"shrimp leech"in tank ???

[kayleighh18]

I have had my axolotl set up for around 18 months now. i began feeding them river shrimp as part of their diet around 6 months ago to give them something "meatier" to eat. since then i have noticed that i keep getting these leech like things in my tank that can get up to 1cm in length. since noticing this i have repeatedly stripped my tank down and cleaned everything, but the leeches keep coming back. i have now stopped feeding my axies the shrimp to prevent the leeches but regardless of me stripping the tank i cannot seem to remove the leeches.
is there any advice that you can give me as i don't want to stress my axies out.

 

[auntiejude]

Do you have some photos of these little critters?

 

[kayleighh18]

its someone elses photo but the things look exactly the same

 

[Bellabelloo]

This is planaria.

Caudata Culture Articles - Aquarium Invaders: Algae, Snails, Worms and Other Critters

 

[auntiejude]

I agree - planaria. The shape of the head is a giveaway. These often arrive as hitchikers, and feed on poop and uneaten food.

You can leave them and your axies will eat them, you can scoop them out when you see them, but there is no point trying to sterilise your tank and potentially crashing your cycle. They will go on thier own eventually.

 

[kayleighh18]

thankyou just hoping they go away reasonably quickly as they are an annoyance to me lol but again thanks.