[DonKing]

How long does everyone keep catappa (Indian almond) leaves in their shrimp tanks. My crystal reds don't seem too interested in the leaf currently in the tank and it looks the same as it did when added 2 weeks ago. I see photos and videos of leaves that are skeletons of the decomposition process.

Do they get turn to skeletons from deterioration or from being consumed?

How long should they be kept before discarding?

Thanks everyone for your responses/suggestions.

 

[Hmoobthor]

the shrimps eats them..

if your shrimp are not touching them, it means that there's plenty of food is around or your feeding them too much

I usually starve them so they can eat the leaves

 

[The Trigger]

Yeah after a few weeks they just decompose in my tank. Than I just toss in a few fresh ones. Stains the water a nice reddish brown color in my black water tank

 

[orhunterfisher]

The trick with IA leaves is to put them at different intervals...put one in and then a month later put another etc. Then you have leaves in various stages of decomposition. Leave them in forever until they turn to skeleton. Sometimes you may need to anchor them by placing a rock or piece of wood on them etc. The shrimp don't actually eat the leaves, they eat the organisms that break down the leaves.

 

[bostoneric]

The trick with IA leaves is to put them at different intervals...put one in and then a month later put another etc. Then you have leaves in various stages of decomposition. Leave them in forever until they turn to skeleton. Sometimes you may need to anchor them by placing a rock or piece of wood on them etc. The shrimp don't actually eat the leaves, they eat the organisms that break down the leaves.

this!

was just about to type something similar.

 

[HUNTER]

I put one a week ago and looks like it's going to be there for few months, I'm not touching it. They don't even like the zucchini or spinach that I put for them, I take those out after 3 days. Must be content with what they have.

 

[ravensgate]

Also different grades of IAL leaves break down at different rates as well as release different amounts of tannins. A C grade leaf is going to break down faster than an A grade in my experience and release a lot less tannins as well (though I have read some have the opposite experience and Cs release more tannins for them).