Is this a Thorea algae?

**Petex** · 06-13-2012, 11:19 PM

hi,
I got few days ago a new Dwarf Fissidens and I see something inside this Moos and it is not a worm.
I guess it could be a Thorea algae and I am not sure if I really like to transfer this stuff in my regular tanks, but don t want to spotthreath the new moos.
On the other side, I was not able to gather any closer informations about this kind off (red?) algae.

So has anyone experience with this stuff?
Did it grow fast and did it spread -or- will it grow slow and still rremain "sticking" localy inside the Moos?

**Reginald James** · 06-14-2012, 04:43 AM

Looks like a dead black worm, often sold as blood worms at fish stores. I used to feed my fish live black worms and after sitting in my fridge for a few days some would die and turn a cream color just like that. But then again I've never heard of thorea algae.

**Biollante** · 06-14-2012, 07:04 AM

Hi Peter,

Frankly, it looks like worms, dead or otherwise to me as well.

Thorea, the freshwater species tend to be dark green.

Pick some up and crush it between your fingers,

you should be able to tell whether it is meat or vegetable.

If it seems “vegetable,” cut across the filament and with, a good magnifying glass it should look like the top picture here, click the picture to enlarge.

I know I have a better picture somewhere, I just cannot locate it, but even though that is not one of the tropical species, it gives a good representation.

Biollante

**Petex** · 06-14-2012, 10:04 PM

It is something vegetable and no worm; but I will put it next week under the microscope to be sure.

I still found in the web the following Thorea (aka. "Worm-algae") images:
http://www.flowgrow.de/download/file...Alge%20001.JPG
http://www.flowgrow.de/download/file...Alge%20003.JPG
Looks strange, or?

**Tom Barr** · 06-14-2012, 10:26 PM

That's a rare uncommon species in aquarium. I would not think it's going to be an issue.

**Biollante** · 06-14-2012, 10:56 PM

Hi Peter,

Where do those photos come from? Did you take them?

If those are pictures from your tank, try to preserve the algae.

What is the water temperature?

Biollante

**Petex** · 06-15-2012, 12:22 AM

hi Biolante,
The pictures are not from my tank, they are from a Flowgrow Member who had in past a worm-algae. As far as I know the algae was not any harmfull and was only sticking on his wood, it has not spread so far.
Some ppl. also have currently trouble with other "rare" algae species like Caloglossa sp (who seems to spread a lot):
http://www.flowgrow.de/download/file...w/RIMG0328.jpg

I find such topics about rare algaes always very interesting, but honestly - I am always happy if I do not get such stuff.

But some ppl. use also such red algaes in their scapes and it looks nice:
http://podforak.rzeszow.pl/upload/10...loglossa__.jpg
http://podforak.rzeszow.pl/upload/10711703431.jpg
http://podforak.rzeszow.pl/upload/10787471962.jpg

**Biollante** · 06-15-2012, 01:37 AM

Hi Peter,

I am one of those folks that really find algae fascinating;

I have a bit of a collection (intentional) going.

Obviously, I am a rank amateur but your photo from post #4 looks to me like it may be an endangered Serbian species, which would make it rare and perhaps illegal to possess.

It is hard enough for people who know what they are doing to make identifications from photographs, so a clumsy amateur as I cannot be at all sure.