Little Grains of Rice...?

[brittant]

While feeding my critters earlier this morning, I noticed quite a few spots on the back wall of my tank that resemble grains of rice. Any idea of what they are?

(Also, to make myself feel better in the face of what I fear is bad news, here is a picture of my adorably people-watching Cardinal.)

 

[FishyReef]

I think they are probably pods - I had them in my tank too and was worried that they were something bad, but they turned out just to be some sort of pod that my fish snacked on!

 

[bjohanson1234]

Are they stationary or do they move?

Are they little spirals? Could be Spirorbids Melevsreef.com - Spirorbid Worms


Do you have any snails in your tank? Could be egg sacs from them if you do.

 

[brittant]

@bjohanson1234 - No spiral shells that I could see, and they appear to be stationary... I currently have four snails, two of the rock variety and two sand snails (excuse me, that's how they were sold to me and I've forgotten what they're called).

(I'm also planning on picking up several more snails this weekend or in the next few days.)

@FishyReef - I hope so; but if my fish is a fussy eater and is not consuming them, will they hurt my tank?

 

[bjohanson1234]

Look really closely. The spiral is very small. 1/16th inch at most. Hard to see. If they are stationary, they aren't pods as those move.

 

[brittant]

From peering at the tank, I've noticed there's actually two kinds of objects on the back wall - the things resembling the grains of rice, which I are think are stationary, and little white things that resemble fleas, which are moving.

I peered at the "grains", and they may or may not have spirals. I really just can't tell. They also appear to be ovals, rather than circular, so I'm not sure about the Spiorbid.

 

[brittant]

Turns out I underestimated my Cardinal... He's started popping them off the back wall every once and a while, and seems happy enough. I think I witnessed my crabs nabbing one too. Free fish food? :)

 

[bjohanson1234]

Yup
!!!!!

 

[brittant]

My only concern is that the "grains" themselves are not being consumed... Is there any possibility that they are some kind of flatworm? :(

 

[little_fish]

could be, but they are more likely pods, and dont think you need to worry about them.

 

[brittant]

Any way of knowing the difference?

 

[little_fish]

flatworms move like slugs and dont look anything like lice

 

[brittant]

After additional inspection today, there are three components to the white visitors:

1. Little grains of rice that do not appear to be flat on the tank, but have spiral shells like a hermit. They also do not appear to be moving

2. Little lice, which my fish and crabs have been snacking on, so likely pods.

3. Little circles on the glass that seem to be filled with eggs.

Would a dosage of flatworm treatment hurt the tank at all? Otherwise, might just act as though I have flatworms to be safe - especially since I'm hoping to introduce corals next week!

 

[little_fish]

No, but that stuff is expensive and I dont think you have flatworms.

 

[FishyReef]

The little circles on the glass that appear to be filled with eggs are likely snail eggs. I get them on my glass too where my snails have been. I agree with LF, you don't have flatworms, and the things you do have are good guys and nothing to worry about!

 

[brittant]

Okay, thanks! I might just buy some for the future because I am stocking up at the LFS today.

 

[bjohanson1234]

The little white spirals are spirobids they are good.
The little lice looking things are pods. Free fish food,
The little eggs are most likely snail eggs. Free fish food.

 

[bjohanson1234]

Okay, thanks! I might just buy some for the future because I am stocking up at the LFS today.

I wouldn't buy flatworm exit until you need it. It has an expiration date on it. So you might be paying 30 bucks for something you might not need.

 

[little_fish]

I think you are overworried about flatworms, its not that big of a problem, just dip corals when you buy them and if down the road you do get flatworms its not a horrible problem to deal with.

 

[brittant]

Okay :) I just purchased a small bottle of AiptasiaX and a few other things today as my LFS is rather far away and my modes of transportation are very limited; this way, if something were to happen, I wouldn't have to risk waiting 4-5+ days to buy the treatment. Thank you for your help though.