Avoiding Hitchhikers When Introducing New Plants

[djs]

Hi,

I've noticed almost a week ago there was 1 or 2 damselfly nymph in my tank (at the time I didn't know what they were)

I don't really want them in there as I heard they will eat little'uns. They are still quite small at the moment. They must have hatched about 1-2 weeks ago.

My Platys DO eat them....but only when they see them, they seem to camouflage in the sand.

I'm just wondering if there's a way to kill all eggs/insects when you buy a new plant?
Might sound stupid, but can you boil the plant?

Thanks

djs

 

[ellena]

I read on here somewhere about dipping them in a dilute bleach soln. Can't remember how dilute, but I think time was 30 mins?

 

[Colin_T]

Nope you can't boil the plant otherwise you end up with cabbage

You can stick the plants in a bucket of water containing copper sulphate for 30minutes or so. Then rinse them off really well with fresh water. Otherwise put the plants in a quarantine tank for a couple of weeks and see if anything grows on them.

 

[djs]

Thanks for the replys.

Haha, yeh sorry the boiling idea was rather silly.

Copper Sulphate....is that something that's found in a common product? Or is it easily found in shops?

 

[Colin_T]

most petshops sell chemicals to kill snails in aquariums and that is normally copper sulphate or copper based and can be used to treat the plants.

 

[djs]

Okay, many thanks!

 

[loraxchick]

ive always done a bleach dip with fine results...10% belach solution for about 5 minutes...rinse plants afterwards in heavily decholinated water and add to the tank.