Help! Unknown pests

[imtcurveball]

I believe these came from my driftwood. Can anyone tell what they are and how to get rid of them
Bugs in fish tank - YouTube

 

[Zimmanski]

I believe these came from my driftwood. Can anyone tell what they are and how to get rid of them
Bugs in fish tank - YouTube

Ew, I'd be freaking out if those were in my tank. Probably some sort of insect, but someone else will have to say for sure, hope you find out quick. Did you boil the DW first?

 

[Convict2161]

Freshwater limpet or water fleas maybe?

 

[Rivercats]

Do any of these sound like what you have... What are those bugs/worms in the water? @ petfish.net

 

[imtcurveball]

What do you do to get rid of them. I've been doing daily water changes and using a gravel vacuum

 

[Wiggles24]

Gross I agree but I am sure your fish will feel differently!

 

[Fresh2o]

They look like Gammarus shrimp. Also referred to as scuds or freshwater amphipods. They are harmless and most fish will eat them if they can catch them. I used to find them on the roots of watch lettuce in my fish pond. Do you have fish in your tank? I've read where they can become invasive but that depends on your stock. I would not introduce them into a fishless planted tank.

 

[imtcurveball]

Thanks. I have cichlids. That's it. No plants. How do you get rid of them. Would assassin snails work?

 

[Fresh2o]

Thanks. I have cichlids. That's it. No plants. How do you get rid of them. Would assassin snails work?

I would say no for the assassin snails just because the amphipods are very mobile.
What kind of cichlids? Depending on those and the size of the tank you could try loaches or other suitable bottom dwellers.

 

[phin]

If you don't have any other inverts in your tank you can kill them off with some copper-based protozoal medicine. Aquarisol works best but you might try Mardel Coppersafe or Seachem Cupramine, but these aren't just copper sulfate like aquarisol, so it might not be as deadly to inverts with an exoskeleton.

 

[Wiggles24]

Loaches would be a good idea if your fish would tolerate them. Those guys eat everything

 

[Wy Renegade]

Most varieties of cichlids, even mbuna (which are herbivorous grazers) will eat scuds.