Identify

[Waterdog111]

Does anyone have an idea what type of aquatic worms these may be that are in the water bowls that I set some of my orchids in.


This is probably an almost impossible question seeing as how many different types there are. I ask because threre are some that I wouldnt want to propagate.

I am setting up a system which I intend to breed freshwater shrimp(small ones)

[Blueszz]

Are they more red than brownish?

[Waterdog111]

Which were you asking about? The worms are black. The shrimp will be the red ones and maybe some yellow and blue. Thanks for asking.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by Waterdog111

Which were you asking about? The worms are black. The shrimp will be the red ones and maybe some yellow and blue. Thanks for asking.

I meant the worms.
Sorry, if they are black, I have no clue.

[Waterdog111]

Thank you for the thought, yea they are diffinently black. I dont think they are any sort of larva. Was just worried that they could do damage to my orchids, but I dont think so.

[aihpcfl]

Mosquito larvae would be the most likely guess, but I can't tell from the image. Are you familiar with them? They come to the surface to breathe. If you disturb the water they will drop to the bottom. And they wriggle.

I'm also on the Gulf Coast (Florida). I used to allow mosquito larvae to accumulate in a large jar to feed to my tropical fish. I never saw any other worms or larvae.

FWIW I did a search using ChatGPT and it suggested, among the possibilities, midge or gnat lava, nematode, aquatic earthworms, as well as mosquito larvae. ChatGPT responded that the image appears to show mosquito larva floating at the surface.

[Waterdog111]

a,thanks for the thoughts and efforts, yea I kept aquarium fish myself over twenty years, I would at times go out by lake Worth N. of Ft. Worth and take a little 4” net ant scoope up black m. larvae from the wet lands out there. I had another place by out s.e. Of town close to the clearfork of the trinity river, found an intermident pond and discovered a hatching of freshwater napalli ( almost like brine shrimp) Boy did I cleanup that day for live food. The little pond was about 30 ft. Long by 10 ft. and the swarm was about 5-6 inches wide circleing the whole pond parimeter.
Birds have a habit of passing eggs from those type of organizims from place to place. Boy its an additive hobby, almost as bad (strong) an attraction as orchids.
See how I dwell on about it,sorry.:evil
Waterdog out!

[Clawhammer]

I have a couple of successful shrimp tanks. What kind of shrimp are you planning to keep?

[Waterdog111]

Probably some cherrys.
Oh,and its only a two gallon. Got some plants coming by mail in couple hours. One of the few things Ive never kept but since they are supposed to do ok in a micro tank Thought Id give it a go. I did keep conchs in my sw tank before.
You been keeping shrimp longtime?

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Waterdog111

Probably some cherrys.
Oh,and its only a two gallon. Got some plants coming by mail in couple hours. One of the few things Ive never kept but since they are supposed to do ok in a micro tank Thought Id give it a go. I did keep conchs in my sw tank before.
You been keeping shrimp longtime?

I keep blue sapphire neocaridinas and they are very easy. Fun to watch them reproduce increase in population size. They are the hardest little workers and I love how they swim