Freshwater critters (other then snail and shrimp)

[xxBarneyxx]

I have been thinking about this for a bit but not actually done any real research on it yet.

One of the things I love most about marine tanks is that along with all the fish and inverts you put in yourself you get a whole ton of hitchhiking critters, from crabs to worms and everything else in between.

Now in freshwater we have the normal shrimp and snail species but I don't think I have ever seen anyone ever keep any other type of small critters like freshwater isopods.

I feel like if you could find the right species it could be a really great addition to our little enclosed ecosystems. A natural food source for fish, clean up crew for organic wastes and debris. Not to mention another thing to look at in the tank.

I know having "bugs" in a fishtank wont appeal to a lot of people but I'm curious if anyone else has ever thought about this or maybe even seen it done?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

A fair idea, although I suspect many, myself included, would be cautious of said critters carrying parasites.
That was once a major concern with snails, but now they're being bred and are, hopefully, parasite-free.
The other issue is that of those possibilities you suggest being seen by most, if not all of the tank's other inhabitants, as food.
...And then many of those 'other' creatures will see the fish, shrimp or snails as food.

All that said, since returning to the hobby, I'm surprised by just how many different creatures there now are, for freshwater tanks;
Snails
Shrimp
Frogs
Crabs
Lobster and crayfish
Axolotl

 

[Myraan]

I reckon most tanks have isopods of various kinds already there, the fish are just really efficient at keeping the numbers down to virtually zero. That's just a guess though.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I reckon most tanks have isopods of various kinds already there, the fish are just really efficient at keeping the numbers down to virtually zero. That's just a guess though.

DEfitely when I was cycling my first tank, with plants and no fish, there was definitely a population of tiny swimming things.
Now, both pencilfish and pygmy corys spend a lot of time grazing algae'd upper leaf surfaces.

 

[Colin_T]

Add some blackworms, daphnia, ostracods and shield shrimp to the tank. let them live for a few months and then add some shrimp and fish.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I suspect many, myself included, would be cautious of said critters carrying parasites.

That is something I hadn't actually considered. Definitely need some research.

Add some blackworms, daphnia, ostracods and shield shrimp to the tank. let them live for a few months and then add some shrimp and fish.

Thanks, I think I may have cultured blackworm and daphnia before. Good list to get started with!

Think we are going to try getting some freshwater isopods (Asellus Aquaticus). They look fairly straight forward to keep and one of my daughters favourite bugs are woodlice so she will love them.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

That is something I hadn't actually considered. Definitely need some research.

Think we are going to try getting some freshwater isopods (Asellus Aquaticus). They look fairly straight forward to keep and one of my daughters favourite bugs are woodlice so she will love them.

Watch out for fish louse!

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I loved isopods, seed shrimp, copepods, and scuds. Blackworms are really kind of interesting too. Trouble is the fish eat them as quick as I can add them! For a while I had a 5g just devoted to these species, plus daphnia and probably lots of microscopic stuff.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I loved isopods, seed shrimp, copepods, and scuds. Blackworms are really kind of interesting too. Trouble is the fish eat them as quick as I can add them! For a while I had a 5g just devoted to these species, plus daphnia and probably lots of microscopic stuff.

Likewise...when I also had access to a wonderful microscope.
(Happy times)