red larva....what could it be?

[steeltown]

I was cleaning my tank yesterday an noticed several 1/4" long "worm-like" critters. I only seen them in the sponge of one of my HOB filters. They were not there (or noticable) last week. Fish are acting fine. It's a non-planted tank with a sand substrate and no new additions. Any ideas on what they may be?

[wetmanNY]

If you have no screens on your windows, could they be midge larvae? Do your fish pounce on them and slurp them down?

[steeltown]

Hey,

Well, no windows are open. Strictly a/c for the past 2 months. We do have an occasional fly of cricket though.

Not sure if the larva has ever been in the tankwater. The tank houses an oscar and 2 clowns, so I would't be surprised if they we're there and now in a fishy's belly.

I tried to find a picture on midge larva, but not much luck.
Just a worm-like thing that was yellow and segmented. Didn't look a whole lot like my red creature.

Any other suggestions?:confused:

[kveeti]

Originally posted by steeltown
I tried to find a picture on midge larva, but not much luck.

A whole whack of different coloured ones:
http://kelli-brock.tripod.com/brocksflyshop/id17.html
Those furry ones are pretty gross.

[wetmanNY]

kveeti's look pretty tasty: I'd snap at any of those.

But for midge larvae set your google.com mode to IMG ("image") then enter "midge larva" and then "midge larvae"

As you get closer to your own critters, try "Chironomid larva"