the “unwanted” pool snails …

We all know them from beginner to advanced aquarist … the “unwanted” pool snails … they can become a real scourge, but what to do if you have them with your shrimp?

Which can become a real scourge? And are NOT ornamental snails .. that is, the eggs hang on plants that you buy …

TOWERSLAK: (These are useful because they are going to dig into the soil, but they can become a real scourge)

1. Anatome Helena’s are offered in many stores, the snail-eating snail, but know that they also breed and that they eat more than just snails … namely also your shrimp!

2. You can of course go for a snail trap, but I would also like to warn that shrimp can also get caught in it … And that the current clamps can remain open due to the current.

3. You can take a piece of cucumber and attach it to a fork. When the light goes out in the aquarium, place it on the bottom. You now wait an hour and then turn on the light again. It will be full of snails, you carefully pick up the fork and you can remove all the snails. You will have to keep doing this several times, but know that the keeper will win! It is important that you do NOT feed in the meantime and this for a few days!

4. NEVER use slag-killing agent! This is very toxic to your shrimp and will lead to massive death !!!

5. Make sure that when you purchase plants or get them from another aqua, you inspect the plants as well as if there are no gel packs attached to them. These contain the eggs of the pool snail and you can easily remove them. So place your plants in quarantine for 4 days. You can add sparkling water to kill everything from unwanted guests. Change the water twice a day!

6. A botia fish or slacking fish is completely NOT DONE with shrimp. They will not only eat your snails but also your shrimp … Also know that these fish (they do not look large in size in the store) will grow to be 30 cm! So think twice before purchasing one !!

Transfer of shrimp in their new biotope

The use of newly purchased shrimp in the aquarium is one of the most things that people do wrong with …

Let me explain to you how you can best do this.

Necessities:

• Bucket (preferably white (other colors are too dark to see the shrimp))

• Air tube (+/- 1.5 m)

• Scissors

What is the best way to do this?

1. Cut open the transport bag and carefully pour the shrimp into the bucket.

2. Take the air hose and tie a normal knot in the middle.

3. Place one end in your aquarium.

4. Now suck at the other end until the water is past the button.

5. Put the end in the bucket and you will see the water begin to drip.

6. If the water runs too fast, tighten the knot so that the water drips.

7. Make sure the bucket is not on the cold floor and also lower than your aquarium.

8. Drip approximately 2L of water on the shrimp.

9. If this happens, leave it for 2 hours.

10. Scoop the shrimp out of the bucket and transfer them to the aquarium.

11. Pour the water out of the bucket!

PESTS PREVENTING SHRIMPS

There are a number of uninvited guests who occur frequently with shrimp … but what is dangerous now, and which can become a real scourge?
Below we explain to you, on the basis of text and photo, which animals are what, where they come from and how you can fight them.

1. Planaria

Flatworms

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Planaria is a flatworm that will often occur in your aquarium after a while. You don't always see them as they live in the soil. Sometimes when the light is off, or they don't find much food, you'll see them crawl across the bottom or along the windows. Planaria itself can be dangerous, since they have a poison, a poison that they can secrete in the presence of a shrimp that can die from it. They not only disfigure the aquarium, they can (with sufficient food) multiply explosively. You can easily recognize them by the triangular head and their brown color. They are sometimes confused with the…. But it is white in color.
CONTROL: You have several options for controlling these worms. Or opt for FLUBENOL, which is a worm killing agent, but is completely harmless to shrimp. Sometimes this is not well tolerated by (ornamental) snails. You can of course remove your ornamental snails, but know that the product works through the soil for 4 weeks! The second option is that you use a PLANARIAVAL, which is recommended if you have ornamental snails in your aquarium. The trap works very simply: You fill it with a meaty bait (minced meat or red mosquito larvae). The planaria crawls into the tube and ends up in the glass tube where they cannot find a way back outside. You can use this trap endlessly ...

2. POOL SNAILS OR

BLOW HORN SNAILS

Everyone has seen them before, those little brown snails crawling over your window and plants. But are these dangerous now? No, they are not dangerous, but they can become a real scourge, because these snails 2 are slaughtered, you have countless numbers of them in no time. You can see their eggs hanging on plants or your windows. It is like a gel-like bag that is filled with small balls. They usually come with plants that you have purchased. In the longer term, they will become a competitor for your shrimp, as they will eventually find no food anymore ...
Control: Here too you have many options for combating / removing them. You can use GASTROPEX (slag-killing agent), but this is NOT safe for shrimp! Another (time-consuming) method is to remove them manually, but soon the courage will sink into your shoes ... You can also opt to prick a piece of cucumber on a fork and place it (after the light is off) in the container. to lay. After 1 hour you bring the fork back up and it will be full of snails, also with this method it is the sustainer who wins. It is therefore important that you do NOT feed. You can also purchase a snail trap, although according to my own experiences I have not really had a success with it ... For feeding your shrimp it may also be advisable to do this in a feed dish. Because you feed in the same place, the snails will not find much food anymore and will die out automatically. The feed dish also offers several advantages. Other people then opt for the anatome helena snail, or the snail-inducing snail, know that they can also multiply explosively and be able to eat shrimp when finding little food.

3. HYDRA

freshwater polyp

Hydra is a freshwater polyp that occurs in various aquariums. Only you will have to look very close to your aquarium before you see them. They are from 2 mm to 1 cm in size and transparent. Why are these dangerous because they are able to catch and eat small and young shrimp?
CONTROL: Hydra can be controlled in 2 ways. The first is the easiest, you do FLUBENOL treatment and they are gone. The second is a treatment with the battery, you get a 9 volt battery and hang a copper wire on each pole, which you then hang in your aquarium for 1 hour.

4. Ostracoda

Mussel animals

These small animals can occur in large numbers in the trays. They often "crawl" over surfaces, but they can also swim freely in the water. They are a sign of a lot of food in the water. They come with stones, plants and transport water from shrimp ... They are 0.5 to 3 millimeters in size. Their body is egg-shaped. The color is white, beige, green to black, often with a dark drawing. When enlarged, two scale parts are visible and there are rowing feet between them. These crustaceans are completely harmless to our animals. They are even a bite to eat for many animals (fish).
CONTROL: These animals often occur with an abundance of food. It is therefore advisable to start feeding less or possibly to do this in a feed dish. Some opt to place fish temporarily in the tank, but know that not many fish are really suitable for placing with shrimp (eating the young).