Feeding Nerites

**trapperwolves** · 07-06-2012, 12:55 AM

I have 4 zebra (tiger) nerites in a well planted 10 gallon tank. They did a great job of eating any algea that appeared. I added 12 red cherry shrimp about 6 months ago and now have a population of about 100.

I believe the red cherry shrimp are eating the nerites food source as 1 of the nerites is seen on and eating a large anubia leaf a few times a day. He's eaten the heck out of a leaf that's about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide. So while it might be rare my nerite does eat plants.

So anyway to try to have him kick the leaf eating habit I boiled a 2" x 2" piece of lettuce, put it in the tank, and placed the nerites on top of the lettuce. The nerites won't stop eating the lettuce.

So my question is how long can I keep that piece of lettuce in the tank before it will start fouling up the water? Would over-night be OK? Kind of a wierd question but I thought maybe someone has had some experience with blanched foods.

jasonpatterson · 07-06-2012, 01:49 AM

Overnight is fine. Odds are good that the shrimp will clean it up anyway. I usually just leave leaf veggies in the tank until they're gone, really, a day or two is about as long as that usually lasts.

**ravensgate** · 07-06-2012, 02:27 AM

I have one nerite in a 3 gallon tank that can't figure out how to get into my feeding dish when I feed the shrimp. So about once a week I yank him out and put him in a cup of tank water and toss in some blanched zucchini or an algae wafer for him to eat all by himself. I give him a few hours and toss him back in the tank. However, he's still a pooping machine regardless so I'm sure I'm being a worry wart about nothing. Can't poop if you don't have food in your system so he's getting his fill in the tank as far as I can tell. Mine is a fairly new tank though and doesn't have enough buildup for him yet, that's why I yank him out. I've got new dishes coming though that will hopefully be easier for him to get in and out of.

Bananariot · 07-06-2012, 03:12 AM

Your shrimps will definitely take care of whatever is leftover after your snails get it. If not just take out the leftovers in the morning.

**trapperwolves** · 07-06-2012, 05:04 PM

Thanks for your replies everyone.

07-06-2012, 12:55 AM	#1
trapperwolves Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 200	Feeding Nerites I have 4 zebra (tiger) nerites in a well planted 10 gallon tank. They did a great job of eating any algea that appeared. I added 12 red cherry shrimp about 6 months ago and now have a population of about 100. I believe the red cherry shrimp are eating the nerites food source as 1 of the nerites is seen on and eating a large anubia leaf a few times a day. He's eaten the heck out of a leaf that's about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide. So while it might be rare my nerite does eat plants. So anyway to try to have him kick the leaf eating habit I boiled a 2" x 2" piece of lettuce, put it in the tank, and placed the nerites on top of the lettuce. The nerites won't stop eating the lettuce. So my question is how long can I keep that piece of lettuce in the tank before it will start fouling up the water? Would over-night be OK? Kind of a wierd question but I thought maybe someone has had some experience with blanched foods. __________________ Trapperwolves

07-06-2012, 02:27 AM	#3
ravensgate Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (35/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,176	I have one nerite in a 3 gallon tank that can't figure out how to get into my feeding dish when I feed the shrimp. So about once a week I yank him out and put him in a cup of tank water and toss in some blanched zucchini or an algae wafer for him to eat all by himself. I give him a few hours and toss him back in the tank. However, he's still a pooping machine regardless so I'm sure I'm being a worry wart about nothing. Can't poop if you don't have food in your system so he's getting his fill in the tank as far as I can tell. Mine is a fairly new tank though and doesn't have enough buildup for him yet, that's why I yank him out. I've got new dishes coming though that will hopefully be easier for him to get in and out of. __________________ 12G Rimless Club Jaime (yes, I'm a girl)

07-06-2012, 03:12 AM	#4
Bananariot Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (23/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Stony Brook, NY Posts: 2,484	Your shrimps will definitely take care of whatever is leftover after your snails get it. If not just take out the leftovers in the morning. __________________ A Poor College Student's 12 Gallon Long ~~R.I.P. My College 10 Gallon Exploration x3~~ 12G Rimless Club

07-06-2012, 05:04 PM	#5
trapperwolves Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 200	Thanks for your replies everyone. __________________ Trapperwolves

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07-06-2012, 01:49 AM	#2
jasonpatterson Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Macedonia, OH Posts: 1,572	Overnight is fine. Odds are good that the shrimp will clean it up anyway. I usually just leave leaf veggies in the tank until they're gone, really, a day or two is about as long as that usually lasts.