Discovering tiny surface jumping bugs on floating plants

[BurGassino]

I've got these tiny bugs on my floating plants, mainly the red root floaters. They jump off when I move the plants, then jump back onto the water's surface. They've been around for about a month now, and I was hoping they'd disappear, but they're multiplying. My pearl gourami aren't eating them, which is weird.

I'm thinking of a couple of things to get rid of them:
1. Leave the lights off for a week - they seem to love basking in the light, but that's not great for my plants.
2. Get rid of the floating plants, but I'd rather not do that.

I've attached a photo.
My tank's a 40-gal, planted with rooted, rhizome, and floating plants. I've got pearl gourami, ember tetra, hillstream loach, and pygmy cory. Water parameters are all good.

[coltin]

Honestly, they're not causing any harm, just ignore them. I mean, they're just tiny bugs and your fish seem to be coexisting just fine.

[BurGassino]

Honestly, they're not causing any harm, just ignore them. I mean, they're just tiny bugs and your fish seem to be coexisting just fine.

Thanks for the reassurance, still pretty annoying though.

[BadgersSong]

Those tiny mystery inverts can be quite the enigma in a semi-natural ecosystem. They add a touch of unpredictability, don't they? It's likely that some springtails snuck in on your plants. I must admit, I rather enjoyed having them in one of my old tanks - they brought a certain charm to the environment.

[juicebox]

I've also got them in one of my tanks and I think they're awesome, the fish go wild for 'em.

[Giggletons]

Wow, they're super small, huh. Like, tiny - the tip of a needle, right?

[BadgersSong]

Those little critters are super tiny, like tiny specks of dust, but they've got some serious jump to 'em.

[graye]

I think tiny critters like those are a sign of a healthy tank environment. I gave some plants to a friend and she noticed the little guys came along for the ride. I've gotten so used to them, I barely notice anymore. They're harmless, and I figure they'd be there in nature too - just a normal part of the ecosystem.

[graye]

I've always figured there'd be countless creatures like that in a thriving ecosystem. I'd be happy with a Genus name, or really, any name other than "those tiny hoppers". Tank sprites, maybe?

[juicebox]

@graye love the tank fairies name, it's perfect