Miniscule white creatures

[Artis Gripemore]

Hi and thanks in advance.

Have a 5.5 gallon freshwater tank with one three-inch fish and lots of
plants. Sponge filter. The fish is not being overfed (it gets 4
small feedings a day, and eats it all).

The plants are finally starting to take over, reducing the algae
population, but I am noticing tiny, really tiny, creatures in the
water. Some are swimming around, and seem to congregate near the
strongest light. Others seem attached to the back glass, which I do
not clean.

The water is changed 20% a week. The side and front glass are kept
clean. So is the gravel.

Any ideas what I am looking at here? They do not seem to be bothering
the fish, and I assume they are eating the algae. They are so small
that I cannot tell what they actually look like.

Thanks again.

[Charles]

On 4 Dec 2004 17:03:28 -0800, (Artis Gripemore)
wrote:

>Hi and thanks in advance.
>
>Have a 5.5 gallon freshwater tank with one three-inch fish and lots of
>plants. Sponge filter. The fish is not being overfed (it gets 4
>small feedings a day, and eats it all).
>
>The plants are finally starting to take over, reducing the algae
>population, but I am noticing tiny, really tiny, creatures in the
>water. Some are swimming around, and seem to congregate near the
>strongest light. Others seem attached to the back glass, which I do
>not clean.
>
>The water is changed 20% a week. The side and front glass are kept
>clean. So is the gravel.
>
>Any ideas what I am looking at here? They do not seem to be bothering
>the fish, and I assume they are eating the algae. They are so small
>that I cannot tell what they actually look like.
>
>Thanks again.


The two most common "small things" I find in my tanks are gammarus and
ostracods. From the size description, I'd guess ostracods for your
animals. Harmless.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

[[email protected]]

stylaria or baby fish. stylaria are seen in tanks where live foods are fed, and
where there is gravel and organic debris accumulating. not harmful. just an
indicator. Ingrid

(Artis Gripemore) wrote:

>Hi and thanks in advance.
>
>Have a 5.5 gallon freshwater tank with one three-inch fish and lots of
>plants. Sponge filter. The fish is not being overfed (it gets 4
>small feedings a day, and eats it all).
>
>The plants are finally starting to take over, reducing the algae
>population, but I am noticing tiny, really tiny, creatures in the
>water. Some are swimming around, and seem to congregate near the
>strongest light. Others seem attached to the back glass, which I do
>not clean.
>
>The water is changed 20% a week. The side and front glass are kept
>clean. So is the gravel.
>
>Any ideas what I am looking at here? They do not seem to be bothering
>the fish, and I assume they are eating the algae. They are so small
>that I cannot tell what they actually look like.
>
>Thanks again.



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