Alga...possibly

leifus · #1 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 08:55 AM

I wasn't sure where to put this because I'm not sure if it's an alga or some sort of animal-type-thing...

It was growing in a rut along a woodland track. My friend tried taking a sample but it recoiled and almost disappeared. The tadpoles don't seem to mind it at all and looks like an infestation of some sort of nematode...

any help much appreciated

leifus · #2 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 09:54 AM

tubifex worms has been suggested....

ron1863 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leifus

tubifex worms has been suggested....

That's what they look like to me. I used to feed them to tropical fish.

leifus · #4 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron1863

That's what they look like to me. I used to feed them to tropical fish.

thanks ron

when alive ive read they can be harmful to fish - is this true?

also, are they common in the wild?

ron1863 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leifus

thanks ron

when alive ive read they can be harmful to fish - is this true?

also, are they common in the wild?

I don't think they are harmful to fish as I used to buy them as food for the fish. I remember that you can buy live worms or the dried type.

I have never seen them in the wild though.

AlanS · #6 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 10:46 PM

One of my recurring fantasies is that I am going to set up a tropical fish tank - which means I buy and read the magazines avidly but have not actually gone out and bought the tank, fish, etc. etc.

As part of my reading I did get the understanding that live Tubifex is really not a good idea.

As I recall it is not the Tubifex itself, but the high risk of introducing a range of nasties at the same time. Dried Tubifex is maybe safer, but still a bit suspect.

But I am relying on my memory here. I think Leifus is right, though.

Alan

Dutchess · #7 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 12:34 AM

My thoughts and memories of Tubifex.

My Uncle Bernie used to breed and show tropical fish. You couldn't enter his bathroom without bumping into canisters of marbles, or wash your hands in the wash basin....as ....yes, you've guessed it! It was full of Tubifex!

Nowadays, I too, have heard that live food is not a good idea...due to risk of introducing disease and other "nasties".

Also, I never have seen Tubifex "in the wild"....nor have I ever heard of it being found (not in GB at least)!

It's one of those things that I took for granted as a kid so I suppose it's time I was enlightened. I shall wait in the wings for someone to tell us all about it.

Good ol' WAB

D.

RobSutton · #8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutchess

Also, I never have seen Tubifex "in the wild"....nor have I ever heard of it being found (not in GB at least)!

D.

It's a fairly common member of freshwater invertebrate communities in the UK, and can be present in huge numbers in low oxygen environments where other animals struggle - mud in the bottom of stagnant ponds, water filled ruts, mud around the edges of slow flowing streams and in other streams and rivers suffering from organic pollution (eg from sewage works). They're red because they contain haemoglobin which allows them to maximise their uptake of Oxygen at low concentrations.