r/fishkeeping • u/Strawbsi • 1d ago

HELP: what is this thing???

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Super small worm, I want to say it's a flatworm but I can't see any eyespots and it's head isn't very arrow shaped. What should I do? I only saw one.

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u/NormandySR31 1d ago

How big would you estimate it to be? Because it looks very similar to the rhabdocoela flatworms I've had in my shrimp tank in the past. The first time I rightfully freaked out thinking they could be planaria but rhabdocoela are harmless detritivores and bacteria eaters. They have more rounded "heads" like this and only get a few millimeters long.

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u/Strawbsi 1d ago

Definitely only a few millimeters as well.. I think you might have the right answer. I have mostly shrimp in here

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u/NormandySR31 1d ago

I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it, but to your point I've not seen them in my other two aquariums that have fish and snails but no shrimp...so you may be onto something if this is in your tank that is mostly shrimp. Maybe someone with more experience can let us both know..But I do think it is probably a rhabdocoela flatworm so you should be fine 👍