NEED HELP! White mini fish???

[MadridKid]

Hey its been awhile, glad to see there are some of you fish experts on here... Anyway, I have a 10 gal. with a betta in it. Lately (Past 5-6 days), he hasn't been eating. Wondering what may be the problem, I looked into the tank. After a few seconds I noticed little white dots swimming against the water current... So yah. I'm sort of confused on if this is what's causing my betta to starve, and wondering now how to rid my tank of these white pests. Anyone able to help??? Thanks. -MadridKid

 

[homebunnyj]

I don't know what they are, but bettas do eat live food (insect larvae, etc.), so do you think he's been snacking on these and just isn't hungry for betta pellets? Does he seem healthy and plump?

Have you been keeping up with your water changes, vacuuming the substrate, and not overfeeding? I don't know if any of those things could have to do with the pests, but it is possible, I suppose.

 

[MissFishy]

I have also seen these occassionally in my tanks, I think they are some sort of insect larvae? But they don't seem to get any bigger and just hang in my tanks like little swimming bugs? They don't seem to do anyone any harm and when I have fry they gobble them up, so I don't think that's what your betta's problem is. (maybe someone else can give us a more accurate answer on what these little white "bugs" really are?).

As for your betta, as bettas get older, much like any living thing, it gets slower. Bettas lifespan is 2-3 years and when you get them they are usually 6 months to a year already. The water current he was able to fight/swim against when he was younger may now be too strong for him. Bettas like calmer water. I would warm the tank up a bit and see what you can do about the current.

 

[homebunnyj]

The op didn't say the betta was having trouble with the current, he was referring to the white things. And I don't understand what you mean as to fry gobbling these things up having to do with whether the betta is eating them. Bettas eat larvae of various sorts. I must be missing the point because you always make sense and I don't really get it this morning....? Maybe it will be clear to me when I reread it this evening.

 

[tropicalcrazy]

yeah ive seen them in my tank before too but never thought anything of it because no harm has been done. havent seen them for a little while now. they would stick all over my glass. and the more i think about it havent had that problem since ive had my gold algae eaters, now 1, or when i had 4 chinese algae eaters. i think they eat whatever it may be

 

[MissFishy]

I was saying that perhaps the reason he isn't eating is because he's having trouble dealing with the current or water temps as he gets older. I don't think it's because of the little "bugs" if that's what they are, the ones that I have are too small for a betta to eat.