Infestation

[sparkycufc]

with shells on their backs.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed the appearance of a couple of small (3 or 4mm )crawling shelled creatures in my 60 litre tank, nothing bad I thought and removed them. Since then there have been a few more and the number has increased but over the last few days there have been 10 or 12 at a time crawling up the grass and on plants.

I realise that they are likely to have come with the plants I got from my lfs and have since read up on how to ensure I don't get anymore little passengers so please no "you should have done this...." speeches. What I want to know is how to get rid of the little blighters, and of course what they are.

The fish seem unconcerned by them and the plants unaffected, they are just unsightly. What can I do?

 

[Amerce]

A picture would be good, but I'd guess pest snails.

 

[AdAndrews]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=277805

look through that topic and try to indentify them, they are most likely some type of hitchhiker, but its unlikely they will harm your fish, they will actually do more good than bad as they will feed on waste.

 

[sparkycufc]

Thanks for that, have had a look but I'm not sure any of those apply, they seem to have shell like backs ( a little like a trumpet snail shell) and six legs. They crawl up the sides of the tank and hang around at the water line or on plant leaves.

 

[betta fish]

My first thought was fish lice but then they don't have a trumpet shell though they do have a disc like covering on their backs and you mention they have legs too which snails don't so we can rule them out, if they don't appear to be irritating your fish then they may not be lice but not knowing what they are it would be best to get rid of them to be on the safe side but this may mean to completely gut the tank rinsing the gravel/sand in boiling water and starting again, a photograph will help greatly though if you can get one.

 

[AdAndrews]

4th hitchiker down has shell and legs.

 

[sparkycufc]

4th hitchiker down has shell and legs.

Do you mean the Ostrocods?

 

[AdAndrews]

4th hitchiker down has shell and legs.

Do you mean the Ostrocods?

yes.. basically, even though you may not like the look of them, what ever is in there is probably doing more good than bad atm. you could try a medication to try and get rid of them, depending on what it actually is, WORMER PLUS could work, or there are various other anti-parisite meds out there.

good luck.
Adam

 

[sparkycufc]

Thanks Adam,

I'm not overly concerned by them other than the recent increase in their number, as I said the fish seem unconcerned and they don't appear to be eating any leaves so I will just leave them be and keep an eye on their numbers.


Nick.

 

[the duck]

Do the shells look like a collection of sticks and stones etc?