Unusual Gelatious Growth.

[Honeythorn]

Hi, I was just doing the 1st of the weekly water changes on my mother's 5 gal hex betta tank ( done twice a week and the tank has been cycled and running for 3 months ) . I noticed for the first time today, that there was a revolting looking growth of....snotlike/jellyfied substance on the suction cups of the heater. I have since whipped those out and blasted it under the tap to remove all traces, but I am morbidly curious as to what it is. It was a horrid greyish colour, much like the phlegm smokers cough up ( sorry, best way to describe it. )

I will note that I have been treating the tank with the appropriate measure of melafix for the past 3 days, as Duncan ( the fish ) ripped his tail on an unseen protrusion on the bogwood I had in the tank ( since removed and replaced with a smooth ornament) . Could the addition of melafix have been a factor in causing this? Or is it some freakish bacterial growth? It certainly doesn't look like any sort of algae, and isn't white and fibrous like a slime mould. We do not overfeed the fish, and I am stumped as to why this stuff was lurking.

Any ideas as to what it is?


Here's a picture.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I think thats just some kind of algae. I have that growing on most of my suction cups too.

 

[tangokitty]

I get that too, it usually comes off pretty easily.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I noticed it only grows on the rubber/vinyl stuff in the tank.

But yeah, I have it too. It comes and goes.

 

[Amunet]

I get that sometimes as well. Comes off easily. No idea what it is but it's never caused problems as far as I can tell and only grows on the rubbery stuff.

 

[Mikaila31]

Same as everyone else. I get it, it comes off easy, doesn't seem to do any harm, only likes the rubber things, I don't know what it is or why it grows on the rubber things.

Its just one of those things you accept.....