Removing pest in a Shrimp Tank

Removing pest in a Shrimp Tank

February 26, 2017

What is Planaria?

If you have a shrimp tank with some plants, and have been feeding them food, most likely you have Planaria in it. Now what is a Planaria?

A planarian is one of many non-parasitic flatworms of the Turbellaria class, , living in both saltwater and freshwater ponds and rivers. Some species are terrestrial and are found under logs, in or on the soil, and on plants in humid areas. They have an extraordinary ability to regenerate lost body parts. For example, a planarian split lengthwise or crosswise will regenerate into two separate individuals.

Is it harmful to my shrimps?

Planaria seeks for food actively below and above the substrate. You may see them crawling across the substrate at times. When there are bits of food or a dead shrimp lying on the gravel floor, you will most likely be able to spot them.

Apart from scavenging, planaria may attack a live shrimp, mostly when its moulting or weaken.

How can I remove it?

Its possible to use some chemical to get rid of them, but dosing and overdosing chemical always have some side effects. You also run the risk of killing your expensive culture of shrimps.

The less harmful way is to use a trap such as the GUSH CATCH PEN. It works by attracting the planaria with food in a small confined space where it cannot escape. The worms eventually waste away in the pen, while attracting more worms to enter.

What should I take note when using CATCH PEN?

Press the pen down into the soil or sand slightly so that only planaria, not shrimplets may enter the pen.

When leaving the pen over night or over a few days, you may find the water murky with dead planaria inside. Remove the pen carefully without leaking the murky water (lots of ammonia!!) back into the tank.

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