Pond worms
Looking for ID of worms. My pond has only been running since the end of May this year. I noticed a few days ago that many of the rocks in the waterfalls are covered with very dark brown worms about 1/4″ long. They are attached to the rocks by their head or tail (can’t tell which) and constantly whip back and forth. I expect that they are some kind of insect larvae, but I don’t know. I’ve done some research on the web and have not found an exact description of what I see.
Any experts out there who can hazard a guess as to what these worms are? The fish are doing fine and don’t appear to have any parasites. I just want to be certain that whatever these small worms are, they cannot harm the fish. As long as they are harmless, they are welcome to stay in my pond. Otherwise, I’ll need to figure out how to get rid of them. I haven’t been able to locate my quality magnifiers. When I do, perhaps I can get a better description of the worms. I doubt that they are parasites because they are attached to the spillway of the filter at the top of the waterfalls. That is rapidly moving water. My understanding is that leeches and other such parasites prefer stagnant water where it is easier to grab onto a passing fish.
Thanks for any help on this. By the way, I’ve noticed the fish doing a lot of chomping on the pond liner. Perhaps the worms are there too and the fish are enjoying a good snack. Free fish food, I hope?
Dave W
Category: Worldwide Koi Club
