small little bugs in tank (look like sand!)

[jolyons]

hi,
i am worried that my tank has an infestation of bugs. They are really small like a grain of sand, some are black and some are clear/white. there all over.

I have had my axies for about 2yrs and they are on sand. All nitrates etc are ok in tank. The temp is around 20c somes times few degrees higher sometime few degrees low...depends on how cold it is outside.

Please help!

 

[gr33neyes]

sounds like it could possibly be planaria or something like it. I notice these sometimes in my tank, mainly on the tank walls, tiny worm like things which are white and very wriggly. They feed on rotting matter and left over food. I clean mine off using an aquarium algae scraper (magnetic type) and then a small water change helps to suck them up using a piece of hose. They are part of the eco system which lives in aquaria and are not necessarily bad if kept controlled. Try upping your cleaning routine if they seem to be taking over.
I found them after I had introduced live plants into my tank so it was possible I brought them in via the plants, but they dont seem to bother the axolotls.

 

[pete]

They're most likely water fleas and such which are normal part of an established aquarium. If you're water quality is good axolotl isn't bothered, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Kaysie]

"Bugs" in the tank are a normal and healthy part of the small, recreated ecosystem. http://caudata.org/cc/articles/Tank_critters.shtml