Hi all,

For my inagural post, I have an especially gross one for you. Just today my wife came up to me and asked me what the little worms were on the bottom of my pond. I went outside and took a look and, to my utter horror, there was a number of 'pockets' of these worms throughout the pond in shallow water. They seem to have popped up overnight (we look at the water almost every day to spot frogs). I googled as much as I could for freshwater worms, and the closest I can figure they appear to be a kind of detrius worm, although far be it from me to say so conclusively.

The video, for those of strong stomach (okay, maybe I'm just squeamish), is here (please excuse my french in the video, but my reaction was visceral): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DJPPdGlPEE

If anyone can have a look at this video and let me know what they think of it and if I need to get rid of them, that would be very helpful. My pond is very small (it's just a 10 x 10 back yard pond), with no fish or other larger animals save for the occasional frog. Maybe I just do nothing? Just feels wrong to have them there though - it is truly horrifying to walk by and see them wigglling away like that.

Thanks all!

Dan

I don't think you'd ever see those in a pond with fish - they'd get et.

P.S. good videography IMO.

Oh God, my wife would force me to fill in the pond with that, and I would agree. I would shoot out someplace and quick get a couple of shiners from a bait shop and put them in. If not shiners, just a couple of panfish from a nearby BOW. Worm problem will become a fat fish.

How big are they? Could they be tubifex worms? One or two pumpkinseed and they would probably be gone. Or gills.

Look like plenaria, but seem to be too big for that?

Jim100 - they aren't much longer than maybe an inch max - probably more like 1/2-3/4 inches in total length. I googled some Tubifex worms vids and I think you may be onto something.

We have been going through a recent heat wave here in Canada (As I'm sure most of you have as well), and a lot of the detrius on the bottom of my pond from the fall has been exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of heat. Unlike previous years, I wasn't able to get my water hyacinth in until late this season (Covid-related supply problems at my nursery) and I've noticed a lot more rotting this year. Given Tubifex feed on detrius and sewage (another horrifying thought that makes me really want to clean my pond), I think this could be my answer.

So they really don't do harm other than just look awful right? Should I be concerned for any reason?

Thanks again all

Fish!
Put some fish in there!
Bluegill would be on my list.

New to me