I just pulled out what I'm 99% sure is a scud from my shrimp tank. Put it in a petri dish, looked at it under a magnifying glass. It's definitely not the little white copepods that I identified earlier in this post. I have an empty 15 gallon tank empty and just sitting on a stand in my living room. I'm definitely considering moving my shrimp into it and tearing this 30 gallon apart.
Baby shrimp? Or something else?
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I gave my mose a good shake and I saw a white worm very tiny come floating out curling around in the water column. It looked like it could be juvinile planeria. I have no planeria on hand. I'm going to set up my other tank and eventually move my shrimp over. Sell this fluval flex and set up something else the same size.
How do I transfer my shrimp while trying to make sure I'm not taking any of these creatures and anything I haven't discovered yet. With them. When I transfer them, I'd like a clean transfer. I may slowly start vacuuming the substrate out of this tank during my water changes so when it does come time to move them it's easier
How do I transfer my shrimp while trying to make sure I'm not taking any of these creatures and anything I haven't discovered yet. With them. When I transfer them, I'd like a clean transfer. I may slowly start vacuuming the substrate out of this tank during my water changes so when it does come time to move them it's easier
It absolutely makes sense that when you create a habitat amenable to your shrimp, and provide appropriate food for them, that you will also get the occasional hanger-on or "groupie" joining the band. The ones you have described don't sound like shrimp killers. I've never had a problem caused by copepods or scuds; planaria might not be the ideal companion for baby shrimp, but they typically move across surfaces or substrates rather than swimming through open water. The best way to deal with them is to reduce the feeding and keep a cleaner tank.
Doing a "clean" transfer even of fish can be a challenge; doing the same with a colony of shrimp that includes large numbers of tiny shrimplets sounds like a nightmare. And if you painstakingly catch and transfer all those shrimplets, all it would take is for a very small number of uninvited guests to be incidentally caught and moved as well...and then all your work is wasted.
Personally, I think that the number of shrimplets damaged or killed or missed during this tedious process will far exceed the number that may be lost due to the actions of any of these interlopers.
Doing a "clean" transfer even of fish can be a challenge; doing the same with a colony of shrimp that includes large numbers of tiny shrimplets sounds like a nightmare. And if you painstakingly catch and transfer all those shrimplets, all it would take is for a very small number of uninvited guests to be incidentally caught and moved as well...and then all your work is wasted.
Personally, I think that the number of shrimplets damaged or killed or missed during this tedious process will far exceed the number that may be lost due to the actions of any of these interlopers.
Makes sense. Maybe I'll just take the substrate out. And keep a bare bottom tank. Thanks for your feedback. It just kind of bumps me out when I'm enjoying watching all my little shrimp fry and I see a scud scurry by. No its not a problem yet, I don't believe anything iv identified so far is large enough to kill a baby shrimp. I do like to detect and deal with potential problems early rather than later. I'll just keep an eye on it.
You may want to consider elevating a plant. It won't cure any problem but it'll help keep baby shrimp out of the substrate. I've got an old stainless rimmed tank that's roughly 60g and in it are a ton of neocaridina shrimp, some rummy nose, Endlers and corries. I keep the substrate shallow and I use Peace River gravel which is on the smallish side. In that tank I have a holed out chunk of what looks like sandstone and in the holes I have inserted wisteria plants long ago. The wisteria are rooted in the rock and maybe 3" above the tank floor. The plant itself is bushy and spreads out at the water's surface. It's a huge hiding ground for Endler spawn and baby shrimp. I'm sure plenty get sucked up in the occasional vacuuming but the plant allows the colony to thrive despite my rooting around in the tank.
I also am a huge enemy of planaria. The tank additive called "No Planaria" is as natural as daylight and doesn't harm anything but planaria... which given the chance will kill your shrimp. They are most definitely carnivorous parasites. Here's a taste of what they're known for:
I also am a huge enemy of planaria. The tank additive called "No Planaria" is as natural as daylight and doesn't harm anything but planaria... which given the chance will kill your shrimp. They are most definitely carnivorous parasites. Here's a taste of what they're known for:
I watched 10 seconds of that video and that was enough. It's too early to tell if I actually have planaria.
I'm not used to having all these extra little critters in my aquarium. Back when I was breeding Appostos I had a baby brine shrimp farm going all the time. I had a couple hydra out breaks and I waged war obsessively. Ever since when I see somthing in my tank that wasn't put in there on purpose I get nervous and a little grossed out
I'm not used to having all these extra little critters in my aquarium. Back when I was breeding Appostos I had a baby brine shrimp farm going all the time. I had a couple hydra out breaks and I waged war obsessively. Ever since when I see somthing in my tank that wasn't put in there on purpose I get nervous and a little grossed out
I have Nat Crystal River sand from Super Naturals in all my tanks right now. It's not fine sand it vacuums nice but I never vacuum my tanks. My rams, Cory's Apistogramma and snails keep it looking as clean as the day I bought it. This tank the substrate was dirty when I added the shrimp. Being scavengers I thought they would like that and it seems they do because they have been breeding constantly I see good consistent molts. But conditions are good so as my shrimp colony grows so do my colonies of copepods they have exploded, now I found my first anphepod/Scud and maybe some kind of white worm lol
I'd like to get about 10 pounds of substrate out of my 30 gallon shrimp tank with out changing the water. I have a few ideas on how to do it. Doesn't have to be done all at once.
I'm open to suggestions from others though. Especially if you have done this before.
I'm open to suggestions from others though. Especially if you have done this before.
