my fish have become sick recently and a few days after they became sick i noticed little tiny minute things swimming around in my tank? what are they?
2007-10-30 17:02:49 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
my fish have become sick recently and a few days after they became sick i noticed little tiny minute things swimming around in my tank? what are they? they swim around and are clear and there are probably like thirty of them in the tank. i noticed also these little green things on my artificial plants about the same size as the worm things. i have oscars and there are three in a 75 gallon tank. i plan to take one out when they get larger... if they survive. i beleive they have ich or they have an intestinal parasite.
2007-10-30 18:14:56 · update #1
It might help if you describe the symptoms your fish are showing that are sick. You can add this info by using the "edit" in the toolbar to "add details".
My first thought is that these are related, but not the direct cause. The "worms" may be just that - harmless nematodes that live in the gravel. Every tank has a few, but yours may be overpopulating if there are a lot. If they're large enough that you can see them, it's doubtful that they are a parasitic form. They may also be the larvae of a small fly (midge). These are a flying insect that lays it's eggs in the water and the larvae are aquatic. In either case, these can't survive in large numbers without a food source. So the actual cause of the fish's sickness may be a buildup of organic waste in your gravel (which the worms are feeding on).
Organic debris can settle into the gravel and if not removed by weekly siphoning, it decays and releases ammonia (which is toxic). This can be converted to nitrite (also toxic) by bacteria, and eventually to nitrate, which is safer, but if not removed through regular water changes, it can also build up to a toxic level. Some symptoms of these are lethargy of the fish, loss of appetite, splitting fins, red streaking on the fins and body, and a "yellowing" of the water. If you can test your water, do so to make sure the ammonia and nitrite are below 0.5 (it should be 0 in a tank more than a few months old) and the nitrates are below 40ppm. If you don't have a test kit, your pet store should be able to test a sample for you - just put some tank water in a clean container. If your water gets cloudy when you stir up the gravel, or you don't regularly siphon your gravel with a gravel vacuum, you may want to do a 25-50% water change now to lower possible ammonia-nitrite-nitrate levels until you can get your water tested. If you don't have a gravel vacuum, get one. Just dipping water out of an aquarium to change the water isn't enough. If you have an undergravel filter, you may even need to pull up the bottom plate every few months - debris collects underneath it. A hang-on filter might be a better choice for a smaller tank and is easier to clean.
ADDITION: nematode photo: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/micropolitan/fresh/other/nematode2.jpg - smooth body pointed at both ends; swims in a "shivering" motion
midge larvae photo: http://www.benthos.org/Education/SlideLibrary/Shadows/035-Chironomidae.jpg - constrictions along the body and a definite head; swims by whipping body back and forth in an "S" shape
2007-10-30 17:21:36 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's not fish poop......what a waste of words and space. Are they white and well distributed all over the tank, sort of like dust? Do they stick to the glass? Sounds like a parasite. Have you added anything like sea shells into the tank recently? Would really need more info to help you. Add onto your original question what fish you have and about the seashells or anything else that is new in the tank. What size tank?
2007-10-31 00:12:15 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. Kalyfran 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would take a sample to a pet shop or breeder so they can take a look. My mother in law had to worm her fish recently? maybe they have worms?
do a google seach for deases's and see if you can identify it. Im sure if it was poo you would know!! and if you do have that much poo maybe you need a new filter or clean it also check the PH to make sure thats not why their sick?
most tropical fish should be at 7.0 ph.... you could take a sample of water to the pet shop and have them test for every thing and help you. maybe get a snail for your tank mine eat every thing and keep it very clean.
good luck
2007-10-31 01:36:11 · answer #3 · answered by mummy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah I agree with copperheads answer. It could be just nematodes. Dont trash them, they are not clearly related to the sick fish. If you are watchin spongebob squarepants, you would remember that nematode episode.
2007-10-31 03:14:00 · answer #4 · answered by Chad, M.D. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should take your fish to the vet.
2007-10-31 00:06:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have those in my out door pond,,,,,and I have dead fish every once in a while.
2007-10-31 00:10:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It will be mosqueto larvea, i had them in my tank once.
2007-10-31 02:11:19 · answer #7 · answered by grasshopper645 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
are they swimming of just floating in the water. it might b poop.
2007-10-31 00:05:24 · answer #8 · answered by Jenny B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
are you sure its not fish poo
2007-10-31 00:05:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋