New to list and I have a question about my zebra plecos

[kigoma]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice from the experts on catfish...

I am a little concerned as I have just finished cleaning out my aquarium with my 9 zebra plecos in it (hoping that one day they might breed). I was looking into the clay caves that I had in the tank and I noticed that there were little peach colored spheres in the caves. I was excited at first thinking they might be eggs when to my horror one of them streched out into a leech/worm like creature and started crawling across the pot. It was about 2-3 mm long and there were about a dozen of these things on the pot.

My fish all appeared healthy (as far as I can tell), but I am concerned about these creatures. I had a sand bottomed tank and have just taken all of the sand out making it bare bottom in case the sand is a breeding ground for these creatures. Will the plecos be OK in a bare bottom tank?

Also, should I buy some medication to try and kill these things off or is it a harmless creature that is in the tank with my zebra plecos?

Thanks,

Rob

[Silurus]

Sounds like you have planarians (flatworms). Unsightly (and probably a little disturbing), but generally harmless to the fish.

[kigoma]

Thanks for the speedy reply...

I take it then that everything will be OK (i.e. leave it all be?). Do you recomend leaving the tank bare bottom then?

In the event that I ever get lucky enough to breed these fish will the flatworms affect the eggs or the young?

Out of curisity if the flat worms are not going to eat the fish what do they eat?

Will the plecos eat the flat worms?

Thanks,

Rob

[Silurus]

You can remove the worms if you deem them unsightly. They will not harm the fish (they generally feed on uneaten food in the tank), neither will the fish eat them.
People here have mixed opinions about bare-bottom tanks. They're definitely a lot easier to clean, but does appear bare and sterile.

[kigoma]

Do you know if it makes any difference to the fish and there preference?

Will they breed in a bare bottom tank or do they need substrate to simulate the natural environment?

Thanks,

Rob

[Yann]

HI!

Well it is usually hard to duplicate exactly the biotop they have in nature, so the y must adapt themself to a new type of biotop in your tank, so it is really up to you. but if you chose the bare bottom, don't forget to paint the outside bottom glass with black paint...
Personnally I dislike bare bottom tank, because I find them unestethic, plus waste can also be trapp under the fourniture, and I usually find the fish to be a bit more stressed in such setup!
Cheers
Yann