Dont Let Lawn Shrimp Hop Around Your House This Summer
One of the more unusual creatures to find its way into our lives is the lawn shrimp. These wee beasties, known as house hoppers in Australia, arent insects. Theyre crustaceans called amphipods.
The vast majority of the members of this group are marine or fresh water dwellers but there are a few that are terrestrial.
As their Down Under name implies, the land dwelling species move about by the spring action of their three pairs of hind legs, they hop. Because of their flattened body, they can manage to enter our homes through the gaps under doors. Most of the time, the misguided animals wander into our air-conditioned houses in the forlorn hope of finding moisture. Needless to say, the rarefied air in our modern homes lacks the water they seek and they die of dehydration relatively quickly.
Lawn shrimp range from 5 millimeters to 20 millimeters in length. Their color, while still alive, can range from pale brown to greenish to almost black. They often turn orange or red after theyve died.
Terrestrial amphipods need a moist environment to live. If it dries out, so do they and they die.
House hoppers are nocturnal living, for the most part, in the top 13 millimeters of the soil or mulch while feeding on dead organic material breaking it down into fertilizer for your plants.
For the most part, controlling lawn shrimp isnt necessary.
But, if you feel the nuisance is just too great, most commercially available lawn pesticides will kill amphipods.
The Threat Of Seed Shrimps And How To Deal With It
Here is a step by step guide for exterminating seed shrimp infestation from your fish tank:
Recognizing The Problem
If you have a keen eye then you will notice tiny dots swimming around in the youth tank. Theyll cling on to the walls, some will hang out near the driftwood, while others will try to burrow themselves in the substrate.
Seed Shrimps Appearance
These tiny dots will usually be of a dark color, and upon closer inspection, will appear almost spherical.
How Bad Can A Seed Shrimp Infestation Be?
Seed shrimp reproduce very quickly. Sooner than you know, theyll be all over the swimming space in your tank. Not only are they a nuisance, but they also interfere with the normal functioning of the tank.
What will be the struggle during the process of removal?
The biggest problem is that they are very hard to kill.
They are meant to be as such since they normally live in an inhospitable environment.
- Their eggs especially are very resistant
- They will survive pesticides , temperatures shocks, and even UV.
- They seem to be indestructible, even setting the CO2 level higher than normal will not affect them.
Responding To The Infestation
As mentioned earlier, the eggs are a strong foe, you must instead invest your efforts on the larvae and adults.
Here are some of the ways you can get rid of seed shrimp, once the infestation has taken root:
Vacuuming
How often should you vacuum?
Do this regularly, every day until no more seed shrimp are visible.
Biological Control
What Are These Dead Critters I Found In My Garage
These creatures are actually terrestrial amphipods which belong to an order of crustacea. They look very similar to tiny shrimp therefore they were given the common name of lawn shrimp.
Most amphipods live in salt and fresh water but there are a few terrestrial forms. Even though these terrestrial forms live in our landscapes, they still require a moist habitat.
The color of terrestrial species varies from pale brown to greenish to brownish black when alive, but they often turn pink to red when they die. Most amphipods are scavengers feeding off mold which can be found in the mulched areas of our flower beds and shrubbery.
Terrestrial amphipods live on the surface of mulch and moist ground. After rains, large numbers of amphipods can migrate into garages or under the doors of houses. When this occurs, they quickly die as they do not have the protective covering of crustaceans or insects. Because they lack an exoskeleton their bodies quickly lose too much moisture and they die. However, they come into our homes and garages after heavy rains because their bodies will take on too much water and it can also kill them.
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Isvorticella Dangerous To The Shrimp
As a rule, Vorticella is harmless to shrimps, but only until they multiply in large numbers and do not fall into the gills, leading to the suffocation of the shrimp. Ciliates may deplete a significant amount of oxygen from the environment where the oxygen tension may be already low and thus reduce the gas diffusion across the gill membrane. That is why if you do not fight the parasite there is a good chance that the shrimp will die eventually.
Infection of ciliates on the gills of shrimp usually does not affect the growth of the shrimp. Because they do not derive nourishment directly from the host but considered to have a synergistic effect during the period of stress.
According to IJP: Parasites and Wildlife 7 . These invasions rarely cause death in the wild, but under the stressful conditions often found in densely stocked aquaculture ponds and tanks, they can get out of control and have a negative impact on mobility, molting, growth, and function. Breedingand feedingmay stop, and this may result in death. Parasites easily transmit between the species thus, it is important to isolate any affected specimens in a timely manner and to isolate newly acquired shrimps.
The parasite can also affect the larvae and postlarvae of caridean shrimps by inhibiting their feeding activities and movement . Therefore, the widespread occurrence of this peritrichous ciliate could be dangerous for the shrimps .
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How To Fight 6 Types Of Algae In Your Fish Tank
Do you dream of having a beautiful aquarium but end up constantly fighting to keep algae at bay? Its a familiar struggle that many of us have been through, so in this article, lets get a better understanding of the root causes of algae, the most common types found in freshwater aquariums, and how to gain the upper hand.
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Lawn Cocktail: ‘shrimp’ Eat Run After Rain
Question: Some small brown to orange insects have hopped onto our porch. They are always dead when we see them.
What are these insects, and is there a control?
Answer: If they were a bit bigger, they might be edible. Your landscape is raising what is often known as lawn shrimp. They do have the shrimp look and, like true shrimp, are members of a class of arthropods known as crustaceans
They also are called freshwater amphipods and most of the year survive in the moist mulch layers. Living amphipods are a pale brown color and are not harmful they feed on organic matter.
During the rainy weather, amphipods often move about and collect on sidewalks, in garages and at entrances to homes. Under these drier conditions, they quickly die and turn the noted orange color, similar to shrimp. Just sweep them up and add them to the compost pile.
PYGMY DATE PALM
Q: We have a pygmy date palm that’s growing in our enclosed pool area and now touching the top of the screen. Can I cut back the palm to lower the height without harming the plant?
A: Cutting a hole in the screen or raising the roof are options but not cutting back the trunk of the palm. You can remove some of the leaves or even sections of leaves but cutting back the trunk would remove the bud and cause the palm trunk to die.
Perhaps your only realistic option is to move the palm to an outdoor location where it can grow a little bigger.
HIBISCUS LEAF LOSS
GERANIUM LEAF SPOTS
TOMATO JIGGLE
Why Does My Fish Tank Have So Much Algae
Algae is caused by an imbalance of nutrients and lighting in your aquarium. This simple statement can be a little difficult to unpack, but basically, your plants need just the right amount of lighting and nutrients for optimal growth. If you give them too much light and not enough nutrients as building blocks to grow, the algae will take advantage of the excess light and multiply. If you provide a lot of nutrients but not enough light , then algae will take advantage of the extra nutrients. To make matters worse, achieving a perfectly balanced tank is nearly impossible because even if you balance everything today, your plants will continuously grow or you will prune them, thus changing the amount of nutrients and lighting they need.
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Shrimp Vorticella Parasite Treatment
Today we will have another topic about shrimp diseases, parasites and infections. This time it will be Vorticella. I need to start off by pointing out that if you start looking for information about Vorticella you will find basically only 1 or 2 original sources of information. The rest articles, posts, notes will just copy them.
In this article, besides the most popular folk methods , you will know about actual scientific researches and conducted experiments with Vorticella and shrimp. You will know how Permanganic acid, Copper sulphate, Malachite Green, Formalin and Acriflavine affects Vorticella.
At last, we will have some real data and I do hope that it may help all shrimp breeders in the future. It is not much but I have not seen it yet anywhere and I would like to share it with you.Actually, I suppose that I should begin by highlighting these works first:
Without further ado, lets start.
What Are Planaria And How Do You Identify Them
Planaria are a variety of flatworm that are considered a pest by the majority of aquarists.
These flatworms can quickly multiply in number and, as you will soon learn, can be dangerous to other members of your aquarium.
But before I continue, I just want to quickly comment on how to correctly refer to planaria:
- A single flatworm = planarian
- A group of flatworms = planaria
Trust me, its important to know this, otherwise the rest of this guide is going to get confusing quickly.
Planaria are possibly the weirdest worm that will ever visit your aquarium. Their unusual traits make them widely studied in the scientific community
Perhaps the weirdest thing is when you cut one. Lets say you cut a planarian into 5 pieces. It will regrow into 5 different planaria this is why its a bad idea to crush any planaria you find in your aquarium.
Stubborn, huh?
As you might have guessed, removing planaria from your aquarium can be a difficult task. But dont worry, Im gonna share a secret weapon to eradicating this troublesome flatworm later in the guide.
First, you want to make sure that it is actually planaria that you are dealing with.
Planaria are small. Very small. Measuring around 0.1 to 0.6 inches, so they are easy to miss.
In fact, you likely wont notice them at all unless they grow in number or bravely slide their way over your aquarium glass.
Not a pretty sight, huh?
There are actually two types of planaria flatworm commonly found in aquariums:
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What Are Amphipods
Amphipods are a kind crustacean that lives both in water and on land. They are very similar in appearance to shrimp but are much tinier with adults measuring 5 mm 20 mm on average. Their bodies are elongated in shape, shiny and smooth. These creatures are also known as land hoppers thats because they jump like fleas or lawn shrimp.
The adult amphipods can live up to a year and feed on bacteria, plants and animals depending on each species. Though the majority of amphipods live in the oceans, the terrestrial amphipods are the ones which most homeowners have to worry about. The best-known home invader of its kind is the Arcitalitrus Sylvaticus.
These amphipods are most active at night as this is when they feed. They are scavengers by nature and breed several times per year, usually during wet seasons.
What Do Scuds Eat
Whether you want them in your tank or not, it is worthwhile knowing what Scuds eat.
Scuds are omnivores, so they will eat pretty much anything they find. As scavengers, the easier the meal, the better and they will clear any waste left in your aquarium. Scuds will eat decaying plant matter, algae, live plants, rotting fish food, micro-organisms, small live fish or fish fry, baby shrimp, and much more.
Because of a Scuds broad appetite, they can be more of a pest in an aquarium setting. Many aquarists like to introduce moss into their tank and as Scuds eat plants, it will be disheartening to find that moss is a favorite.
Scuds Love To Eat Moss Like This Mini Pearl Moss
Many people enjoy smaller fish in their tanks or want to try their hand at breeding, but this is not a good idea with Scuds as they will happily attack smaller fish or fish fry, especially when the scuds are larger in numbers.
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How To Get Rid Of Wasps
If you already have a wasp problem and you need to know how to kill wasps, then it helps to understand what type you are dealing with and their particular nesting habits.
Yellow jackets, for instance, normally build their nests in the ground, and unfortunately, you may not even know theyre there until its too late. Nothing is worse than going out to the garden and coming back with a dozen or so stings. These aggressive wasps can also be found nesting in trees and shrubs, beneath eaves, and within other areas like wall voids in old buildings.
Hornets, too, commonly nest in trees or under the eaves of buildings.
Paper wasps, which are the least aggressive, can be found just about anywhere, building their nests under nearly any horizontal surface including eaves, overhangs, tree limbs, and within abandoned structures.
Most of the time all of these wasps prefer quiet, out-of-the-way places. Of course, it doesnt always seem to work out like that. This is when getting rid of wasps is our only option through the use of sprays or other means.
Possible Causes Of Vorticella Contamination
Poor water conditions, dirt in the aquarium. The problem can start with food and organic waste that fell into the substrate, and remained out of reach of shrimp and vacuum. Actually, it can benefit the plants because the waste becomes fertilizer. However, after some time, the excess detritus will lead to an increase in bacteria, which feed the Vorticella. The bacteria showed as cloudy water.
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Boost Your Filtration System
The filtration media you use will make a big difference in algae growth in the tank.
For example, using phosphate-controlling media and biological boosters will eliminate the phosphate levels, discouraging algae growth.
You can also find carbon-phosphate removers that will keep your water clean and transparent while removing dissolved organics that algae feed on at the same time.
Lastly, dont forget to change the chemical and mechanical media every month. Once theyre exhausted and saturated, theyll leach the pollutants back into the tank!
How To Get Rid Of Shrews Naturally
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can get rid of shrews naturally without having to resort to nasty pest killers, sprays, and other harmful residues around your house and garden.
The following list will provide you with a good assortment of ways you can use to kill or repel shrews from your home, DIY style.
The best approach would be to choose a few of these methods that you can utilize right away and use a combination of them. If one doesnt work, use another. Find a combination that works for you.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Planaria
Planaria is notoriously difficult to remove from your aquarium. If you miss a single flatworm, it will multiply into many.
It is for that reason that I do not recommend using a glass trap to get rid of planaria.
You know the ones with the angled openings that allow worms to squeeze in while keeping shrimp out?
Like this one
Theres no arguing that they work, but it relies on your planaria being hungry. If the planaria are not attracted to the bait you placed inside, then its as good as useless.
And again, there is no guarantee that you are going to capture every single planarian in your aquarium.
If you still insist on using a planaria trap, grab this one. I have personally tested it and can confirm its well made and more than capable of capturing planaria bait it with raw chicken!
But for the rest of you who just want a quick and simple way to treat your planaria infestation, I have an amazing product for you
How To Get Rid Of Shrews In Your Yard
Shrews are often discovered in the yard or garden before making way into your actual home.
Shrews are naturally found outdoors, but when food or weather permits, theyll easily make their way into buildings.
If you notice a shrew problem brewing outside, you must stop it before they make it into your home. Here are some ways you can stop shrews and get rid of them from your yard quickly.
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How Do I Get Rid Of Algae In My Fish Tank
Since you will always have some imbalance between lighting and nutrients, the goal is to get your aquarium as close to being balanced as possible, and then use an algae-eating crew to fill in the rest of the gap. We have found this one-two punch strategy quite effective at greatly reducing algae to unnoticeable amounts. In the following section, well be discussing the six most common types of aquarium algae with targeted tactics of dealing with them.
