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Post by plocket on Jun 11, 2007 18:51:39 GMT 1
I've found loads of tiny red worm-like things in my water feature and wondered what they are, and whether they are good or bad. I automatically thought of mozzies, but these are on the bottom of the bowl, not suspended from the surface of the water. They range from about 1cm long to about 2cm long, and seem to have rings around their bodies, and are slightly white or pale pink at the "head" end. Any thoughts? And if they are nasties how do I deal with them?
Thanks! ;D
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Post by madonplants on Jun 11, 2007 22:15:57 GMT 1
Sounds like bloodworm, midge larvae to me. Great food for fish!!  In time the will turn into midges and leave. I wouldn't say they are bad, but biting insect wise, I suppose they are not good. Hope this helps Plocket! Keith |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Jun 12, 2007 4:08:54 GMT 1
Hi Miss Plocket.
Yep. Sounds like bloodworms. Good fish, immature salamander and newt food. When they complete their life cycle probably the frogs, toads and birds eat them. I don't know how to get rid of them other than siphoning them out and replacing the water. I don't think you would want to put chemicals in your water feature that may harm welcome guests.
Can you introduce a guppy or two into your water feature? They will eat them up very quickly!
C3D
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Post by madonplants on Jun 12, 2007 9:35:14 GMT 1
Hi Miss Plocket. Yep. Sounds like bloodworms. Good fish, immature salamander and newt food. When they complete their life cycle probably the frogs, toads and birds eat them. I don't know how to get rid of them other than siphoning them out and replacing the water. I don't think you would want to put chemicals in your water feature that may harm welcome guests. Can you introduce a guppy or two into your water feature? They will eat them up very quickly! C3D Sadly they wouldn't survive our temperatures and probably get predated upon if they could! Good idea though.  The only way to not get them is not to have silt at the bottom or anywhere they can hide in, but that is difficult. Keith |
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Post by debbiem on Jun 12, 2007 11:00:52 GMT 1
Ditto bloodworm.  Just wanted to add my fourpenneth. |
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Post by plocket on Jun 12, 2007 11:49:30 GMT 1
thanks everyone! ;D
There isn't any silt at the bottom of the bowl - it's very clean since I've been using the stuff that Madon recommended. I think I might just tip the water out and start with fresh - there are lot of bloodworms in there and I don't need more midges in the garden ;D
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Jun 12, 2007 12:43:18 GMT 1
We have two small container water features on our patio. For mosquito larvae control we employ Guppies, Bettas and once we had Red Platties. (Very Pretty in the large clear container!) We also put guppies in the wildlife pond.
Starting in August we begin the task of catching the guppies in the wildlife pond because our nights will get colder in September. By mid September we have harvested about 98% of them from the pond and 100% of the fish from the smaller containers. These fishies live in two 55 gallon aquariums over the cold months and when the weather warms the water for them outside again, some of thse go back outside the following spring.
We have done this since the year 2000. It isn't easy to catch everyone. There are so many more fish than we started with . LOL! You need to be able to house them indoors for the cold months.
Would someone like a White Cloud Mountain Minnow survive your winter? *VERY* nice fish!
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Post by madonplants on Jun 12, 2007 12:50:36 GMT 1
thanks everyone! ;D There isn't any silt at the bottom of the bowl - it's very clean since I've been using the stuff that Madon recommended. I think I might just tip the water out and start with fresh - there are lot of bloodworms in there and I don't need more midges in the garden ;D Not sure how else you could kill them off without using something like bleach, but wouldn't recommend that for obvious reasons!! Poor cats and birds! Have you had them in there before? Like what it says about them here, I am baffled as to why the adults have laid their eggs there in the first place, especially as it is clean water!!  Is the pump clean? Can't think what else they are feeding on, maybe the bacteria that is in the water! Also spotted from this article, that they are a non biting midge, which I must admit I didn't know!! Keith |
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Post by plocket on Jun 12, 2007 15:58:59 GMT 1
I've just tipped the water out Madon, but won't fuss so much now that it seems they are non-biting midges. I've no idea what they are feeding on - the water looked lovely and clean (that stuff you recommended is great ;D ). Ah well - I'll have to wait and see whether more appear.
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Post by madonplants on Jun 12, 2007 16:10:07 GMT 1
I've just tipped the water out Madon, but won't fuss so much now that it seems they are non-biting midges. I've no idea what they are feeding on - the water looked lovely and clean ( that stuff you recommended is great ;D ). Ah well - I'll have to wait and see whether more appear. Phew, I had nightmares that it didn't work and I would be made into a black sheep!!! ;D Keith |
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Post by plocket on Jun 12, 2007 16:13:21 GMT 1
Oh don't you worry Madon - I think it's great stuff and would in turn recommend it now |
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The only way to not get them is not to have silt at the bottom or anywhere they can hide in, but that is difficult.
Is the pump clean? Can't think what else they are feeding on, maybe the bacteria that is in the water! Also spotted from this article, that they are a non biting midge, which I must admit I didn't know!!