Outbreak of water fleas??

[jbobs]

I just attempted spawning my bettas for the first time, and so far it has been successful. A couple hours after the spawn, though, I can see little brown fleas all over the bubblenes, hopping around! Upon further inspection, they are all around the water line of my tank and tiny, microscopic little white beggers darting around just under the durface of the water.

1. Will these things multiply to a point where they are unbearable (since they seem to have come out of the woodwork within the last few hours)

2. Are they indeed "water fleas" or daphnia, and when the betta fry hatch, will they eat them and keep the population under control?

3. Will they stay in the tank? (ei not jump onto me and my furry pets, LOL)

Any other info is much appreciated.

[octoxpuss]

Well, they will not jump out of the tank onto the pets. Hence water fleas. Anyway, i doubt they will eat the fish but more irritate them kind of a nuisance just like the normal flea is to a human. If it doesnt affect the fish they hould have a nicer treat to eat. IDK. This is my first thought about this thread.

[wolf_eyes]

They're little brown/tanish bugs that jump on the water's surface right? I have them in my 15. They don't bother my fish, the bugs actually provide an occasional snack for them. It's usually a sign of overfeeding if they're around but they have never harmed my fish

[jbobs]

That is good to know. I became alarmed at how many were on the bubblenest with the eggs in it, but perhaps they just like to hang out on the bubbles. They do jump accross the surface of the water, yes.

Well, maybe the fry will get a good helping of the very small underwater ones which must be larva or juveniles or something. Maybe they will curb the population, LOL. I just hate the thought of bugs in my aquarium (even though I know they're not technically insects, they look like it!)

[wolf_eyes]

Haha, I can understand the feeling. It's always a little freaky to spot your first unwelcomed critter. Wether we like it or not though, there are a lot of little critters that live in our tanks that help make it stable and work as a clean up crew. That's why I chuckle a lot of times when people say that our tanks *aren't* little ecosystems. Take one thing a little out of balance and you'd be surprised what shows up. My roommate fishless cycled her tank with fish food and it was always an adventure to see what showed up. She had hydra, the little bugs you have, nematodes, and all sorts of interesting little things pop up.

It's always good to double check and make sure that the things you have in the tank are harmless. Just goes to show you though that life will take advantage of whatever opportunity it is given :)