:help: I have different fish in my 100 gallon tank, and feed different food to them, however i feed my oscar dried cubed tubifex worms, cleaning my tank this past weekend noticed alot of worms in the water swimming around. they look like the earthworms you see on the ground after a good rain, but much smaller, is this a parasite in the water or is it from the food? and if it's from the food why aren't the bottom feeders cleaning these little guys out of my gravel for me?
Do I have a Parasite or is it the food?
- Thread starter EMontondo
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It sounds like either nematodes or planaria to me. Both have parasitic forms, but the kind you're describing are the free-living harmless ones. They are an indication of overfeeding and excess nutrients. The "cure" is to reduce feedings and increase water changes/gravel vacuuming. Don't expect your bottom feeders to eat them for you. Many fish will enjoy them, but one should never count on livestock to take care of any problem for them, whether algae or hitchhiking organisms.
I'm not really sure where the little buggers come from. But it's very possible for their eggs to come in on live plants or even dormant in the gravel. Like I said, just make an effort to keeping a very clean tank and they will starve after a few weeks.
I'm not really sure where the little buggers come from. But it's very possible for their eggs to come in on live plants or even dormant in the gravel. Like I said, just make an effort to keeping a very clean tank and they will starve after a few weeks.
sounds like live tubifex to me.( a species of round worm(nematode))
I purchased live tubifex as a treat(never again)
they will breed like a rabbit in the mulm in gravel or substrate.
they may not be harmful in and of themselves but tubifex thrive in polluted areas(mulm is a form of pollution) and they can be a secondary host to other more harmful parasites.
it is in this form that they host a parasite that could be released when consumed by a fish and bloom into a parasitic nematode(round worm) in the fish.
as suggested, reduce the feedings and increase gravel vacs..it worked for me..I haven't seen any tubifex in my tanks when I did this.
I no longer feed tubifex worms in any form.
I purchased live tubifex as a treat(never again)
they will breed like a rabbit in the mulm in gravel or substrate.
they may not be harmful in and of themselves but tubifex thrive in polluted areas(mulm is a form of pollution) and they can be a secondary host to other more harmful parasites.
it is in this form that they host a parasite that could be released when consumed by a fish and bloom into a parasitic nematode(round worm) in the fish.
as suggested, reduce the feedings and increase gravel vacs..it worked for me..I haven't seen any tubifex in my tanks when I did this.
I no longer feed tubifex worms in any form.
but aren't the cubed tubifex she is feeding already dead/freeze-dried? Do the eggs survive the process?
I also don't use tubifex because of terrible things I've heard about them harboring fish-specific diseases and parasites. Even though they're supposed to be treated to reduce the risk, I still don't want to chance it.
I also don't use tubifex because of terrible things I've heard about them harboring fish-specific diseases and parasites. Even though they're supposed to be treated to reduce the risk, I still don't want to chance it.
while i see this issue every once in awhile on fish groups, i can find no scientific paper confirming that tubifex can survive the freeze drying process. i believe it's one of those myths we see every so often.
:look: :look:
thanks guy's and girl's for the tid bit on my tank, I have done 2 tank cleanings (keeping the water levels watched closely at all times) and noticed a decrease in the pesky critters, I took a sample to the pet store that I work with here in town and "Jim" there told me he's never seen anything like it before.... reminded him of a blood worm... but did say he didn't think it was from the food, though I told him that I wasn't going to continue feeding my oscar that food, he suggested frozen beefheart. and soon I can go to feeder fish for him....
"Jim" did say that if all else fails and I can't kill them the old fashioned way then I can always go to chemicals (Medicine for the tank/water). Have you ever heard of this??
:girl: :girl: EMontondo
thanks guy's and girl's for the tid bit on my tank, I have done 2 tank cleanings (keeping the water levels watched closely at all times) and noticed a decrease in the pesky critters, I took a sample to the pet store that I work with here in town and "Jim" there told me he's never seen anything like it before.... reminded him of a blood worm... but did say he didn't think it was from the food, though I told him that I wasn't going to continue feeding my oscar that food, he suggested frozen beefheart. and soon I can go to feeder fish for him....
"Jim" did say that if all else fails and I can't kill them the old fashioned way then I can always go to chemicals (Medicine for the tank/water). Have you ever heard of this??
:girl: :girl: EMontondo
blood worms- chironomidae technically not a worm but the 'blood worm' is one of the stages the bug goes thru. the larvae is the stage that lives in the mud/substrate it emerges (Pupa) and swim/drifts to the surface where it emerges as an adult.
in the larval stage it looks very similar to a worm on close examination you will see a head on it.
the pupa is distinctly different resembling a look more similar to the mosquito larva
in the larval stage it looks very similar to a worm on close examination you will see a head on it.
the pupa is distinctly different resembling a look more similar to the mosquito larva
So, still doesn't answer the question of in a clean tank, How did I get this worm thing in it?? did a fly or misquito drop it off? is it from the food?? or is it something that was transferred to the tank when I did a water change/cleaning???? and how do I make sure it doesn't happen again??? :girl:
if you didn't introduce live food..there is little chance you introduced anything.
midges are flying insects that look like tiny mosquitos.
and like mosquitos..they lay eggs on the water. midges are very common insects particularly if you live near water.
in all likliehood they came in and laid aggs in your tanke..btw..blood worms are natural food for fish. as is the midge in just about any form.
midges are flying insects that look like tiny mosquitos.
and like mosquitos..they lay eggs on the water. midges are very common insects particularly if you live near water.
in all likliehood they came in and laid aggs in your tanke..btw..blood worms are natural food for fish. as is the midge in just about any form.
thanks, that's help to know, forgive my stupidity, but I get kind of freaked when foreign things are found in my tank, I have had alot of trouble since I moved 6 years ago, if the ph isn't to high then the nitrates are or the city water is poluted here in town... so as you see I've had alot of troubles... any and all help is welcome here...
:girl: EMontondo
:girl: EMontondo