General Care Discussion :: Teeny Tiny Green Bugs

[kneenuh]

It's the weirdest thing. Last week I noticed these really teeny tiny, almost microscopic green bugs in april's tank. Hundreds of them. But at first glance the tank looks very clean. I was so grossed out that I did a complete water change with a bleach and a lot of rinsing. The filter was totally changed. I thought....problem solved?

Well here we are one week later, and I throw some zucchini in her tank, and come back all the zucchini are covered in these little bugs. It was so nasty. So I had to do the whole cleanign things again! This is not very fun for me right now since I'm the middle of finals and term papers, and projects and what not.

She has no algae in her tank, I do like 25% water changes every week if not a full water change each week. I condition her water, and it's always at a constant temperature.

I have a fish tank as well that is RIGHT BESIDE her tank, in the same conditions, yet, no bugs in that tank. Maybe the fish are eating them, I'm not sure...I guess it seems likely, but I don't see even one of these bugs in the fish tank.


Anyways, has anyone else ever had experience with this? I'm afraid it will only get worse and I'll have to continue with complete water changes every week, which is less than desirable. I was reading on the internet that this can happen in fish aquariums and that they are not necessarily harmful, infact they can provide food for fish/fry. Although my bugs are unique from the other descriptions I have been reading......but ti's just weird in my turtle's tank.

Maybe I should introduce some fish residents to help with the problem?

[RunninWideOpen]

Wow, that's odd. I would freak out out too! The bugs must be coming from somewhere. Any chance they're on any of the veggies you feed her?

Did you clean every fake plant / rock / whatever else is ther?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Have you looked inside aprils filter? They could be breeding inside there..But maybe runninwideopen is right, they could very well from the vegetables. Either way, track it down to the main source, THEN KILL IT.

[Tenodera]

Could they be aphids?

[grey goose]

Do they look like this?:




If so, they are Daphnia.
I've seen them clear (translucent), orange, grey and green. It depends on what they are eating. It's an aquatic insect, so it didn't come from the vegetables. I think maybe you fed your turt some feeder fish and they were in the pet shop water.....
They are harmless to turts, but very annoying to get rid of.
More on Daphina (water fleas) here:
http://www.caudata.org/daphnia/

[DavidY]

Are they swimming bugs or do they cling to surfaces? I would definitely add some fish in there. You don't want to have to keep sterilizing your tank and equipment all the time.

I know water insects can become a problem when using aquatic plants brought in from the wild. You can get some pretty nasty looking insect larvae that can eventually hatch into equally nasty flying bugs as they grow. But you usually don't see them by the hundreds like that.

[Tenodera]

I've been trying to cultivate daphnia for my newt for ages...lol

[DavidY]

he he, one man's rubbish is another man's treasure! Yea, daphnia are a great source of food for aquatic breeders (fish, seahorses, etc.).

[kneenuh]

aw well maybe I should get a newt! If I still have them next time I travel hme to vancouver I'll bring you some Tenodara.

It does look like to could be a daphnia, although I don't exactly have a microscope to know for sure. I will definitely read up on them. Thank you Grey Goose.

I'm still confused as to where they came from. I only have fake plants in her tank, and I feed her veggies that are fresh and just cut or just opened from the salad bag. Hehe. Her feeder fish have not come straight from the pet store in a loooong time. I've been breeding them for awhile now.