Changing water often enough without injuring larvae

[Bill B]

Hi all,

I have been frustrated a long time because I did not know how to change frequently enough to keep water quality up without injuring the small tadpoles (my current situation) or sallie larvae (not my situation but could be used for that, too). One suggested siphoning with a very narrow hose (like the kind used for bubble stones), but tadpoles still got injured, and it took about 1/2 hour to remove 4-5 gallons.

Yesterday, I thought of a method I had not seem before. Take an empty cylinder-shaped plastic container that you buy ground coffee in. Then take piece of window screen (like what you use for false floors in terrariums) and attach it to the opening of the coffee container. Simply scoop out water -- water goes in but tadpoles or other types of larvae do not.

See photo.

 

[Donna001]

That seems like quite a good idea :happy:, but I've not dealt with larvae so perhaps one of the more experienced keepers/breeders will be able to offer better advice.

 

[Bill B]

Anyone else have any ideas? Occasionally I have simply tried scooping out the larvae into a different container, then removing water from the original container, but I think it is very stressful to scoop out tadpoles/sallie larvae (especially when very small -- because they tend to stick to net when they very small)... plus that method might make it difficult to get all of larvae when you remove the water.

 

[Chinadog]

I siphon the waste water through a large, but fine meshed net, then rescue the larvae out the net with a teaspoon It can be awkward, but it's the best way I can think of. Mind you, it always surprises me how few larvae end up in the net, I think they must scatter when they see the disturbance from the hose.

 

[Bill B]

I siphon the waste water through a large, but fine meshed net, then rescue the larvae out the net with a teaspoon It can be awkward, but it's the best way I can think of. Mind you, it always surprises me how few larvae end up in the net, I think they must scatter when they see the disturbance from the hose.

Trying to follow what you are describing. From what I can tell, you put hose not at the end where the water is drawn in, but where the water comes out in drainage bucket....? I guess I can't quite picture of what you are saying. Can you post a photo?

 

[Otterwoman]

I siphon the waste water through a large, but fine meshed net, then rescue the larvae out the net with a teaspoon It can be awkward, but it's the best way I can think of. Mind you, it always surprises me how few larvae end up in the net, I think they must scatter when they see the disturbance from the hose.

That's pretty much what I do, without the spoon; I'm going to use a spoon now too, I think it would be helpful!

But another thing I do, when I think there are larvae in the water, I still do water changes but I take the water from higher up and leave the detritus at the bottom of the tank. It's pretty much just like dirt because whatever it is is being broken down; if I think there are larvae I'll also put blackworms in the tank to eat and live off till they are big enough to see and catch. The water quality has still always been OK for me doing that. My tanks are so old there is a bio layer on everything in them.

 

[Chinadog]

Sure. I just do my water changes as normal and let it siphon into the bucket through the net. Everything too small to pass through the net gets caught, so it's just a matter of rescuing the larvae out of the net and tipping the other stuff like dead leaves etc back into the bucket to be disposed of. The net needs to be quite large otherwise it gets blocked with waste pretty quick and overflows. It's not fool proof, but it's the best way I've found so far.

 

[Canecorsonewt]

If that is a moss ball in that aquarium all the way to the right Its amazing chinadog. Its huge most be over 100 years old. It would be fun to ring that out and shape it. Love the oriental decor to i have seen some of your pictures nice setup you have.