FishProfiles.com Message Forums

My 55 gallon tank has seemed to develop water fleas. Unfortunately I am away at college so I can't provide the water parameters, but I do biweekly water changes of 20%. My only guess is there may have been live blackworms left in the gravel from the last feeding. As of now the fleas stick to the glass or swim freely but have not been attaching themselves to the fish. Any ideas on what they are and how to get rid of them?

Hmmm, water fleas are a little unusual, but not impossible. Sometimes when I overfeed what I get are these tiny little worms (planaria), not water fleas (Daphnia)

Live blackworms would continue to live in the substrate, they are an aquatic species, I think. AFAIK they do not behave similarly to the planarians that float around, but since I've never had them I don't really know.

Invertebrates that proliferate due to excess feeding are usually scavengers and aren't usually dangerous. They're actually somewhat helpful in getting rid of extra waste, but they can be a little creepy or unsightly. Do a good gravel siphon to pick up extra detritus (food for these scavengers) as well as to suck up any worms in the substrate. Also, tell the person feeding your tank to cut back, maybe even skipping a day; extra food is a major cause for scavenger outbreaks.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I only fed the blackworms to the tank once, and noticed none of the fish ate it. Though I said water fleas I meant a more general term... not daphnia. My mom, the person in charge of the tank, is a third grade teacher and does a daphnia unit so she would know if thats what it was hahaha. I tell her to do a good siphon now and cut back a little on feeding and I'll do another good siphoning when I get home soon.