Help Identify Egg/lice Looking Things....

[kelvyn29]

Hi,
Im fairly new to fish keeping.

Had my tank set up about 6 months & about 6 weeks ago I noticed we had some really small things swimming around at the bottom of our tank in the rocks.These were about as small as a pin head. Now these have grown & there are proably 2mm wide & when you looks there is 100's of very small ones.

Every time I clean the filter it is clogged up wit them, see pic below cleaned the filter last night & this is what is in there this morning..

Since having them though the tank does seem to have kept cleaner.

I have in the tank

3 x Tetra Neons
3 x Platy
2 x Clown Loach
1 x Cory
1 x Balloon Molly

I only have 1 live plant which I put in when I first got the tank.

Since the start I have put in Stress Zyme Biological Filtration Booster once a week, I thought these could be the bacteria growing, is that possible???

I have tried to take some pics to help out, any ideas if these are good for the tank or should I try & get them out??

Any help or advice?

Thanks

Kelvyn

 

[BigC]

Hi Kelvyn
It looks like (from your pics) newly hatched aquatic snails.
Regards
BigC

 

[kelvyn29]

Really, how would I get them, I have nevr had any snails & the only way would be from a plant but these did not start showing up until about 4 months after the plant was in there.

 

[BigC]

Plants and Gravel are the usual suspects.....they are very small initially (if indeed they are snails) which would explain the reason why you did not notice them until they have grown somewhat
Regards
C

 

[BigTom]

They look more like ostracods (seed shrimp) to me BigC. I have very similar looking ones in my tanks. Should be completely harmless, good fish food.

 

[Baccus]

I am inclined to vote that they are seed shrimp, handy to have in the tank as extra clean up crews and food for the fish when they get peckish.

 

[kelvyn29]

They look more like ostracods (seed shrimp) to me BigC. I have very similar looking ones in my tanks. Should be completely harmless, good fish food.

This was my thoughts, just did not want them ganging up & attacking the fish

 

[BigTom]

They look more like ostracods (seed shrimp) to me BigC. I have very similar looking ones in my tanks. Should be completely harmless, good fish food.

This was my thoughts, just did not want them ganging up & attacking the fish

There are some parasitic species of ostracod but I don't think these are anything to worry about. They'll just be scavenging/filtering.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I would like to point out your stocking is far ideal mate sorry. what size is the tank?

 

[kelvyn29]

I would like to point out your stocking is far ideal mate sorry. what size is the tank?

Sorry what do you mean by this?

I Have a 60l Biorb life

My plan is to upgrade to somethig bigger in about 6months once I move

 

[BigbruiserAl]

3 x Tetra Neons
3 x Platy
2 x Clown Loach
1 x Cory
1 x Balloon Molly

tetra neons need to in a group of 6+ as min i would suggest i always do 10+
Cory are the same 6+ in tank
And im sorry to say the clown loach will suffer in a 60L as they get big, even upgrading in 6 months will prob have caused damage to their internal organs and gain they should be groups 4+

just looking out for the fish mate no offensive intended

 

[kelvyn29]

3 x Tetra Neons
3 x Platy
2 x Clown Loach
1 x Cory
1 x Balloon Molly

tetra neons need to in a group of 6+ as min i would suggest i always do 10+
Cory are the same 6+ in tank
And im sorry to say the clown loach will suffer in a 60L as they get big, even upgrading in 6 months will prob have caused damage to their internal organs and gain they should be groups 4+

just looking out for the fish mate no offensive intended

No mate no offensive caused, I was sold them by the shop thats all & they knew what I had.

#29###

Feel bad now with them in there now, i'll have to get some more tetra's but what to do with the clown loach??

 

[BigC]

Could very well be right BigTom...
Keep us updated Kelvyn...as to growth or population size
Regards
C

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Typical local shop mate makes me made, i would take them back and swap them for a few neons and corys. What make it worse is if they knew you had a 60L i would sort this and avoid them in future. Heres a few things from clown sites.

Ps dont feel bad we all made these mistakes at the start stick around and we will keep you right

Although Clown Loaches are often sold when they are on about 4cm (1.5in) long, don't be fooled. This is their immature size and with proper care they can grow to 20-30cm (8-12in) or more! A small to mid-size aquarium will not do for fish this size, especially since they are fast swimmers and like to swim around for exercise. Adults will eventually require an aquarium measuring at least 6’ x 2’ x 2’. Even small specimens of this species must initially be housed in an aquarium that is 4ft long as a minimum. Anything smaller can cause these fast-swimming fish to become stunted and stressed.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm with Al ... take the loaches back to the LFS. Just don't trade them for a common pleco. Up your numbers to your neons and cory and that will be good. Upgrade to a bigger tank as soon as you can!