pick them off over time. I’ve released quite a few hundred so far into the goldfish tank and have still never seen even one just walking (or whatever the verb is for a travelling flatworm is) around.

[@varadero99]

Thanks for yet another informatif video. Luckely i do not have the squirmy problem in my tank...😝 There is a light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel. Stay strong💪🏻 Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@XDproductionsXD]

Gosh ur tank is gorgeous. I haven't had a problem with Planaria...yet lol but now I know what to do. Thanks for sharing the stuff in your big brain!

[@CrazyAquariumGuy]

Sean my man. Google the product "No Planaria" game changing good. Made for shrimp experts! It even has a crystal red shrimp on the bag. I wrote a comment like this on your last video about this tank. 👍

[@livdriscoll3981]

Definitely going to try the traps- i juat spotted leeches annnnd a flat worm in my filter so want to not let that get out of control- thanks!

[@thebeastal111]

I'm a water filtration plant operator (public drinking water) dealing with water being my job got me into aquariums you love aquariums so maybe you would like being a plant operator. The field is generally short handed due to it being a 24/7 business, a lot of people simply refuse to work night shifts, have every other weekend off, or work 12 hour shifts. I work at a plant right outside Chattanooga if you ever want to come see what it's like or you may be able to find an operator closer to home that would show you around.

[@pecktec]

Thanks I’ll look into that.

[@eddification8388]

Thk u for the info and u have a very nice quality camera...I have these really thin white silk looking worms attaching themselves to the glass. So hence researching do I have planaria or detritus worms?

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Great video with great information. I had to treat a tank a while back and I used panacur C.. I did have two new nerite snails that really hadn't been in there very long,I was careful and successful at eliminating the planaria... But I did lose the snails... And thanks for the review on the trap.. I wondered if it even worked... It definitely would have been nice to have gotten some of those little buggers out before I used the dewormer... Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a great weekend! I'm going to check out the comments and see what others say😁

[@poketilecraft1015]

I’m glad to see the video and seed shrimp won’t bother the shrimp. I culture them in my shrimp tanks and when I need to feed fry I take some moss out of the shrimp tank, shake it off into the fry tank and the seed shrimp come out of the moss and feed the fry

[@FishRoomFever]

Great video! I need to get one of these into the Spec we set up. I've got blue dream neocaridinas in there with no fish and the planaria are taking advantage of that. I'll probably feed them to the fish in my tubs outside.

[@pecktec]

I have way more of those meds than I need if you decide to go the other way.

[@FishRoomFever]

@@pecktec Thank You!

[@jetjazz05]

My recommendation for feeding would be to give these guys bacter ae and beta glucan regularly. Flip aquatics swears by it, they said their fry survival rate goes way up, it promotes a nice thick biofilm on everything. The beta glucan is like a vitamin/immune booster for them but it does help some, I believe it might have things for their shells as well. These foods won't help feed the planaria at all. This means you'll starve them out while providing good biofilm and minerals for your shrimp.

[@AsianAmericanGuy]

Never been so sketched out to dip my hand into my tank until i found planaria. 1 of my oldest shrimp died so i was curious to figure out what happened searching around to find 20 crawling around the corpse.

[@SimoRicky]

My shrimp were doing so well. I had so many berried shrimp and so many baby shrimp growing up and suddenly they all started dropping one by one. I did change about 10 percent of their water about 4 times in one day because I found some(possibly) planaria and old food in hard to see places. I'm wondering if the water change might have killed them. There are still about 12 shrimp left but theyre just hanging onto hanging plants and barely moving around.

[@ManxDaddy839]

All my tanks are quarantine tanks now too. Just found these in a 20l with peacock gudgeon fry. Great video and hang in there brother. New sub.

[@patriciafarrow9586]

I'd be squeamish seeing all those worms, and I'd be concerned that they do not gain a foothold in a second tank! On a more personal note, we appreciate you doing these videos and wish you nothing but the best for the job market. [Have some family losing their rental, coming to live with us, so we know it can be tough].

[@pecktec]

Those two little Baddis fish eat every worm that pops up. So long as they keep doing that it should be ok. Thanks for your support. I’ll find a way through all this so no worries.

[@klcpca]

Wow! I had no idea they were that big!! Kinda remind me of leaches... eewwwww!!! I hope your job situation resolves it's self soon in some way.... all this COVID-19 stuff is sooooo nerve-racking... :(

[@lynnbonica4342]

Great video. Those things are sooo gross! I hope you manage to get rid of them. 👍😀✌🙏

[@gabsschneider8023]

This is so cool, thank you I have this problem and will get this awesome gadget. I will put the tube in my 90 where I have chain loaches that would love them. I would be so tempted to toss them in the trash too as they are so gross. 🤣 I didn’t want to use deworming products as they freak me out. Hang in there Sean, things will get better.. 🌻

[@koreancardboard]

I am using my first trap for the first time right now. Hopefully it will work as well as yours. Feeding shrimp once a day in a glass feeding dish. Thanks for the video!

[@jrob8071]

Wow! Been keeping aquariums since I was a kid- and I’ve never seen this (maybe because I’ve always had “meat eating” fish). Fascinating! I love the idea of using them as live food. So much less wasteful. Sorry about your job- best wishes to you and the family.

[@MrsBaRCa]

Awesome video! Thank you! I have the flex 15, heavily planted, with around 22-23 shrimps, 4 nerite snails and a betta, I noticed these evil worms when I threw algae wafers, I think i got these planaria from one of the plants from my LFS that I ended up throwing away because it did seem suspicious to, me I moved my betta and my snails "one of them sadly didnt make it" and I lost A LOT of my shrimps ended up with around 6. I did a massive cleaning, trimmped my plants and did a big water change then I used "Planaria zero" and added some danios, guess what! Most of the planaria were dead on my glass and the danios loved it! did not do any water change kept doing it for another week, If it wasnt for my plants massive growth, I wouldnt even notice the ammonia spike I had but my shrimps and the danios were fine and happy! still struggling with the baby planaria, just waiting for the traps I ordered! Hope that helped. ☺️

[@DropsOfLadyAku222]

EeeeeeeUuuuu 😆 this is an interesting video. Thanks for sharing

[@paulm0573]

Great video! I hope whatever personal issues you had 3 years ago are now all resolved. I bought No-Planaria which is a powder that you throw in your tank and it’s supposed to also kill planaria. I tried it last night and will check if it worked later. I also contemplated buying that planaria trap before but was worried it would also trap small baby shrimp. Did you find that happened with yours?

[@pecktec]

No the holes were so small only the worms got in. Also I did it facing the bottom so they crawled up from the gravel to get in.

[@chrissy24-7]

I got them in my 5g fluval and treated twice but the damn things are still going. I think I'll try that trap. Thank you! 💕 Wishing you the best of luck in getting sustainable work! 💕

[@charlettejackson7871]

Thank you for sharing this it answered a lot of questions I had

[@k9feces]

Your tank looks great, I drained mine due to planaria. They kill the shrimp during molt, they crawl inside and kill them. That trap is great, used to siphon them out.

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Where and how to empty the filled up tube?

[@pecktec]

I dumped mine in the yard. I just pull it out carefully and pore it in the grass.

[@crotchet1586]

Ive not seen any in my aquarium but Ive just ordered a trap to see if I do have them! Look like alien creatures!

[@edwinchang4493]

A glass feeding dish will help to keep the food in one area of the tank and prevent any leftovers from seeping to the substrate leading to secondary pests like planaria, ditritus worms and seed shrimps 👍🏻

[@l.chr.6653]

Wow! I'm really surprised so many Planaria went into the trap! In general, I think Planaria is disgusting and creepy. Hahaha! ;-) I was at my local pet store last week to buy cherry shrimps. When I came home with them and put the bag in the aquarium to prepare them for getting in my tank I saw that there were 2 Planaria in the bag! I hope they didn't come down in my tank. I did everything to avoid getting them in there!

[@botanicalsblackwaterbeyond8871]

I added some Rosey loaches to my tank ( dwarf rasbora with cherry shrimp ) it took a couple of weeks but no more planaria

[@haydenbraddock4246]

Do you know how long it might take for your aquarium to be safe to put snails back in after using the worm meds

[@yasukoherron2048]

With Penacur C treatment for hydra, how much % of water change do you recommend? Thank you.

[@TheSwiftCreek2]

Love the channel. I'm not an expert, but I have used Panacur before. If anything I used a little less than the recommended dose. It didn't kill my fish, left most of my shrimp alive, and only killed most of my snails. Overall the mass death's of the planaria and snails was a chore to overcome. I'm sure the "spike" may have had something to do with the affect on the shrimp and fish, but I felt like it was just less toxic to them than the snails and planaria. It took a long time for that tank to get back to having baby shrimp again. Just my two cents.

[@mr.octopus6972]

From what I have seen on a personal level, guppys won't eat planaria unless they're being starved to death. Nothing I've seen swimming in that tank stood a chance more than a few seconds exept planarias so I guess that they taste exeptionally bad. Over time I added platty, rasbora galaxy, rasbora emerald. Nothing worked. Last chance with the new cory crew that may just suck em right out of the sand (hopefully). Planarias aren't a big deal if you got no shrimp, fry or expensive snails tho they're never a pretty sight. My best advise is to quarantine everything you add to your tank for a couple of weeks. Planarias may be brought in by everything, mostly plants but also sand, rocks ....

[@r.c.brousseau9655]

Interesting and concise video. Very nice tank!

[@Zaku186]

Only downside of seed shrimp is they share food with the regular shrimp. you can get a turkey baster and suck up some seed shrimp and feed them to fish though.

[@icywolf9923]

I have this problem in my betta tank. I have some shrimp in there with the betta, the betta doesn't seem interested in the worms. I bought one on Amazon, just waiting for it to come in now.

[@sazji]

I have planaria in my tank and I’ll probably try your approach - trap first and if they remain a problem i’ll try the dewormer. I’ve seen the no planaria product but 1) it’s really expensive and 2) people say it tends to stick in the tank for a long time even after multiple water changes.

[@mixalislol5994]

Celestial pearl danios are great for planaria they destroy their populations although they might also eat some baby shrimp buy if you have alot of hiding spots and mostly plants it will be fine, although if it is a shrimp only tank you can put them for 24 hours with full lighting and they will do a great job!

[@nicksantitoro]

If you could do a video on shrimp keeping, that would be amazing. There are so many people out there saying they’ll be fine in tap water, and also so many people saying to only use ro water with remineralizer. I would really like to hear how you are so successful. I would really like to try a shrimp tank some day.

[@purplephoenix4969]

It depends on the shrimp and your tap water. If your tap water makes the tank have the right gh and pH, then things like Neocaridina and Amanos are often fine in tap water. For most types of Caridina, they need a very specific set of parameters so you need to use RO water.

[@reidsorensen4634]

What do you use as bait for the planaria trap?

[@pecktec]

Meaty foods like blood worms work well. I used a shrimp based frozen food I had.

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

A wonderful video. Never seen a trap like that. Kewl to see the Badis enjoy them.

[@_ssinghh]

i lost a huge cherry shrimp colony due to these worms 😬😬 capture and release worked best for me also i added a 3 siamese algae eater i think that might have helped too

[@quantumuniverse11]

I've been tackling white worms, tons of them, not sure what kind they are because they are so small to get a good ID. I am currently on a 2 week schedule of every 2 days doing a major water change with heavy gravel vac. It seems to be working. The de-wormer will not be good for the fish I have. I am also using the traps, although not catching many in them. I also heard someone mention that the worms don't like water changes. I am not sure where they came from. Fingers crossed that my efforts will get rid the majority of them.

[@phreakerbythespeaker9902]

Is there a demand for this sort of trap? I'm a MN glassblower always looking for a new project. The possibilities are endless..

[@nancyware2620]

If not the trap, perhaps you could make inlet/outlet fittings, or, small sculptures to put into tanks. Good luck.

[@ericj1500]

Man those things are gross looking haha. Badis seem to love them too though, have a great weekend brother man.

[@chopin999]

'no planaria', which is betel nut extract is super effective for this. kills everything in the flatworm family, totally shrimp/shrimplet and fish safe

[@brianthedisabledaquarist7959]

Throw the flat worms out after collecting for sure.

[@sergioricardopereira]

In my personal tank, i have to deal also with planaria...and I had baby shrimps in the same time and the planaria and also hydra kill them all... used the trap to clear some for about 4 days before use NO PLANARIA... worked well and clean them all... planaria and Hydra... just don´t forget to use active carbon after to clean the medication from the water... Regards from Portugal

[@purplephoenix4969]

Could baby shrimp get stuck in the trap too, or just the Planaria?

[@Loafy23]

We're rooting for you!

[@chevyfish4028]

Thanks for the info. I'm quite surprised at the number of planaria that got into the tube. You mentioned badis and endlers as fish that eat planaria, do you know of others that are proven planaria eaters? I wouldn't flush them or put them down the sink into the water system. I'd probably boil water and erase them that way and then put the dead ones outside as plant fertilizer. Thanks for the interesting video. Amazing little pests.

[@pecktec]

I’ve done the trap twice more since the video and it’s a little less every time.

[@pecktec]

The endlers don’t really like them much but some on here have mentioned chilly rasboras. I put a tube in my twenty long (under my guitars) and all of them ate them.

[@AniMerci]

I would never knowingly throw a worm of any kind down the sink!

[@pecktec]

They just go down to the water treatment plant and die there.

[@andystokes8702]

I would certainly put the trap into a second tank that contained fish that would eat them but I would only do it in a bare bottomed tank. Unless the fish you are feeding is guaranteed to get them all you could well be just infecting a second tank if they are able to crawl out and into the substrate.

[@pecktec]

Both of the tanks I would put it in have fish that will eat them on sight or I wouldn’t risk it.

[@BlakesAquatics]

Rough news about your work Sean. Hope it works out for you soon

[@pecktec]

Me too!

[@SonnyVu-d8n]

It's hidden inside your shrimp when u buy them and they blend in with the color of what they eat

[@soogymoogi]

I think planarians are cute and amazing animals, but yeah, if I had a problem, I'd probably trap 'em and feed them to my fish 😂

[@faisalmiah365]

I have these wormlike things in my aquarium, not sure if they are planaria or not, will they harm my fish?

[@faisalmiah365]

My aquarium is currently empty, ive just finished a fishless cycle, no fish or live plants, not sure how they got there in the first plant?

[@thenaturecreater8906]

I was so happy when you say that you going back to work. I home to. Not been working for 3 months. Does somthing to your head. Feeling like a nobody 😌

[@Iamaguienapig]

If you feel like that about work, you need something else in your life.

[@thenaturecreater8906]

@@Iamaguienapig thats right.

[@pecktec]

Your a great aquascaper I can tell from that your creative most people don’t have that brag about. So chin up. We are not valued by the jobs we have alone. And you certainly aren’t a nobody to me.

[@thenaturecreater8906]

You are to kind. Thank you. That ment alot. 🥰

[@chrissy24-7]

I don't see the link for the trap?

[@pecktec]

I got mine locally. They may be on the seven ports web page.

[@zackmorisco1854]

They killed all my baby shrimps. I only had adults left. I treated it with flubinol. It does also kills snails.

[@AhmadH-x4y]

What did you use for your trap?

[@pecktec]

Blood worms

[@LadyKej]

Oh gross!!! This is one video that I had to just listen to, and not watch. I can't take it...I think I'd have to set the whole thing on fire and start over.

[@pecktec]

Lol ahh it’s just lil squirmes.

[@LadyKej]

pecktec 😂

[@chubzaquatics257]

Very cool

[@samwoods8643]

I fed planaria to my betta’s. They absolutely loved them.

[@finnic7959]

Could probably cook them before feeding if you don't want them infesting your tank.

[@joewwilliams]

I've tried feeding these to a few fish and they don't eat them. Was confident the pea puffers would but they seem to totally ignore them...

[@pecktec]

Yeah my puffers did too. My gobys like them a lot.

[@muhammadrauf2600]

*Funfact* : if you cut a planaria into pieces, each piece will regenerate into new planaria! And they could also be immortal! (I might be wrong at this though)

[@emilyo2985]

You’re supposed to dispose of them away from water. Not down the toilet or drain. Outside where they’ll die.

[@cleveraqua8507]

i would love to see the fishes eating it. I have planaria issues on my live food moinas tank. I don't have it on my aquariums, i wonder if it is the fishes eating them

[@pecktec]

Well I do show my fish eating them in the video. Some will and some won’t. But a lot of fish do like them.

[@tonyp8762]

Hey man, it'll be soon, don't worry.

[@pugamusmaximus]

This guy added roast beef to the planaria trap and got a ton out. That tube was nasty.

[@ahmed_169]

respect from libya

[@Loafy23]

Seed Shrimp aren't a pest. Scuds are though.

[@pnw_element9822]

I can’t stand those lil white worms in my shrimp tank

[@KuyaFincher]

U can buy this on wish for $4-12

[@UnheatednoProblem]

there is multiple kinds of planaria there is predatory and detrivore you more then likely have the second altho i am not knowledgable enough to tell you

[@UnheatednoProblem]

i also would never put them in another tank they reproduce to rapidly

[@dsayers586]

KEEP UP THE GREAT VIDEOS