HELP: Removing Planaria in Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina) aquarium

[AmateurAquarist]

HELP: Removing Planaria + Hydra in Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina) aquarium

This week, from no seemingly nowhere (no new additions in MONTHS of any organisms or plants etc.) I discovered Planaria and Hydra in my neocaridina red cherry shrimp tank. The colony has recently been doing AMAZING, multiplying and molting like no other dwarf shrimp I've ever raised -- and then, almost overnight, planaria showed up on the glass and a few marimo moss balls, and have multiplied.

While I know it's simple to Google many answers to remove planaria or hydra, the reason I'm making a new post here is because: (a) it's always best to have the most updated/recent data/info, (b) shrimp specifically can be extremely sensitive to chemical and medication additives to the water, and (c) there's an advantage to receiving a multitude of advice from several sources/perspectives (the whole reason forums exist).

DETAILS:
1 - The aquarium is exclusively red cherry shrimp (neocaridina) with some ramshorn and nerite snails
2 - I've been using Azoo bio-balls, Bacter-AE, Brightwell Shrimp Code, More PS Bacteria, SL Aqua Magic Powder, Sun Grow Juvenile Shrimp Snacks. and Microbe-Lift Special Blend conditioner/bacteria

HOW CAN I SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY REMOVE THE PLANARIA?
*Overnight I've noticed for the FIRST TIME shrimp death, at least 5-6 of my colony have died overnight.

 

[tlindsey]

Just read a interesting article on Fishlab.com I googled how to treat Planaria. They explain in detail why your shrimp are dying and ways to treat.

 

[AmateurAquarist]

Just read a interesting article on Fishlab.com I googled how to treat Planaria. They explain in detail why your shrimp are dying and ways to treat.

I read that one a few times too, it was solid. I read through 12-15 articles and visited other forums, I even went to overseas websites and blogs (Europe, Australia) to see how they combatted these infestations, safely.

There's a lot of conflicting information, pertaining specifically to "shrimp safe" methods of deworming and de-hydra'ing.

I'm going to start in the next 5 minutes with API's Aquarium Salt @ 5g/liter, which can/has eliminated hydra in 5-7 days totally -- BUT, it doesn't do much against Planaria, and the fact it takes nearly a week is concerning since I've already seen shrimp death.

Here's a solid list I came up with from researching this week:

1. Planaria Zero (or, NO Planaria -- same active ingredient)
2. Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer
3. Fish Bendazole (kills Planaria AND Hydra)
4. Panacur-C (kills Planaria AND Hydra)
5. Liquid Co2 (Carbon) fertilizer supplement can have a small effect, indirectly, by killing excess algae growth with can be a breeding ground for worms and hydra

UPDATE

I ended up going with the API Aquarium Salt Protcol (5g/liter) along with Panacur-C Canine Dewormer (Fenbendazole), which ended up being extremely cheap, compared to EVERY other option (above), and according to all reviews 100% effective at BOTH Hydras (and) Planaria.

 

[tlindsey]

I read that one a few times too, it was solid. I read through 12-15 articles and visited other forums, I even went to overseas websites and blogs (Europe, Australia) to see how they combatted these infestations, safely.

There's a lot of conflicting information, pertaining specifically to "shrimp safe" methods of deworming and de-hydra'ing.

I'm going to start in the next 5 minutes with API's Aquarium Salt @ 5g/liter, which can/has eliminated hydra in 5-7 days totally -- BUT, it doesn't do much against Planaria, and the fact it takes nearly a week is concerning since I've already seen shrimp death.

Here's a solid list I came up with from researching this week:

1. Planaria Zero (or, NO Planaria -- same active ingredient)
2. Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer
3. Fish Bendazole (kills Planaria AND Hydra)
4. Panacur-C (kills Planaria AND Hydra)
5. Liquid Co2 (Carbon) fertilizer supplement can have a small effect, indirectly, by killing excess algae growth with can be a breeding ground for worms and hydra

UPDATE

I ended up going with the API Aquarium Salt Protcol (5g/liter) along with Panacur-C Canine Dewormer (Fenbendazole), which ended up being extremely cheap, compared to EVERY other option (above), and according to all reviews 100% effective at BOTH Hydras (and) Planaria.

Great to hear that and hope things go well.

 

[fearlessfisch]

What a nightmare! Double nightmare. I shudder just looking at that.

I used the fenbendazole once before successfully when I exposed a tank to hydra. I didn't have shrimp, but I've heard stories from people whose shrimp did okay with it. I hope your shrimp make it and that it's successful in killing both infestations, quickly.

 

[AmateurAquarist]

SUCCESS!!

I wanted to update everyone on the short version of the total success I had this week, following the plan I devised after researching for hours upon hours:

1 - Treat the water with a steady trickle introduction of 2-3g/liter of aquarium salt (you can do the conversions per gallon easily if you live in America using online calcs). Introduce the salt over an 8-hour+ period.

2 - Dose 225mg ACTIVE INGREDIENT from Panacur-C (Fenbendazole). Make SURE you're not merely measuring the raw powder itself from the packets this dog deworming medication comes in, but rather measure the dosages precisely using a digital scale accurate at least tot he 0.00 decimal placing.
2b - This took a lot of math, ratios, and calculation checks on my end to make sure I knew precisely how much active was in how much raw powder of Panacur-C. Send me a PM if you'd like all my hand-written notes and arithmetic.

3 - Dissolve the appropriate amount of ACTIVE Panacur-C into a solution of your choosing; I chose Prime, Microbe-Lift Special Blend, and a vitamin/amino acid aquarium supplement (my solution was fully dissolved in 15 min)

3b - Repeat the above dosing into the water precisely after 24 hours (a 2nd FULL dose)

THAT'S IT!

100% of all planaria and hydra were shriveled up, dead, and ultimately fell off the glass!!

NOTE: I experienced ZERO shrimp (or snail) death, at all! I was surprised, and removed my nerites to be safe, but found a remaining nerite this morning, which was unaffected (and again, I dosed TWICE at full strength, over 48 hours)