Flukes In Shrimp Lake – Causes And Treatments

There are 2 types of flatworms that we often call them flukes (at least as far as we know) which are planaria and rhabdocoela. They are all flukes, but one is harmful and the other is not.

Planaria is the harmful kind they are very opportunistic and when the shrimp are open they will cling to the shrimp and eat the shrimp, usually the planaria will target the young or sick shrimp. Still rhabdocoela is a harmless species. The common point of these two species is that they love to crawl on glass, and the difference is also the point for you to distinguish between these two types is that the planaria has a pointed head and tail like a triangle and the rhabdocoela will have a round head and tail. . And more interestingly, they are hermaphrodites, so they don't need 1 male and 1 female, but only 1 can produce offspring and they grow at a very fast rate.

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This paragraph NuoiTep.Com will talk about the fluke that harms shrimp that is planaria

Planaria are not uncommon creatures in aquariums. They often appear when you overfeed fish and shrimp leaving too much unprocessed food in your tank. As it happens, these flatworms start to reproduce very quickly.

Planaria can be easily distinguished from other unwanted parasites in your tank such as worms and hydra. It is a flatworm with a triangular head with a light-sensitive eye. The auricles extending from all sides of the head contain extremely sensitive cells. It uses to locate food. Once food is found, it begins to consume it using the convex pharyngeal muscle. Through rhythmic contractions of the pharyngeal muscles, the planaria pumps food into its stomach by a cylinder-like action. Flatworms have an acoelomate body (no internal cavity to house organs), no lungs and no circulatory system. Instead of anus, it has fire cells, whose function is to remove waste.

Even if you stretch the flatworm, it will only reach 2.5cm in length.

Reproduction of Planaria
Planaria are hermaphrodites (reproduce asexually), but they can also reproduce sexually. Two flatworms will mate and fertilize each other's eggs. Then it drops them in a cocoon.

Depending on the temperature, there are two types of eggs:
– Summer eggs (thin and translucent shell)
– Winter eggs (black)

The incubation period of summer eggs (lasting several weeks) is shorter than that of winter eggs. In the wild, egg winters can survive all winter.

Planaria is a famous immortal creature. If you cut it in half, the two parts will grow into two new parts. Even more, according to scientific research, to restore its entire body, only 1/279 of its body part is needed. Then they will regenerate everything in two weeks.

Refer: Breeding: Inbreeding in Shrimps

Types of Planaria
There are two types of planaria flatworms, which can be found in shrimp tanks:

– White and flat brown- White Planaria (Procotyla)
- Black and brown planaria (Dugesia)
Both types are carnivorous. They can eat live or dead animals. That is why for shrimp players, there is not a big difference between the two.

Causes of Planaria in shrimp tanks.
These are the main reasons why one day you may find these little worms in your shrimp tank.
1. Overfeeding
2. No systematic maintenance.
3. They are present in plants, driftwood, substrates, etc. when you put them in the shrimp tank

Planaria and shrimp
For shrimp farmers, planaria can turn out to be a disaster. it will definitely kill your shrimp. So how do they kill shrimp?
Planaria usually only kills weak/small or dying shrimp. Note that this is very likely to happen to juvenile shrimp if the shrimp has just molted. Without the shell, the shrimp is very vulnerable.

As soon as they have the opportunity, they will try to cling or crawl on the shrimp. Most shrimp have the ability to jump and throw flat. Planaria's slime can stun the shrimp so the shrimp won't be able to do anything to protect themselves.

Then, Planaria started looking for a soft spot to enter the shrimp's body. When they find their way into the shrimp, they will eat it raw. It is a very sad story for all shrimp farmers.

How to remove Planaria
 These are two popular ways to get rid of planaria and some other remedies.
1. Handling chemicals and natural products.
2. Planaria Trap.

If you have several fish in your aquarium (like Bettas, Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish and Pleco varieties), you can consider yourself lucky. Because it will eat them and solve this problem for you. The only bad thing is that these fish can eat your shrimp with the same pleasure.

Do you really know how much water your shrimp tank has so you don't overdose?
Before I start talking about products for the treatment of planaria, I want to say one thing and this is very important.

People often do not know the exact amount of water in their shrimp tank. They think they know, but they don't! Almost no one considers the other things that are in the shrimp tank like substrate, filters, driftwood, plants, rocks, bricks, decorations, etc. 

Have you thought about it? As a result, most people, even experienced aquarists, make this simple mistake and overdose! ARE NOT overdose your shrimp tank!

Refer: Classification of Red Cherry Shrimps – RC

1. The product is recommended for the treatment of Planaria.
– Benibachi – Planaria Zero
Using betel nut extract as an ingredient. In fact, it is also very good against parasites like Hydra. In a few days, it will remove the socks. The best thing is that it is safer than using Panacur C or other doses of Fenbendazole.

Using:
If your tank has snails, remove them all because this medicine is harmful to your snails.
Make sure you have good aeration and oxygen supply.

Dosage:
The first day – 2 spoons – 1g per 50 liters
Second day – 2 spoons – 1g per 50 liters
The third day – 1 spoon – 0.5g per 50 liters
Wednesday – change 20% of water
Day 10 if you still see some planaria – 1 teaspoon every 50 liters
Day 11 - 20% water change

Extermination of water: only need to use a single dose, use one spoon for 50 liters of lake water.

Once the worms have died, try to get them out of the tank as much as possible, to avoid an ammonia spike.
Use measuring tools to check ammonia levels.
You will probably have to re-treat in 2-3 weeks to remove the hatched ones from the eggs.
To improve the effectiveness of treatment. It is recommended not to feed the shrimp for the first 3 days of treatment to avoid further infection.
 You can order on shopee here: Order Benibachi – Planaria Zero

2. Planaria Trap
Obviously you can buy traps at the store or buy them online. However, why buy if you can make one. It will take you less than a minute because it is so simple and easy.

To do this, you need to put beef, squid, fish, etc. into the gauze bag. Place the bag on a medium near the plant for one night (lights should be turned off). In the morning, carefully remove the bag with the worms and place it in boiling water.

Using electricity to eliminate Planaria
When people become desperate, they can do some strange and dangerous things. There is a rumor that some people have had success with this method. They simply let a current (12V/32V) pass through the water.
Making:
Two copper wires (without insulation) submerged in water at opposite ends of the tank. Be careful, the leads must be carefully isolated from the metal frame of the aquarium. Turn on the current for 1-3 minutes. shrimp, fish and plants will be fine. Don't do it for a long time (like 10-20 minutes) or you will get "Dead Sea" in your shrimp tank.

NuoiTep.Com are not support this brutal and dangerous practice even if it can kill parasites like planaria, hydra, and others.. You could have serious problems. The problem is that the water will be saturated with copper ions. There is a chance it can kill everything in your shrimp tank.

Some other information about Planaria
– Planaria does not like light very much. If you shine a flashlight at the fluke, it will try to move away from the light. That is why they are more active at night.
– Planaria eat from the middle of their body, not from the head.
According to studies, if you cut them into pieces, its body will regenerate.

Prevention of Planaria
1. Feed less.
Don't overfeed your shrimp. One of the easiest ways to control the feeding process is to use feeding plates.
2. Change your tank water systematically.
3. Take Precautionary Measures.
Be careful what you are putting in your aquarium. Buy plants and media only from trusted (brand) sellers. Phytosanitary . If you are going to use sand, gravel, etc from your garden, you need to clean, rinse and boil. Same goes for any driftwood, bring to a boil for at least 5-10 minutes.
Finally, you need to wash your hands thoroughly before you intend to do something with your shrimp tank

Refer: How to Kill Instant Water in Shrimp & Aquatic Ponds