Little Fresh Water Critters?

I have this container that I am growing a plant in and recently changed the water out for RO
the water was from a heated tank
after a few days noticed little white 'bugs' swimming around in this small betta container I'm growing the plants in...
and idea what they could be? not much bigger than a grain of salt but solid white and free swimming
was some kind of population explosion
would the 'bugs' be good fish food or might they be parasites?
placed a lid on a few days ago and they seem fine...

 

What first come to mind are cyclops - take a look at them online and see if they look familiar. I could be wrong, though. IF they are cyclops, they're harmless, and fish can certainly eat them but that doesn't mean they always will.

 

eh no..
they have a small head and a fat body
and swim fairly well

 

My first thought is daphnia

 

 

You have ostracods - also known as seed shrimp.

 

not sure how that happened..
just that they probably was able to grow more in the safety of a container
so should I try and culture them?
Do not have a fishless tank..
they seem like be alright vacuums

 

they're cute!! and yes your fish can eat them

 

Oh lawdy, you done got the water AIDS. Best to just burn everything and move.

 

lolol, have read mixed emotions about them....
thinking of dumping them into my fry tank? lol
I am not sure how I grew them other than using different tank RO water
and there ghost shrimp in in it?...... idks neons and swordtails
none of my tanks show signs of having them like this cup did

 

Their eggs are amazingly durable and can survive for years - even being dried out - until conditions for hatching are right.

 

how can I keep them alive and going?

 

As long as conditions are good and they have a food source they will keep going, but they can have a population crash like Daphnia

 

yeah they boomed on their own
possible they were stowed away on/in the bulb/seed of the plant, but the plant has been in its spot for months
could they be in my tank(s) and I do not see them?

 

Yeah those are seed shrimp, I've raised a few myself for food for my fish, they usually reproduce by themselves if ther'es a bit of algae in the tank. That's what has worked for me.