Duckweed Question

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:17 am

Anyone know if there is an aquatic animal that will eat duckweed?

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:25 am

Goldfish.

Cristy Keister · Post by **Cristy Keister** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:50 am

and some african cichlids.

Nothing that won't eat up your other plants.

neilanh · Post by **neilanh** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:40 pm

Ghazanfar's surface skimmer eats duckweed pretty well too.

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:58 pm

hmmm... okay... thanks, all!

Sonny Disposition · Post by **Sonny Disposition** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:41 pm

A native minnow will eat duckweed and is reputed not to eat plants. They're called golden shiners. When they're small, they're often sold in baitshops. I got some in a Baitshop north of Baltimore a few years ago. (Unfortunately, there aren't many baitshops left in the DC area.) Be forewarned, though, they do get big, topping out at 8-10 inches.
Here's one in spawning color:http://www.colonialprep.org/golden%20shiner.jpg

In non-breeding mode, they're silvery:http://www.cnr.vt.edu/efish/families/goldenshiner.html

ingg · Post by **ingg** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:46 pm

Come to the March meeting and we'll be showing how to make a dusckweed extractor....

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:10 pm

ducks.

Sonny Disposition · Post by **Sonny Disposition** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:47 am

I made a duckweed extractor once and it helped. But to really get rid of the stuff for good, you need something that eats it. Mayan cichlids will also get rid of it, too, but they'll probably kill every fish in your tank.

DelawareJim · Post by **DelawareJim** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:33 pm

A net and diligence.

Only way I've found to really get rid of it is to net out all you can, and then just pick, pick, pick everyday when you're feeding and admiring your tank.

Cheers.
Jim

Duckweed Question

Duckweed Question

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