I've tried to check on DG, no luck; and my local pet stores don't seem to have anyone knowledgeable enough to help out. I just want t know what kind of worm is in my small pond. When I clean the filters out every week I spread them on the driveway and hose them to get all the fish poo and muck out. I keep two lots of filters so one set has a chance to dry in the sun before putting away.
Anyway, when washingthe filters I see these tiny, tiny (less than 1/2 inch) hair thin, red worms. Not a lot. I've seen them ever since I've had fish in the pond (at least 2 years now). My fish are healthy; the plants are healthy. But I want to make sure; and if they're not OK what do I treat the water with ?
Small worms
I see those a lot too. Don't know what they are but they have never seemed to cause any harm and never gotton so abundent that they overwhelm anything so I don't worry about it.
Those are blood worms. They're the larva of a type of midge. They don't hurt anything and fish like to eat them.
Yep, blood worms.
Thanks so much -- I really feel better now - it's just been niggling at me for so long and I couldn't find an answer. You guys are great.
Orchid........most ponders are concerned about them the first time they see them. They show your water if fairly healthy when they too are alive and healthy in your filter medium. No cause for concern whatsoever! :)
They are kind of distressing the first time you see them but then you find out they are only in the filter because the fish eat them everywhere else.