What are these things?

[HawgHunter]

I have these little white dots swimming around in my Tetra tank. There are literally thousands of them 8O ....too small to see clearly or get a good pic of. They are clinging to the glass, the plants, all in the gravel and even floating around the tank. I've had these before in my daughters guppy tank....they aren't harming the fish in any way that I can see, but I sure don't want them in there.

Any idea what they could be? :?

[fishboyt]

Re: What are these things....?

Are they like a worm?

[HawgHunter]

Re: What are these things....?

No, not at all....just a little dot...........................like these....but there's more! 8O ....

[wesleydnunder]

Re: What are these things....?

Sounds like a copepod, HH. Try googling and see if they fit the bill.

Mark

[fishboyt]

Re: What are these things....?

Maybe they are these?

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Freshwater-Aquarium-3216/White-dots-aquarium-glass.htm

[HawgHunter]

Re: What are these things....?

They're not snails....never had any and these little guys are moving around way too fast to be a snail. They could be the copepod....I'm working on getting a good pic....

[HawgHunter]

Re: What are these things....?

Ok, I took the best pics I could....it seems these little things disappear when you use a flash on the camera. If you look closely at the pics you can see the little white dots. In the 3rd pic I circled them.....little suckers huh!

[CichlidFan]

Re: What are these things....?

Got any pleco's ?

CF

[HawgHunter]

Re: What are these things....?

Got any pleco's ?

CF

Yes....Why? Do they eat these things? Cause if so, I have two 9" pleco's that could tear through that 20g in no time flat.

[CichlidFan]

Re: What are these things....?

Well, I have no idea what they could be, but my first reaction was to think of how to get rid of them...ie ...pleco....??

Try it...? hopefully it's not harmful to the fish

CF

[HawgHunter]

Re: What are these things....?

They're in....sure makes them look big being in that little ol' tank. I'll keep everyone updated on what happens....so far it looks like the bugs are winning....as soon as I put the pleco's in they had those little things all over them. 8O

[rrocket2002]

Re: What are these things....?

Do they have tentacles?

[HawgHunter]

Re: What are these things....?

Do they have tentacles?

Not that I can see....I'm going to get a magnifying glass later to check these suckers out. This is my second infestation in 2 totally diff tanks. I believe I am causing the infestations by leaving the lights in the aquarium on all the time....too much light=higher temps=infestation....or so I think.

[CichlidFan]

Re: What are these things....?

Well, I sure hope they are not harmful to your pleco's, I'll feel terrible if  they get sick now.....  

Keep us posted...

CF

[HawgHunter]

Re: What are these things....?

Well, I sure hope they are not harmful to your pleco's, I'll feel terrible if  they get sick now.....  

Keep us posted...

CF

I doubt they'll hurt them....they never hurt any of the little guppies in the first attack and the Tetra's look lively and healthy. They're just an eye sore to me.

The pleco's are starting to settle in....one is sweeping the gravel while the other is cleaning the back glass....