Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Question: Bloodworms living in the bottom of my tank?

Benjenkins163

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2014
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Hello,

Second post now!

Just a quick one on anyones opinions..... I was rummaging around in my tank yesterday and i found what looked to be long (1-2cm) cylinders in my sand. Pull them out and they were dead bloodworms..... Found a few more and then one was alive, So i have come to the conclusion that i have bloodworms in my tank, Living in my sand.

Will this be ok for the axolotls? Should i take all the sand out and put new sand in?

I believe they are bloodworms, I mean, They look just like them....

Thanks

Ben
 

auntiejude

New member
Joined
Apr 18, 2013
Messages
3,685
Reaction score
58
Location
England
Have you been feeding live bloodworms to your axies? If so then it is quite possible they are bloodowrms that have escpaed the feeding jar.

If not then you need to remove them as they are 'insect larvae of unknown origin', and as such may be carrying disease or parasites, or even be harmful to your axies.

Posting a picture will help identify them.
 

Benjenkins163

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2014
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
I have before hand, But this was a month or so ago. They are so small, They just hide! Im thinking about taking all the sand out and putting new sand in. Would that be ok?
 

auntiejude

New member
Joined
Apr 18, 2013
Messages
3,685
Reaction score
58
Location
England
Im thinking about taking all the sand out and putting new sand in. Would that be ok?

You'll upset the cycle a bit, but as long as you monitor the water quality and change water accordingly it should be fine.

You don't get the same issues with handfed earthworms or frozen bloodworms. And you're lucky the bloodworm in question didn't pupate and emerge as a midge and start buzzing round your room!
 

Benjenkins163

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2014
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
I have got some bites on my legs! Haha.

I think i will remove all the sand out tonight and put fresh new sand in. Surely if its just the sand im taking out, It wont affect the parameters too much? I thought that was more a water and plant thing?
 

Sweetie

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2014
Messages
373
Reaction score
12
Location
Melbourne, Australia
No, it's more a surfaces thing than a water thing. The bacteria colonise all the surfaces in the tank. They don't float in the water - well, not much.
 

HayleyK

New member
Joined
Jun 21, 2013
Messages
1,199
Reaction score
16
Location
Sydney
A fair amount of beneficial bacteria live in the sand too. It might muck up your parameters for a while but it's not like you would have to cycle the whole thing again. Just a mini cycle :)
 

Benjenkins163

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2014
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
A fair amount of beneficial bacteria live in the sand too. It might muck up your parameters for a while but it's not like you would have to cycle the whole thing again. Just a mini cycle :)

I ended up taking all the sand out, Put the axies in a spare tank, And am resanding the whole thing tonight
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Shane douglas:
    with axolotls would I basically have to keep buying and buying new axolotls to prevent inbred breeding which costs a lot of money??
    +1
    Unlike
  • Thorninmyside:
    Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation
    +1
    Unlike
  • stanleyc:
    @Thorninmyside, I Lauren chen
    +1
    Unlike
  • Clareclare:
    Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?
    +1
    Unlike
    Clareclare: Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus... +1
    Top