Film On Top Of Water

[wolfrad]

In a few of my boys homes there is a slimey film on top of the water. I know that the tank was cleaned out very good as so was the rock and other stuff in the tank, didn't use soap at all---used bleach and washed tanks out many many times to make sure no bleach smell. The boys seem to be doing great but this junk always seems to come back---when I was out their tanks and put them back in they blow bubble nests and then this stuff comes back again. Will this hurt my boys and how can I get rid of the stuff.

 

[WILDER]

Do you feed frozen or live foods, plus do you have filters in there tanks to keep the water moving, kitchen paper might remove it from the surface.

 

[wolfrad]

Do you feed frozen or live foods, plus do you have filters in there tanks to keep the water moving, kitchen paper might remove it from the surface.

I mostly Hikari Betta pellets--also feed frozen bloodworms every 4-5 days--and some betta flake food which they all seem to enjoy. My tanks are all unfiltered--it seems that they started this about a few weeks ago. Might try the paper towel thing, thanks.

 

[WILDER]

It's the frozen bloodworms, plus not helping with not having a filter as the water won't have any movement.

 

[wolfrad]

It's the frozen bloodworms, plus not helping with not having a filter as the water won't have any movement.

Well today is the first time I've fed bloodworms in probably a week and I've done my 100% tank cleanings since then, so I'm figuring if anything it'd have to be the filtering. Any suggestions on wether this will hurt them?

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

It's very common to get that kind of film on the surface in tanks that don't have any filtration. That's one of the reasons I've kept at least a gently flowing airstone in every betta tank I've ever set up. I don't know if it's harmful to the fish, but I know I wouldn't want to have to break through a film every time I went to the surface for a breath of air.

 

[CatLover]

I have the same thing in my tanks. It only happens to some of my bettas though, usually the younger, newer ones. At first I was concerned, so I asked on here earlier in the year. I was informed that the film occurs when the betta releases a certain chemical from its body. It's totally natural and harmless. I just leave the film there until I do water changes.