Belong
to the Turbellaria. Depending on species between 5 and 20 mm. They feed on small
organisms(Daphnia, cyclops) but also on fish eggs and young fish. Asexual reproduction.
Planaria can be observed by turning on the light during the night, or in the morning
when the light goes on. They will be attached to the tanks' sides, and will quickly
head for darkness. Treatments are mostly biological and mechanical. The mechanical
treatment is to insert meat in a container, and removing all accumulated planaria
every morning for a period of two weeks(Longer if necesary). Biological treatments;
some labyrinthfish will eat planaria, for example the paradise fish Macropodus
Opercularis, Trichogaster Trichopterus and Trichogaster Pectoralis, but also Epalzeorhynchus
kallopterus. Actually most fish will eat planaria if hungry enough, so not feeding
for a week may fix the problem by itself.
As
for chemical treatments, some standard anti-snail medications like eSHa gastropex
also effectively remove planaria.