Identify the larvae?

[newt0524]

Hello all

This is my first time on this site and was hoping to get a little advice.

I have recently set up a new tank for cycling (50g, freshwater, liveplants, driftwood, power filter, heater, sand substrate). The tank was set-up about 2 weeks ago and live plants were added about a week ago. The drift wood is store bought and was soaked outside the tank for about 1 day, but not boiled. There are no fish in his tank yet but will become home to one catfish when it is ready. Everything is going well and the nitrites are just starting to drop.

However, yesterday I noticed some sort of larvae (I think) swimming around in the water. They are too small too get a picture of so I will describe them as best I can.

They are thin whitish wormy looking things bout 5mm or 0.25" long. There are no other visible distinctions on them (no hooks or barbs or colourations). They just seem to float around in the current and every so often they wriggle around like crazy.

My thought right now is that they are some sort of mosquito or moth larvae, but I am not 100%.

Has anyone seen or heard of this before? Any idea what it is?
Can gill worm or hook worm (or any other parasite) live in a tank without fish?
MY catfish currently eats frozen bloodworms (mosquito larvae), but these are long dead and frozen, can the live ones hurt her at all? or is it just a tasty snack?

Any help comments suggestions are greatly appriciated as I do not want anything to happen to Sally (the catfish).

thanks in advance
newt

 

[maaltan]

i would guess nemotodes. Most of which are harmless except they indicate overfeeding. If they swim with a very noticable S shaped whip pattern then that confirms my diagnosis.

 

[newt0524]

i don't think i am ovefeeding as i am just cycling the tank right now.

however, i guess the high ammonia levels attributed to overfeeding would also show up in a newly cycling tank.

any other guesses.

 

[plah831]

It also sounds like nematodes to me. You can positively ID them by pointed ends and a distinctive S-shaped wiggling when swimming.

The best way to get rid of them is to increase water changes and gravel vacuum frequently. That way, you physically remove them and eliminate the excess nutrients on which they thrive. It's also better for Sally, too, since the tank is cycling. You want to get rid of ammonia and nitrites before they can harm her. Try to keep ammonia and nitrite levels below 0.25 ppm for her health

 

[newt0524]

don't worry,

i am fishless cycling the tank so she is not in there yet. i have to get her out of my other tank as she is quicky making her way through all of my girlfriends fish.

hopefully it will be only another 2 weeks or so. ill keep testing and we'll see.

thanks for the advice

newt