Tank Pest Problem

[fireball699]

I was cleaning the filter and changing some water in my fish tank (20 gallon) about 3 days ago and noticed a lot of small specs moving around in the water and in the rocks, mostly near the bottom or in the rocks. I called a local pet store (that fish place) and they just said they were not living and just looked like they were moving and to try crystal clear, I told them they were moving back and forth and in different directions, even after turning the filter and air pumps off. They just recommended something called crystal clear, I tried this yesterday and it has done absolutely nothing. I can tell these things are alive, and there is a lot of them. They are no bigger then a pin head and look clear with maybe a spot in the middle. If there is anything anyone can recommend to get rid of these things please do. I'm just afraid that a complete water change and cleaning the rocks and everything else will miss some and it will just come back.

Thanks
Matt

 

[Jchillin]

Sounds like you might have nematodes or some other FW parasite. Check this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematodes

Welcome to AA!

 

[fireball699]

is there anything that can kill these things. I have 1 african albino frog (3 years old) about 4 - 5 inches long and 1 bottom feeder, about 7-8 inches long (7 years old). I enjoy having both of these guys and would not want to hurt them. I would put them in a separate tank if there was something i could let run through the system to kill these things even if i would have to change the water afterwards. I just want to make sure they are completely gone.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[Jchillin]

If these are indeed nematodes (roundworms), they are probably getting nourished due to overfeeding. Reduce feeding (even go a full day without) and keep that regimen up for awhile. They should starve without any other help. In the meantime, scoop out as much as you can since they are collected in that spot. A few PWC's within the same week (ie: If you are doing 30% weekly, do 15% twice a week) will also help.

 

[fireball699]

I just wanted to make sure that these things wont have any risk of hurting me, the fish or any of my other pets, (cat, birds and guinea pigs) I was also wondering if anyone had any idea where they may have come from. I can remember having a small 2 gallon tank about a year ago that had the same problem, I just took the 1 fish out and cleaned him and the tank and it was fine. The only thing that is common between the two tanks is the flake food.

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Here are some links to pictures I took of the tank, Hopefully this will help someone make a better identification of what this is.
1) http://www.machki.com/tank/tank1.jpg
2) http://www.machki.com/tank/tank2.jpg
3) http://www.machki.com/tank/tank3.jpg

*****
Thanks
Matt

 

[courtnee]

The last picture to me, I cant help but see snails. the last picture to the right the top "mystery creature" has antlers out just like a snail it appears to me. I have a few of these in my 10gl from a plant I bought for my betta. They are so tiny and look like a blob and it is hard to even see a shell. I can tell they are a snail by when its gets on the glass only. In the rocks it looks just like a spec and its a blob.

Interesting though and curious as to what others think.

 

[DepotFish]

I think I see snails too. Copepods maybe if not snails. Either way they sure are cute. They shouldn't harm the fish at all.