What Are They???

[clovervalley]

I have some bugs that like to take over my water lettuce and now the salvinia in my 10 gallon betta tank. They don’t go underwater and I’ve tried knocking off most of them but they always come back (maybe not the same individuals, but offspring. How do I get rid of them? Are they harmful to my betta? Mainly they just look really bad and freak me out.

 

[Jellibeen]

Huh, they look like the same bugs I had living in some semi-aquatic moss. Do they "jump" around? I doubt they are harmful to your betta. I got rid of mine by rinsing the moss and putting it outside. You could try taking all the plants out and giving them a good rinse.

 

[richiep]

Something like a flea beetle they jump
midna

 

[A201]

I believe the bugs are named "Springtails". Harmless, just a nuisance.

 

[clovervalley]

Huh, they look like the same bugs I had living in some semi-aquatic moss. Do they "jump" around? I doubt they are harmful to your betta. I got rid of mine by rinsing the moss and putting it outside. You could try taking all the plants out and giving them a good rinse.

I’ll save that huge job for a rainy day! But I think that’s my best bet. Thank you!

Something like a flea beetle they jump
midna

I’m not sure if they jump or not, I’ll have to watch longer!

I believe the bugs are named "Springtails". Harmless, just a nuisance.

That could be it...

 

[WTFish?]

I had those on my frogbit a while back, freaked me out! Someone told me springtails as well. I just had fun pushing them under over and over. They went away by the next week.

 

[midna]

is there any way you can get a closer picture of one of the bugs? they look a little too round to be springtails but I can't tell. they almost look like aphids but I need a better picture. it would also help if you try to touch them and see if they jump.

I agree, just take out all the floaters and rinse them really well in a strainer. you might not be able to get rid of any eggs though.

 

[clovervalley]

I had those on my frogbit a while back, freaked me out! Someone told me springtails as well. I just had fun pushing them under over and over. They went away by the next week.

It is a lot of fun! They hang on pretty well though

is there any way you can get a closer picture of one of the bugs? they look a little too round to be springtails but I can't tell. they almost look like aphids but I need a better picture. it would also help if you try to touch them and see if they jump.

I agree, just take out all the floaters and rinse them really well in a strainer. you might not be able to get rid of any eggs though.

I can try, it’s hard to get the camera to focus that close. They’re really tiny! I’ll add a zoomed in pic of the picture I put up there.
Edit: they’re more round than springtails...

 

[MrBryan723]

I'm leaning towards some kind of aphid as well. Springtails are tiny. Like 1mm and will spend a lot of time on the waters surface as well.

 

[clovervalley]

I'm leaning towards some kind of aphid as well. Springtails are tiny. Like 1mm and will spend a lot of time on the waters surface as well.

That is of a salvinia leaf, which is like less than 1cm, so the big is definitely almost that tiny, but I think you’re right about it now being a spring tail. The bug doesn’t go underwater, just stays on the leaves.

 

[MrBryan723]

Oh springtails don't go under water, just on the surface (they are too small to break the surface tension) but poking them with something is a sure way to tell. Springtails will definitely try to escape while other insects such as aphids won't move near as rapidly.

 

[Redshark1]

They look like aphids as springtails usually have elongated bodies.

 

[midna]

if they're aphids I would feed them to your betta. mine love aphids lol

 

[clovervalley]

if they're aphids I would feed them to your betta. mine love aphids lol

Whenever I stop by the tank I knock some in, no idea if he’s eating them or not but hey, free food!