Red Worms !!

[stroppy]

cleaning about in the pond this morning after mess from another night of spawning and i found what looked like tiny little bright red worms, does anyone know what they are ? and should i be worried ?

 

[koiguy1969]

sounds like blood worms the fish will eat them if its what they are.

 

[stroppy]

lets hope so i was worried they might be something worse .... any idea where they come from ?

 

[koiguy1969]

bloodworms are insect larvae and no not misquitoes... look em up if you want more info cause i cant remember from what insect.

 

[spotnapp]

lets hope so i was worried they might be something worse .... any idea where they come from ?

I believe they are larvae of midges and I recall reading an article that if you have them in your filter it means your bacteria in your pond is at the perfect balance because they only thrive in perfectly balanced water conditions. Of course, I came to this site looking for help so I would just take what ever I say with a grain of salt lol!

 

[koiguy1969]

thats it.. i couldnt remember that name for my life... gettin' old i guess!!

 

[spotnapp]

Thanks koiguy for confirming that for me. Don't feel bad either, the only reason I remember what they morph into is because one of my horses have a severe allergic reaction to midges.:wink:

 

[stroppy]

thanks for that spotnapp i thought it might be midges as there loads flying about my pond ... .... and your just a spring chicken koiguy

 

[BlakeA]

I also have these in an abundance in my filter specifically. Thank you for saving me the time of worrying and looking it up, lol.

 

[mrsclem]

Wow. Have had these in my filter system for years and thought I had a leach or parasite infestation. Good to know its a good thing.

 

[Jeanie master]

Wow. Have had these in my filter system for years and thought I had a leach or parasite infestation. Good to know its a good thing.

good reason for questions I guess!

 

[Dave 54]

I also have these in an abundance in my filter specifically. Thank you for saving me the time of worrying and looking it up, lol.

Like @BlakeA we too have worms in our filters not that I'm worried about it as it shows the filters are mature and capable of life other than helpful bacteria if you look you should also find other things such as fly Larva etc

 

[Mmathis]

Found this (yes, bloodworms = midges = tasty treats!):

Midge flies hail from the family Chironomidae, which includes more than 10,000 different species worldwide. Some varieties appear bright red in color thanks to a hemoglobin-type substance that helps them live with oxygen-depleted water, giving them their “bloodworm” nickname.

As adults, midge flies resemble mosquitoes, but they have fluffy antennae and no blood-sucking proboscis. Large numbers of them can be a nuisance as their droppings can cause damage to paint, brick and other surfaces. And when their tiny corpses pile up, they can cause a stink.

Home Sweet Home

These insects thrive in freshwater aquatic and semi-aquatic environments. In their larval stages, they live in tree holes, bromeliads, rotting vegetation, soil and artificial containers – including filtration systems, infesting media pads. They spend their time attached to the container’s solid surface and taking in tasty food as it floats by.

Midge flies lay their eggs in water, preferring it to be still, clear, dark and safe from critters like fish and frogs that nosh on the larvae when they emerge. To protect themselves, the bloodworms actually create and live in tiny half-inch tubes they build from mud, algae and other naturally occurring resources. Look closely in your filter, and you’ll probably see some of these worm-sized mud huts.

A Tasty Fish Treat

Don’t worry: These little guys won’t harm your pond or your fish. In fact, if one wriggles its way into your pond, it will be a welcome treat for your fish! Goldfish and other smaller fish will gobble them and their little mud homes; koi and other larger fish will treat them as tasty hors d’oeuvres.

Bloodworms are quite nutritious for fish. In fact, the insects are about 55 percent protein – which is a key nutrient fishes need to grow, reproduce and maintain their health. So rather than balk at the tiny worms, scoop them out of your filter and give them to your pond dwellers. They’ll thank you for them!

 

[budgenator]

Those little dudes eat a lot of junk in your filters, I have noticed they'll eat anything, even me!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

The label 'Bloodworm' is the common name for Two (2) completely separate species. As Mmathis posted above, it is used to denote the larval stage of the Midge fly. It is also used to denote a genus (Glycera) of true worm often found in aquatic venues.
Regardless of classification all are considered as menu items for many fish.