worms in tank! Suggestions for removing them?

[kimmers318]

A couple of months ago I purchased what was labeled as blackworms at a store....I was all excited because I had heard most fish, and esp. my dwarfpuffer would love black worms. A few days later I was going thru receipts and saw it listed as tubifex worms on the store receipt. Did some research...yep, they were probably tubifex, light brown in color, just under an inch and although fish loved them I figured I won't buy them anymore. I kept an eye on tanks when vacuuming gravel, found a few strays, looked dead. Boy was I wrong! Today when cleaning dp's tank I moved the dish I use for frogs food and must've sucked up a couple of dozen of the goomers, so they must have found that to be a nice spot to live. No water issues have arisen from these worms, but I also don't wish to keep them around. Any suggestions on how to kill them off? Any meds or chemicals would have to be safe for dwarfpuffer and dwarf frogs, but would rather stay away from chemicals.
This is what I am thinking.....opinions greatly appreciated....
Over the next week remove a little gravel each day...allowing 24 hours for good bacteria to catch back up that exists in biofilter and on decor until I get most of the gravel out leaving me a clean bottom where I can easily spot all of the worms. Especially since they ball up together I should be able to get all of them. Leaving tank barebottom for a few days to make sure none escaped and then returning gravel to tank. Since I am thinking about removing all gravel anyway, may just change substrate entirely! Let me know what you think guys and gals.

[William]

Sounds like a plan.

Make sure to clean the gravel carefully ( I would freeze it if possible)

[rollie]

CORY CATS loves to eat them. they will rot them out. i have them in most of my tanks. as long as you get store got ones they good. do not use wild ones. they nothing to worry about.

[kimmers318]

Well, I don't know if a cory would be okay with my dwarfpuffer. I assume these are raised worms since the store gets brine shrimp and worms every Monday. I have 4 cory cats, but they are also at about the 2" mark so I don't think they would be happy in the 10 gallon. Since I was thinking about some pygmy corys for the betta 5 gal tank maybe I will put them in there and see how Missy does with them and just watch the water parameters carefully since it will be overstocking it for a few days. I can also move the frogs to the betta tank to see how Rainbow does with them. Some people have had luck with them, some haven't, same with dp's and cory's, some leave em alone, others nip em up. Missy hasn't bothered the ghost shrimp, so it may be okay. Since I just sucked a bunch up today I will probably wait until Monday to start anything else anyway because I have to work this weekend so I have plenty of time to think.