I have white grubs in my aquarium, what should I do?

I have white grubs in my aquarium, what should I do? When you observe the appearance of white filaments in your aquarium, verify that they are white grubs. These are tiny creatures about 4 millimeters in size that ripple in the water.

The litter worm called annelid lives and develops in a polluted environment. It is a tiny parasite that feeds on animal waste. Its proliferation distorts the water in your aquarium and threatens the health of your fish. So, what to do against this scourge? Let's see it in this article!

Why do I have white grubs in my aquarium?

White grubs can be caused by a plant or a pebble you have added to your aquarium. It also happens that a new fish introduced into the vivarium carries a white grub. This tiny parasite takes advantage of the space between gravel and sand to reproduce. It feeds on animal and vegetable organic matter deposited in the substrate. Therefore, dirty water promotes its development and multiplies its population. In the darkness, thousands of white filaments appear in the water.

Are white grubs dangerous to my fish population?

Small numbers of white grubs are not a danger to your vivarium. The fish eat these small prey as soon as they come out of their hiding places. On the other hand, their proliferation can harm animal health. Indeed, the overpopulation of white grubs considerably reduces the oxygen level in the water. This is why they come out of the substrate to seek oxygen at the surface. This lack of oxygen affects the fish's metabolism and makes them sick.

What to do to fight white grubs?

To fight against the presence and development of white grubs, several actions are necessary:

• Avoid overfeeding your fish (to reduce the amount of their droppings and make them want to attack white grubs);
• Prune your aquatic plants to avoid piles of waste;
• Scrub and rinse each pebble or root before adding it to the decor;
• Replace 20% of dirty water with RO water weekly to reduce impurities;
• Let the new plants soak in a container for 2 days before introducing them to the ecosystem at the bottom of the aquarium;
• Place a new fish in a container half filled with hydrogen peroxide;
• Let the fish swim in this water for 4 hours before submerging it in the aquarium.

Aquarists know it's best to avoid chemicals when treating white grubs. Indeed, these substances can poison fish and aquatic plants. Therefore, your entire fish population is at risk of being affected.

Proper maintenance of your aquarium can prevent their appearance!

The best remedy against these little beasts is regular maintenance of your aquarium. This is why the accumulation of organic matter at the bottom of the tank must be avoided. In practice, it is necessary to proceed as follows:

• Change 20% water once a week;
• Clean the internal walls of the aquarium;
• Scrub and rinse the decorative elements with clean water in a container;
• Use your vacuum cleaner to evacuate the detritus from the substrate;
• Return the pebbles, rocks and roots to the bottom of the vivarium;
• Fill the tank with running, non-chlorinated water.

If this is not enough, completely empty the tank before washing it thoroughly. Thus, the inconvenience caused by the presence of white grubs in your vivarium can be avoided. To keep the water clear and limpid, all you need to do is take good care of your fish habitat.

So, never forget to renew the water and clean the bottom of your aquarium. And for even more tips for keeping the water translucent in your aquarium, discover our dedicated blog post on this subject.