What is that stuff that grows on uneaten food?

[SwerveDriver]

If I drop an algae or sinking wafer and it goes uneaten something fuzzy grows from it. What is it? Is it fungus?

It's like a light fuzzy mould or fungus that grows on it. I usually remove them after they go uneaten for a day. But would shrimp eat this stuff? I have a shrimp only tank which I occasionally feed some algae/sinking wafers.

 

[mandi]

It's fungus and the food should not be left in the tank in that condition as it can rapidly deteriorate the quality of your water/spoil your tank.

 

[frog girl]

Don't know about the shrimp but my ottos really went to town on the mold that grew on a piece of driftwood I had when I first started my tank. They are algaevores like your shrimp probably. I say it would be worth a try. Just start with a small piece & see how they do.

 

[Devilishturtles]

I don't know if I would really stick a decaying piece of food back into the tank. Decaying food give off ammonia, and can quickly raise up levels in your tank. I would just feed the bottom food every once in a while (since obviously your fish aren't eating all of it) and make sure to remove it when you are done.

Not positive at all about the fungus being safe, but I would imagine any sort of fungus you would definitley want to get out of there asap, and not let anything else eat at it.

HTH

 

[Patrice]

I really wish to know why, i do get white stuff on food in one tank, and none in they other.

 

[LyndaB]

The hotter the temp of the tank, the quicker it will fungus.

I agree with devilishturtles, I would immediately remove it. Plus, if you have fungus on your food, you are seriously overfeeding the tank.