i have three mollys, one platy, and two catfish in my freshwater aquarium. I use purified tap water when i clean their tank, and decorations include some real coral and shells, but i think everything in there is either fake or from the ocean. Today i noticed a bunch of tiny little bean shaped animals at the bottom of the tank, and since my mollys and platy have already had babies that look nothing like these bean things, i figured it was catfish babies. Looking closer, the animals are clear, with what looks like a bean shape shell, and they move around using legs at one side of their shell. I tried to take a picture, but my camera couldn't focus in enough, so i'll just say they are about a millimeter long, and i can see their organs through their bodies and shells. They look kind of like clams, but i doubt i would have clams appear in my tank, since they would have to come from a parent clam, which i have never had, What the hell are these things and are they going to harm my fish?
2007-06-04 15:58:44 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
These won't harm the fish - it's most likely an ostracod from your description - see photo: http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/ostracod-C.JPG
Here's one with a clear shell: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/micropolitan/fresh/arthropod/ostracoda.jpg
If not, see this link for some other possibilities:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/index.html
2007-06-04 16:09:46 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't have real corals and shells in a freshwater tank. the shells will leak calcium into the water. If you have real plants in there they could be snails. You said they have shells so I would guess they are not worms.
2007-06-05 03:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by Sandra G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is living Ich.
Ich is a skin disease that your fish can get from new items placed into the tank. They look like white fungi or black specks on your fish's skin. You need Ich treatment. Go to the pet store and get some Ich Remover.
The Ich have a weird life cycle. They grow on your fish, then they fall down onto your tank floor and start reproducing. Then when they get the chance, they try to get your fish.
Ich is very harmful. Your fish might die from it.
This is only a suggestion. I think I'll need a pic of it.
2007-06-04 16:32:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
it is spoke of as planaria. you in all probability have too plenty uneaten nutrition. they are possibility loose to fish, yet you do no longer desire to make sure too lots of them in there. Time to scrub your aquarium alongside with the substrate. upload some aquarium salt (a million teaspoon / gallon) to dodge them from coming returned.
2016-11-25 23:36:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like pond/garden snails. These usually come in on plants. If they are, you want to get them out as soon as possible, they reproduce like crazy.
2007-06-04 16:03:52 · answer #5 · answered by ibewhoever@yahoo.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with copperhead, that they're probably amphipods or copepods of some kind and are generally harmless.
2007-06-04 17:18:00 · answer #6 · answered by Dan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water lice? If so, they are pests and can be treated with medication you buy at fish stores.
2007-06-04 16:04:07 · answer #7 · answered by Chris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a case of crabs to me. After re-reading your description I'd almost bet that they are some sort of crab. Please keep us posted.
2007-06-04 16:04:38 · answer #8 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋