Urgh! Little critters. Help.

[JobySp]

I've just topped up my water in an empty tank and there seems to be some very small critters running around the side of the tank.

They are very nippy and look like what can only be described as a very very very very small pair of scissors that are shut.

Urgh.

I feel sick.

Anyone know what they are?

 

[RYO]

ah yea they'r cutticus smallicus, develish little dudes, they hide in ambush and when a poor wee fishy swims past they jump them and give them a trim
honest

 

[William]

Any chance of a photo? They are not like little worms are they? Do they look like little beetles? Couldn't be some hydra could it?

 

[JobySp]

They don't look like that thats for sure -as for a photo - I took one but they where so small you wouldn't have been able to distinguish it from a tiny pinprick.

I will try and get the video camera out and record it - its very interesting...


Are they dangerous or will my fish make mincemeat out of them?

 

[crimsontsavo]

I think, THINK I have them as well. I have the worms as well as a few other boogly woogly things on the sides of my tank. So far they have not harmed anything, that I know of anyway. My fish eat them. And yea, the popualtion does get larger if I over feed. I like them.

Just keep an eye out- make sure your fish are doing okay.

 

[Lateral Line]

Couldn't be fry could they? They are fast and when small some look like a pair of eyes with a small body behind, vaguely scissor like.