Is the planarian helpful to humans? I've recently noticed small worms attached to the glass of my fish tank, and 1 or 2 just floating in the water. Can Planaria be harmful to humans … Are planaria harmful to humans? We have a closely-related gene in our sperm and eggs and in some of our stem cells. Hookworm and trichinosis are parasites that causes serious infections in humans. Midge larva? Are planaria harmful to humans? What are these worms, how do I get rid of them, and are they harmful to humans These organisms live in and feed off a living host, like a human. 4 years ago. Although the worms are not harmful to the fish, the conditions in which they thrive can be fatal. It has been shown that signaling by a protein called Target of Rapamycin (TOR) found in humans and most other mammals, is vital for planaria’s unique tissue regeneration. For example, long-term exposure to an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine can potentially be harmful to humans. Thanks MikeRad89 and Aquaphobia and Fahn for the responses. Although the worms are not harmful to the fish, the conditions in which they thrive can be fatal. Disabling the protein stops the flatworm’s regeneration, showing that disabling it in abnormal cells could possibly prevent the growth of a … Amber. We need you to answer this question! I will discuss, below, one of our experiences with this worm and how we eradicated it … Relevance. These flatworms can quickly multiply in number and, as you will soon learn, can be dangerous to … I've recently noticed small worms attached to the glass of my fish tank, and 1 or 2 just floating in the water. Planaria in aquariums can be quite shocking at first discovery. Contrary to popular believe, detritus worms and planaria are not the same worm. Planaria belong to a group called Turbellaria. Of course, you can try to just collect these harmful voracious worms manually. Like an earthworm, it burrows in moist soil, but it can exhibit much more sinister epicurean habits. Answer Save. I noticed white planarian worms crawling across the front of my 29 gallon freshwater tank that is freshwater, stocked with 2 Hornwort, 2 Java Fern, 1 Rill plant, and 15 Mickey Mouse Platy adolescent fry (most are solid and almost 1 inch in length). Planaria are small, white flatworms that thrive in aquariums that have not been cleaned properly. 4 Answers. Are these harmful to humans? It does so by lying atop the earthworm (the sticky mucus holds the earthworm to the soil. Some of the other genes involved in planarian regeneration also resemble ones in humans. We need you to answer this question! Lv 7. Could be detritus worms. however... the little creepy things scare the hello be jeepers out of me.