WTF is in my springtail culture??

derangedjester · #1 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 04:39 AM

i havent a clue. theres still many springtails roaming around....but there looks to be thousands of little worms wiggling around....they have turned the substrate to goo...i havent misted in about a month.

and another

derangedjester · #2 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 04:41 AM

grrr the pictures are clear and large on my comp. any help with this?

rain- · #3 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 05:15 AM

You linked to the thumbnails, here are the big ones:

But I can't say what the worms are.

derangedjester · #4 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 05:31 AM

would they be ok for the viv and would frogs eat them? they are tiny about 3x the size of my springtails at most.

#5 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 05:32 AM

grindal worms? Nematodes? Something like that, i have a few myself :evil:

derangedjester · #6 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 05:38 AM

are they harmful at all?

JoshKaptur · #7 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 02:47 PM

Springtails are often an unwanted guest in white worm cultures, which many tropical fish enthusiasts culture for their needs. The reverse is also true.

The good news is that both can coexist just fine. You can carefully start new fresh (worm-free) springtail cultures by adding just springtails to a fresh culture...

Grassypeak · #8 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 03:33 PM

If You want to start a worm free culture, simply flood the existing culture and pour the springtails into the new culture. Springtails float. Worms sink.

zBrinks · #9 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 11:13 PM

Got any friends with fish (or fish yourself)? I always had alot of trouble finding white worm cultures when I was breeding kribs and such.

Homer · #10 (**permalink**) 08-18-2006, 03:07 AM

Awesome Grindal Worm Culture! What's your secret? We always had springtails crash our White Worm and Grindal Worm cultures. Other than their optimal temperatures, I never could tell the difference between White Worms and Grindal Worms.