Shrimp Shell / Snails!

[Stephanie87]

Hi!!

I recently purchased two orange dwarf shrimps.
I had no idea that shrimps moult/shed their shell until this morning, when I found a completely transparent shrimp laying at the bottom of the tank. At first I assumed the shrimp must have died. Then I read about shrimps moulting their shells. But either way.....I cant find the shrimp anywhere! so it possible that the transparent 'shell' that I disposed of was actually a dead shrimp?? and if so I don't understand what killed it, as my tank is completely cycled! Could the fish have killed it?
I also read that you can leave shrimp shells in the tank, as the shrimp eats it???

On another note....i have a serious SNAIL problem!! Please help, i cant seem to get rid of them!

Thanks!
Steph x

 

[Joshwainwright]

To sort your snail problem, you should buy an assassin snail. These eat all the other snails but leave your plants alone therefore they are great to have. They also look quite good in my opinion too. If your snail problem is as big as it sounds, you may need more than one assassin snail.

 

[Westwood]

With the shrimp, when they shed there shells the body underneath is soft, so they like to hide for a while until it hardens a bit!
With the snails, you could try putting in a piece of lettuce on the evening and getting it out on the morning, they should be eating it. If not you could always try assassins snails.

 

[Stephanie87]

Thanks to both of you for your help!! I hope my little shrimp pops up soon.
So from now on, shall I leave the shrimp shells in the tank for them to eat??
xx

 

[Aqua Tom]

To sort your snail problem, you should buy an assassin snail. These eat all the other snails but leave your plants alone therefore they are great to have. They also look quite good in my opinion too. If your snail problem is as big as it sounds, you may need more than one assassin snail.

+1 for assassin snails. they look quite pretty & i rarely see a pest snail for more than a day in my tank.


How big is the tank & how bad is the snail infestation?


I have 7 assassins in my 180 litre & the do a blinding job.



~Tom~

 

[Stephanie87]

Hey Tom,

its only a small tank (28 litres) but there are a lot of snails!

x

 

[Aqua Tom]

Hey Tom,

its only a small tank (28 litres) but there are a lot of snails!

x

First i would try to thin the numebers of snails with the lettuce method, then after a few days introduce two assassin snails.

Assassin snails reproduce far slower than normal snails & if they do multiply you can sell them.

They are actualy quite fast moving for a snail & at first its a bit odd wathing them "zoom" along the substrate.

They will also spend a lot of time buried in the substrate so it is quite common to think they have gone missing for a few days at a time.


~Tom~

 

[Stephanie87]

Thanks tom!

This may sound like a silly question....but what will the assassin snails eat once they have eaten all the snails??

x

 

[Aqua Tom]

Thanks tom!

This may sound like a silly question....but what will the assassin snails eat once they have eaten all the snails??

x

Left over fish food so they are actualy quite useful. Dont worry they dont eat plants or fish.

 

[Caprichoso]

Thanks to both of you for your help!! I hope my little shrimp pops up soon.
So from now on, shall I leave the shrimp shells in the tank for them to eat??
xx

Yes, leave the moulted shell in the tank. Someone will eat it!

 

[Joshwainwright]

Assassin snails eat other snails and leftover fish food. Truthfully, I don't see any flaws in them...