Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
Moderator: Mustafa
Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
Hello! I noticed today some tiny white floating specks in my tank - I’ve read about copepods but these are barely moving and minuscule! I also see a couple string looking things. I would attach a picture but they are so tiny I literally cannot get the camera to focus on them! Should I be worried? Or are they likely harmless? I did top off my water last night if that might have anything to do with it (maybe moved some things around)
Also, I’ve had my shrimpies for 3 weeks now! Wondering if I should feed them or wait a little longer. They seem to be doing well! Most are red, some clear, but all seem mobile and happy (I think?!) I was planning to feed them tomorrow but I read somewhere not to feed if there are microorganisms so they don’t explode in population. Thoughts? Again, I’d attach a photo but I literally can’t get a good shot so hopefully the info is enough! Thank you!
Also, I’ve had my shrimpies for 3 weeks now! Wondering if I should feed them or wait a little longer. They seem to be doing well! Most are red, some clear, but all seem mobile and happy (I think?!) I was planning to feed them tomorrow but I read somewhere not to feed if there are microorganisms so they don’t explode in population. Thoughts? Again, I’d attach a photo but I literally can’t get a good shot so hopefully the info is enough! Thank you!
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
I’m attaching some photos of the substrate which have lil white specks as well, not sure if they are related to the floaters. I marked the area in blue. I’ve also seen some sap looking things in there as well - any ideas? (Marked in red)
Thank you in advance from this newbie!
Thank you in advance from this newbie!
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
Unfortunately, too little data to really say. Where did the water come from initially? If it was distilled water with salt added, you're probably just seeing bits of salt and/or biological fluff floating about. If they don't move in little jerky doots, they're probably not copepods, which would be hard to get in three weeks from a fresh tank build anyway. Either bits of biofilm that is settling or even bits of shrimp poop. I really wouldn't worry about it unless you start to see a ton of it building up.
As far as feeding, you can surely give them a tiny bit of food, but remember that these guys are primarily feeding off the biofilm and algae that should eventually reach a nice equilibrium in your tank. Don't overfeed. And if you do feed and suddenly see a lot more fluff in the tank, that's probably a good sign to stop feeding.
As far as feeding, you can surely give them a tiny bit of food, but remember that these guys are primarily feeding off the biofilm and algae that should eventually reach a nice equilibrium in your tank. Don't overfeed. And if you do feed and suddenly see a lot more fluff in the tank, that's probably a good sign to stop feeding.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
Thank you for the reply! I’ll continue to keep an eye on itdglidden wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:13 pm Unfortunately, too little data to really say. Where did the water come from initially? If it was distilled water with salt added, you're probably just seeing bits of salt and/or biological fluff floating about. If they don't move in little jerky doots, they're probably not copepods, which would be hard to get in three weeks from a fresh tank build anyway. Either bits of biofilm that is settling or even bits of shrimp poop. I really wouldn't worry about it unless you start to see a ton of it building up.
As far as feeding, you can surely give them a tiny bit of food, but remember that these guys are primarily feeding off the biofilm and algae that should eventually reach a nice equilibrium in your tank. Don't overfeed. And if you do feed and suddenly see a lot more fluff in the tank, that's probably a good sign to stop feeding.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
A few more pics of mystery things in my tank, though they are poor quality. I will try to describe - one is a shiny brown worm looking thing. I might just be trippin because it looks like it could just be substrate?? But I hadn’t noticed any in that shape before so I wasn’t sure…
The other was what looked like a white ball of string on algae - but I also thought it looked sort of like half of a molt?? I can’t tell if it’s something bad growing or if it’s a cluster of antennae/legs. I’m attaching the pics but I don’t know if they will be helpful. Mostly I’m wondering if I should take a wait and see approach or try and do something.
Sorry if these questions are a little silly - I’m brand new to aquariums of any kind so I’m trying to catch every little thing & don’t have the experience of identifying anything! better safe than sorry haha
The other was what looked like a white ball of string on algae - but I also thought it looked sort of like half of a molt?? I can’t tell if it’s something bad growing or if it’s a cluster of antennae/legs. I’m attaching the pics but I don’t know if they will be helpful. Mostly I’m wondering if I should take a wait and see approach or try and do something.
Sorry if these questions are a little silly - I’m brand new to aquariums of any kind so I’m trying to catch every little thing & don’t have the experience of identifying anything! better safe than sorry haha
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
..MsNymbus wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:34 am A few more pics of mystery things in my tank, though they are poor quality. I will try to describe - one is a shiny brown worm looking thing. I might just be trippin because it looks like it could just be substrate?? But I hadn’t noticed any in that shape before so I wasn’t sure…
The other was what looked like a white ball of string on algae - but I also thought it looked sort of like half of a molt?? I can’t tell if it’s something bad growing or if it’s a cluster of antennae/legs. I’m attaching the pics but I don’t know if they will be helpful. Mostly I’m wondering if I should take a wait and see approach or try and do something.
Sorry if these questions are a little silly - I’m brand new to aquariums of any kind so I’m trying to catch every little thing & don’t have the experience of identifying anything! better safe than sorry haha
The top pic looks like a molt. The other pic, I do not know, but I would not worry about it.
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Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
Thank you!!sliphorn wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2022 11:27 am..MsNymbus wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:34 am A few more pics of mystery things in my tank, though they are poor quality. I will try to describe - one is a shiny brown worm looking thing. I might just be trippin because it looks like it could just be substrate?? But I hadn’t noticed any in that shape before so I wasn’t sure…
The other was what looked like a white ball of string on algae - but I also thought it looked sort of like half of a molt?? I can’t tell if it’s something bad growing or if it’s a cluster of antennae/legs. I’m attaching the pics but I don’t know if they will be helpful. Mostly I’m wondering if I should take a wait and see approach or try and do something.
Sorry if these questions are a little silly - I’m brand new to aquariums of any kind so I’m trying to catch every little thing & don’t have the experience of identifying anything! better safe than sorry haha
The top pic looks like a molt. The other pic, I do not know, but I would not worry about it.
..
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
My tank had a sort of bloom of copepods shortly after cycling, they were great, they cleaned all the biofilm off the glass. When i turned off the lights they would rain from the top of the tank into hiding. now they are mostly gone.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okhpITV ... ShrimpLife
Might want to see if any of the white floaters are these bad things.
Might want to see if any of the white floaters are these bad things.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
Thank you I will check this out!Rudiarose wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 1:10 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okhpITV ... ShrimpLife
Might want to see if any of the white floaters are these bad things.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
I think that YouTube video caters to FW tanks. I've never seen any of those survive or appear in brackish tanks. I even feed dragonfly nymphs to my Alpha Opae Ula and they don't survive in brackish. Then again they get eaten pretty quickly.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
Yeah I checked it out and didn’t think any of them matched. However I did see another long brown thing just now that I’m paranoid about! I’m attaching pics. Again unsure if this is just a long piece of substrate or something to worry about! It does not appear to be moving at all but gosh it really looks like a worm doesn’t it?? Is it bad or am I paranoid? I’ve been especially anxious about the tank lately as a spotted a couple of bodies sadly (another thread on that). Any thoughts on what this is?
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
I get a trap like they showed in the video and see if you can get a sample and take it to a salt water pet store.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
You’re overthinking it. What type of water did you use? RO or distilled. If you did it’s pure and more than likely void of any harmful pests. I can’t think of anyone that had harmful pests in their tanks due to the normal set up like PetShrimp advises.
Re: Tiny white floating things?/feeding question
That’s great to hear and yes I used RO water!
Thanks!