Question: White Bugs and Worms

[Alicialotl]

Hi guys,

So my tank is finally done cycling. It was a fishless cycling using frozen brine shrimp and fish food. In the past few days, I started adding my axie’s poops to the tank to feed my cycle. I have a few live plants in the tank that have been there from when I started cycling.

I just noticed that my tank had some small white bugs that I have identified to be cyclops. I also have some small white worms that have multiplied a lot! I realize now that leaving food and things in the tank gave them the opportunity to thrive. But what do I do now?

I’ve heard some people say that these things are harmless, but I added my axie for a day and, while her gills looked more relaxed, she developed some fidgety behaviors. Her leg would twitch. Her tail jerked once. And then she thrashed her head a bit. This was over 24 hours. I took her back to her smaller tank and her gills look slightly more curved but she’s no longer fidgeting.

Could the twitching be from bugs? Ammonia and nitrite were 0 in the cycled tank. Nitrates were 20ppm. There are two filters in the tank, one of which is a sponge filter.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Hayleyy]

The axie could just be reacting to the new tank, it's probably not the worms unless you see them on the gills. Did you acclimate the axie to the tank or just put it in there?
Water changes and siphoning the substrate should reduce the worms. I've had this problem before but they seem to have disappeared for now. Once a month I do mix up the sand while doing a water change so I don't know if this helps.

 

[Alicialotl]

I suppose I just put her in. The temperature was very similar. She was in a tub of her old water and I just slowly added the tub in. Would you have done that part differently? I am new to all this. Thank you for your help! I think you have helped me before on here! ??

 

[Hayleyy]

It does depend on how long the axolotl has been in transit. If it's not long I'd usually use a system similar to drip acclimation, I'll slowly add a bit of tank water every 10 mins or so for maybe an hour. If the axolotl has been in the bag overnight or longer it's better to get them out of the water asap so I'd just float the bag in the tank until the temps are the same.
But it sounds like you already had the axie in a temporary tub then changed into the tank, right? The water then is probably similar between spots so I would just make temps equal then put them straight in.
Watch her behaviour and see how she is adjusting. My copper Steve was really crazy and fidgety when I got him but eventually settled down, so it may just take time for this
Very happy to help!

 

[Alicialotl]

Yes, I have had my axolotl for just over a month in a 10G tank, so the water should have been quite similar. The cycling tank did have more water from my old house (I have moved during this process) and so I think the PH was slightly more alkaline. But I’ll keep an eye on her behaviour like you said. I hope she settles in alright! And I’m doing my best to siphon out the critters. It’s tempting to siphon every day but I don’t want to change out too much water! Thanks again!

 

[Alicialotl]

So, it looks to me like a worm is hitching a ride on Scout’s gill. She doesn’t seem alarmed at the moment, but should I be worried? I tried blowing/sucking it off with my turkey baster but it didn’t come off.

 

[Alicialotl]

Update: came back from school and the worm is gone from the gill!

 

[Hayleyy]

If you don't have one already you can use a turkey baster as an easy way to remove the worms (and poop!) and you don't take out too much water :happy: