The Five Worst Kind Of Aquarium Pests
We do agree that all Aquarium Pests can be nasty and dangerous for your fish and tank, even your aquatic plants. But there are some Aquarium Pests that are deemed as the worst kind. They are listed below.
- Acropora-Eating Flatworms (Amakusaplana acroporae)
These are known to be the nastiest pests for aquariums which reproduce quickly and have excellent camouflage techniques. They are most commonly treated with weekly removal via blasting them with a turkey baster or a Levamisol. They can cause great damage in your fish tank, hence it’s very important to get rid of them promptly.
- Montipora-Eating Nudibranchs
Known to be the worst pest in aquarium this one can reproduce as tiny versions of adults and can immediately begin dating the corals. They can hide in the smallest areas in the fish tank and are resilient to the treatment too. In most cases, their treatment includes use of potassium permanganate dip.
- Nuisance Anemones
One of the most powerful and stubborn aquarium pests, these can overtake your aquarium very quickly. They can deter the growth of your aquatic plants and fishes too. Furthermore, since they overtake your fish tank quickly, you should take action to remove them as soon as you spot them. They can either be treated via chemical treatment or natural predation.
- Xanthid Crabs (Black-Tipped Claws)
These pests have black tipped claws and are often found to be hairy. They do not reproduce in a fish tank but thrive on live rocks. They are destructive to corals in the fish tank and even see fishes. They are very hard to spot and catch, however, sometimes bottle traps work. You could also use the help of homemade spears or a DIY Crab Trap.
- Zoanthid-Eating Spiders
Last, but not least, this Aquarium Pest is one of the nastiest ones. It can cause nightmares and become a headache. The good news is that they can be treated easily with manual removal methods like the use of tweezers. Besides that, they can create an unhealthy environment in the fish tank hence you should take action, the second you spot them in your fish tank.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. When you follow a link to purchase the products, I sometimes earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here
General Tips To Control Aquarium Pests
Even though you can create your own crab trap and save lots of money and effort in catching aquarium pests, you can still follow some general guidelines and tips to avoid getting them in the first place. These are mentioned as follows.
- Frequently Maintaining & Cleaning The Aquarium
When you do not clean the aquarium timely, it leaves room for algae formation and the prevalence of pests like detritus worms and even crabs. This can significantly harm the environment inside your aquarium. Your coral reefs may suffer because of unwanted pests and crabs too. Hence, you should be removing algae and engage in routinely maintenance at least once a week. Changing the water frequently is also recommended.
- Do not Overfeed
One of the most common reasons why aquariums have pests is because owners tend to overfeed the fishes. The uneaten food and the remains creates excessive waste and becomes the ideal food source for the aquarium pests like snails to devour. This is the reason why you should be feeding them portions which are necessary and remove excess immediately. Dumping food in the aquarium can be counter productive.
- Bleach Dipping
Another tip to follow would be to take all the precautions and clean each of the Aquarium prop like artificial plants, rocks, etc., and preparing them for a bleach bath. Once you’ve done that, you have to create a water solution that comprises 10% bleach and 90% water. Thereon, you should be soaking everything for a couple of minutes within this solution and allow the bleach to do the job. Then you should take it out and rise it thoroughly with tap water. Voilà! There’ll be good to go.
- Quarantining New Fishes
Let’s suppose you’ve gotten new fish for your aquarium. You should know that they have a risk of carrying microorganisms and parasites which can pollute your fish tank. Hence it is best to not place them in your tank until they have been quarantined and considered to be pest free after 24 hours. You can keep them in an old container or Aquarium until 24 hours have passed. It’s also important to not buy fish before you’ve cleaned your tank from all the nasty bugs and pests. This not just goes for new fishes, but also new Aquarium props that you bring in. They should be quarantined as well.
