Nematodes in the aquarium: causes, methods of struggle and interesting facts

Many people want to have a big aquarium at home, filled with bright tropical fish. But do not forget that in the aquarium a special closed biosystem is formed, which is very easy to disrupt by improper care. A great concern is the sudden appearance of nematodes in the aquarium. About their significance for aquarium fish and danger to humans will be discussed in this article.

Nematodes: what is it?

Nematodes are considered to be small round worms with a size of not more than two millimeters. They are very active and are in constant movement. At the moment, scientists have described about eighty thousand species of nematodes, but in reality there are more than one million.

Outwardly, nematodes resemble thin spindle-shaped strands, they live in large colonies and have high adaptability to environmental conditions. Survive these worms in almost the most unfavorable conditions, and their ability to reproduce in this case does not disappear, but only increases.

Features of nematodes

Nematodes refer to heterozygous worms. The female is larger and lays eggs. Breathing nematodes completely with the whole body, many have anaerobic respiration. This function allows worms to survive in an oxygen-free environment.

Nematodes can be found almost everywhere: in water, rotting plants, earth and even pipelines. The main thing that is necessary for these worms is a moist environment. In its absence, they die or become less active.

Types of nematodes

Of course, we will not list all types of nematodes, but we will clarify that in their majority they are divided into parasitic and common. The latter are not capable of harming a person or an animal, their life cycle does not exceed several days and they are very sensitive to changes in humidity. Often, such nematodes do not withstand high temperatures and do not like soils with a high salt content.

Parasitic nematodes are more dangerous. They feel good in all conditions and infect all living organisms without exception. Similar nematodes in the aquarium will lead to massive infection and death of fish colonies, and infected plants begin to wither and die in the shortest possible time. There are species of parasitic nematodes that perfectly coexist in the human body, and they have several stages of development, and often - several hosts. That is, the larva is in one living organism, and the adult is in another. Nematodes are dangerous because they multiply very fast and can move around the organs. As a result, they affect almost all organs, which leads to severe diseases.

So, let's find out if it's worth worrying if there are nematodes in the aquarium.

Where do they come from?

Imagine the situation that you are relaxing watching the fish and suddenly there are white worms on the glass of the aquarium - nematodes. Where do they come from? And what to do with these worms?

Experienced aquarists know that worms in an aquarium can be of two types:

• Nematodes;
• Planaria.

Depending on the type of worms, a scheme of your actions will be built. If you really have nematodes, then you do not have to worry. Conventional worms are a good food for fry and some adult fish. Thanks to them, they grow very fast and receive all the necessary trace elements. Therefore, ask for which fish nematodes are a treat, and run them into your aquarium. Literally in a few days the nematodes in the aquarium will disappear. But their appearance should be for you the first bell that you wrongly look after your pets. Most likely, the abundance of food caused rot and the appearance of worms. Try to feed the fish less often and reduce one-time portion of feed.

Much worse, if in your aquarium there are planarians, these worms are not so harmless.

Nematodes in the aquarium: how to get rid?

If you are still confused by worms in the aquarium, then try to get rid of them immediately after detection. Although none of the known methods does not guarantee a 100% result. Prepare to use various means. Nematodes in the aquarium are very tenacious.

First of all, increase the temperature of water, worms do not tolerate high temperatures and begin to mass die. When the temperature of the water in the aquarium increases, the addition of common table salt is very effective. Fish it does not hurt, but nematodes will become even more uncomfortable.

As additional means, you can use special preparations from pet stores, they can destroy up to 100 species of aquarium parasites at the same time. Many aquarists advise, during the fight against nematodes, often add fresh water to the aquarium and siphonize the soil. But in any case, not everyone can completely get rid of worms.

Parasitic nematodes: how to recognize an infected aquarium fish?

Nematodes of parasitic type affect many aquarium fish. Scientists know more than six hundred species of parasites belonging to the class of nematodes, which can destroy the inhabitants of your aquarium.

Most often, tropical fish are infected, one such individual, hitting your aquarium, will infect the entire colony of fish in a few months. Parasitic nematodes can infect fishes through excreta or directly from a living individual.

Primary infection is almost asymptomatic. Fish behave, as usual, in some cases become more sluggish with increased feed intake. In the future, the number of parasites increases, and the belly of the fish swells. With a large number of nematodes, the inhabitants of the aquarium may have a deformation of the spine, leading to the death of fish.

How to get rid of parasitic nematodes?

So, you realized that there were nematodes in the aquarium. How to get rid of parasites, until they killed all your fish? First of all, clean the soil more often and remove the excrement - they contain more parasites. Be sure to use antihelminthic drugs bought in the store. Depending on the severity of the lesions of parasites, they can be used as an additive to food or diluted in accordance with the instructions in the aquarium water. If one of the fish is heavily contaminated, then it should be immediately isolated from the rest of the aquarium inhabitants. So you will save the rest of the fish from infection.

Is there a danger of human infection?

Many worry about how much nematodes in the aquarium are dangerous to humans. This topic is really rarely discussed in the society of aquarists, but newcomers are always very much worried about their safety.

All the owners of the aquarium are in constant contact with the water, which may contain parasites. In addition, when draining water through the hose, it often enters the mouth. All this raises the natural question of whether a nematode is dangerous to humans?

Fish diseases caused by nematodes can not be transmitted to humans. In most cases, nematodes do not survive in an environment other than the aquarium, so they will not affect human health in any way. Get infection can only after eating raw fish, which is absolutely impossible in the case of the inhabitants of the aquarium.

It should be borne in mind that for a person are dangerous other types of nematodes. They are contained in undercooked meat and raw water.

Nematode for an aquarium: ways of growing

Live food is very useful for the life of aquarium fish, so some species of nematodes are specially bred and used as a feeding. Such safe worms are found in beer barrels, rotting plants and unpasteurized vinegar. It is acetic blacks that are the most famous nematodes, which are fed to the fry of aquarium fish.

Experienced aquarists are breeding nematodes at home. It is not difficult to do this, in a few days you can get a whole colony of worms, suitable for feeding. It is best to breed nematodes not too deep glass and plastic bowls, cover them with a lid with attached wet sponge, which maintains the desired level of humidity.

That worms actively multiply and grow, they need to provide a nutrient medium. She is put on the bottom of a bowl, and a small amount of worms is spread on top. The following products are suitable for food:

• Crumb of white bread, soaked in water;
• Gherkule or porridge with milk;
• Grated carrots, soaked in boiling water.

In the aquarium live food must be added in small quantities, otherwise it will clog the biosystem. Live nematodes can stay in the bowl for no more than one month, later the feed needs to be changed.

Nematodes do not always bring trouble, but aquarists must necessarily have a good knowledge of the pros and cons of the appearance of these worms in the aquarium.