Wow Wigglers. But How Can This Be

[alex.wardle]

This morning I found some wigglers maybe 20-30 but w8 for it. OUTSIDE

Here's how
Last week (maybe Wednesday) I did a complete substrate change of my tank. I dumped all the old (approximate 25kg) in 2 old buckets in the garden and thought nothing of it. This morning I went to empty it and there they were. I had to go to work tho and have been unable 2 do anything about it.Apart from think about them.
If they are still all there when I get home I think I am going to try and rear them. I do have a small 12liter tank and the filter for it with the filter medium sandwiched in with my fluval 305 to act as a medical tank if needed.
I think that maybe the wigglers are from my zebra d's or maybe my galaxy rasbora. I can't w8 to get home, crossing my fingers they are alright
How could they survive 5days outside I am gessing there must have been eggs in with the gravel. From there size I would say 2-3 days old.

 

[james_fish]

Wow! Quite a story

They must have been in a really small amount of water when they were outside (only the amount you can't help but remove whilst doing a gravel change). And maybe the wind, even rain could of
oxygenated the water. Also, they will have fed on the egg sacks for the past couple of days.

Fingers crossed they are okay! Good luck.

James.

 

[alex.wardle]

Well there is another point that made me go. OMG the buckets I chucked them in 2 have been out side for good knows how long with about 5inches of water already in it, leaves twigs etc.... Well when I got home there were all still moving so I have begun what I hope is not a waste of time.
They are in the tank now all bobbing around I counted about 50. They are so so so small so have placed a bit of rinsed tight material over the inlet of the filter. They seam to be getting blown around abit but can't really help that.
I will post daily with updates

 

[Harlequins]

Ooo good luck with your wigglers,pics when you can

 

[alex.wardle]

Ooo good luck with your wigglers,pics when you can

Chears will do when the gf gets bk on Wednesday(took the camera away with her) how long does it take them to go from wigglers to the free swimming state. They are about 5mm at the biggest and are now more then a set of eyes and a tail with like a hook on the end. What should I start to feed them on???

 

[Katch]

infusoria, baby brine shrip, tiny bit of egg yolk squeezed through some tights material (hard boiled and just a tiny bit or it'll foul the water), liquifry (never used it myself but i guess it works)

carefully syphon off as much water as you can each day and replace with conditioned temperature matched water as they'll grow on faster with plenty of clean water.

they're obviously pretty hardy so I'd guess they'll do well.

 

[alex.wardle]

infusoria, baby brine shrip, tiny bit of egg yolk squeezed through some tights material (hard boiled and just a tiny bit or it'll foul the water), liquifry (never used it myself but i guess it works)

carefully syphon off as much water as you can each day and replace with conditioned temperature matched water as they'll grow on faster with plenty of clean water.

they're obviously pretty hardy so I'd guess they'll do well.

Chears for the advice. Will do a good water change when I get back from work and try some different food for them. All seamed well this morning b4 I went to work.
Should I bother with the filter at this early stage if I am 2 do massive water changes daily. Looks like the fillter is just pushing them around.
Pretty hardy I am going to say if they make it they are like terminator fish. Can't w8 2 c what type of fish they atually are if they make it 2 a free swimming state.

 

[Katch]

get a sponge filter driven by and air pump from your lfs if you can.

 

[alex.wardle]

get a sponge filter driven by and air pump from your lfs if you can.

Already got the sponge filter. Small little elite thing that came with the tank a few years ago. Good shout on the air pump tho. Chears again

 

[Athena]

Wow what an amazing thing to happen, Alex!!

They are definitely fish tho, are they? LOL - just thought that maybe there could have been frog spawn in the bucket outside, that's if you get frogs in your garden?


Athena

 

[alex.wardle]

defo not frog spawn.
I have just done a little digging on the net and i am not really worried.
Could they be mosquities larva.

 

[coldcazzie]

I'd have thought it was a bit late in the year for mozzy larvae...but I could be wrong.

 

[alex.wardle]

well i will ad some pics l8 2moz. But is it normal for the wigglers(what every they are) to stay at the top. upside down. They only move from the top if the water is nocked but they soon make there way bk to the top.

 

[Gilli]

Sounds like mosquito larva to me - they hang on the top of the water!!

 

[Katch]

lol, mosi larva for sure - heh post a pick

if so, i'd like to nominate this thread as comedy thread of the year.