Not sure if nematodes, tubifex, midge larvae?

[Elena]

I was moving my axolotls today and so had them in a tub full of water from their tank. I never saw these worms in the bare bottom tank, but since I have so many plants and they seem to be latched to them, I am not surprised that I didn't see them. This tub was completely dry and clean when I put them in it, so the tank has to be the source.

The worms vary in stages of red to brown, and swim in a spiral, such as seen in this quicktime movie: http://www.ucsd.tv/greymatters/movies/swim.mov

They also match the description and pictures in this thread on a fish forum: Little Red Worms.....

I saw them in the tub swimming furiously and stacking in clumps in order to somehow climb the walls of the tub, it seemed. I saw them as red streaks on the outside, and opened the tub to investigate. I do have numerous other outbreaks of small snails, planaria, copepods, and some other unidentified swimming objects that may or may not be ostracods and water mites. Even with all the full tank transfers I do from constantly moving it, and only keeping about 3 gallons of water from the original tank, these things burst to life rather quickly. I don't much mind them. But I do like to know what they are, just in case.

Posted in general axolotl discussion because it's a given that it will get the most views, and it happens to be in my axolotl tank. Attached is the best picture I can get of these inch-long, hair thin erratic swimmers. Also, here is a link to a quick less-than-a-minute video of them in the tub.



All photos credited to an iphone and bad lighting. As I was picking up a ball of the worms that had massed themselves on top of a plant, one of my axolotls swam right up and bit my finger, taking the worms with him. There goes that sample. The worms were later spotted leaving his gills.

Anyway, if someone could give a correct identification, or at least an idea of one, that would be great. It's always nice to know who the new neighbors are.

[Rodrigo]

They look like Tubifex but i don´t think an ID is possible without closer examination. Still, probably some naididae worms...

[Elena]

Thanks. I'll let them stay. I took a bunch over to my frog tank and my fat floating frogs and ADF have been really munching on them.