How to Kill Planaria

Planaria are tiny, white, parasitic worms that can invade even the most diligently tended aquarium. These invertebrates often come into an aquarium through new fish. Although they are harmless and many fish love to eat them, they are unsightly and can signify conditions that over time can become fatal for your fish. While you cannot remove the planaria from your aquarium all at once, there are steps that you can take to kill them over time.

Things You'll Need

  • Gravel vacuum
  • Dowel
  • Cup
  • Aquarium net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Run a gravel vacuum over the bottom of your aquarium. The gravel holds particles of food and waste on which the planaria feed.

    • 2

      Stir the gravel daily with a wooden dowel. This stirs up the waste and food so that it is eliminated through your mechanical filtration. Over the course of several days, this eliminates this food source.

    • 3

      Change out between 30% and 50% of the water in the tank by removing the original water and adding fresh, unchlorinated water with a clean cup.

    • 4

      Change out 20% of the water weekly until the planaria are gone.

    • 5

      Net any planaria you see swimming in the water with an aquarium net and throw them away.