Opinion: Should duckweed be mentioned on any plant shipment that may contain it?

1027 Views 16 Replies 13 Participants Last post by cjstl, May 13, 2014

Mirkinator

Discussion Starter · May 13, 2014

Well what do you think? This plant is illegal in many states, invasive and loves to keep showing back up after you thought you got every last one. I know it can be removed and I have more then once, but I dont think its something that can be completely removed in 5 minutes and not something I would like to get into if I can avoid it...

I was recently sent a shipment of floaters and the seller thinks im trying to scam them because I refuse to take this shipment of completely duckweed covered floaters. No mention of duckweed in the post, or a picture or any hint, but I did get mostly the plant I asked for. Just didnt ask for duckweed.

So what say you? Am I in the wrong for asking for this refund? In general do you think its something that all sellers should disclose?

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Bloomer

· #2 · May 13, 2014

Yes, that and snails, leeches, copepods, BGA, what else have I received? Not sure about the refund part, but I've received duckweed with fish, shrimp, plants, kind of comes with the turf, I suppose. I love it when a freebie floater is thrown into an order and it's buried in duckweed! Right in the trash, anymore!

It takes forever to remove duckweed from plants, a real pain.

Try removing it, then sending a bill for your time at $100 per hour to the seller!

Duckweed's not the end of the world, but I've had a number of tanks wrecked by snail invasions and hitchhikers you don't want, plants included, aren't welcome by many folks I know.

metageologist

· #3 · May 13, 2014

Duckweed, snails and algae are a given. If you are concerned treat the plants for snails and algae. Submerge the plant for a day or two to get the Duckweed to separate from the plants. Then place them in your tank. It's your responsibility to due your due diligence.

Have a gniess day. -Scott

jrill

· #4 · May 13, 2014

metageologist said:
Duckweed, snails and algae are a given. If you are concerned treat the plants for snails and algae. Submerge the plant for a day or two to get the Duckweed to separate from the plants. Then place them in your tank. It's your responsibility to due your due diligence.

Have a gniess day. -Scott

I don't agree at all that there a given. It should be mentioned. I purchased java moss from a member here that contained duck weed I did not expect but just let it go.

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HybridHerp

· #5 · May 13, 2014

I think it should be mentioned. Maybe not grounds for a refund though, but potentially grounds for a not so happy review.

I thought mentioning duckweed would be a common practice, ya know?

Mirkinator

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 13, 2014

jrill said:
I don't agree at all that there a given. It should be mentioned. I purchased java moss from a member here that contained duck weed I did not expect but just let it go.

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I dont either. Snails and algae are much more difficult to prevent and are even tougher to remove. Plus duckweeds legal status requires it should at least be mentioned.

And i can say a partial refund would be ok considering i have to do extra work beyond the normal plant prep... But I never asked for/expected this...

Mirkinator

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 13, 2014

HybridHerp said:
I think it should be mentioned. Maybe not grounds for a refund though, but potentially grounds for a not so happy review.

I thought mentioning duckweed would be a common practice, ya know?

EXACTLY what i thought. Just mention it at least....

ctaylor3737

· #8 · May 13, 2014

You should mention it,when you post. However you should ask to if there is something you don't want to receive. You should always ask, and quarantine any and all plants. You do it,for fish so why not for plants? Same concept and ants can carry diseases. Dip, rinse and quarantine all plants period. Sadly to,you it happened. It would be on you if,the seller refused,because he did send you the plants you asked for.

-Chris

AquaAurora

· #9 · May 13, 2014 (Edited)

I think all sellers should have a disclaimer about what unwanted pests may travel with their items (fish/plants/equipment) specifically frequently illegal and invasive plants like duckweed, along with algae, snails, and snail eggs. The one RAOK I did I had a disclaimer like this (did not have duckweed in my tank at that time so was a warning for algae, snails, and eggs). Simply stating after to please thoroughly rinse all new plants before adding to tank.

I don't think such things should be expected with every purchase. I buy plants from one site frequently (when they're not out of stock of what I want) that I only get snail eggs with, never a speck of algae or any plant pests. I have no issues with the snails myself so I don't mind this but it set my expectations high for other sellers to have the same clean "quality products" or at least advise before buying of undesirable tag-alongs. I also think sellers should be clear if they're selling plants with deficiencies or without roots (trimmings etc), but that's just my opinion ^^

added:I think if you get a plant COVERED in algae or looking half dead/extremely nutrient or light deficient you should be able to get a refund. I'd recently bought a large batch of anubias and all came in far below sub par conditions, I lost several to rhizome rot (other anubias not ordered from this seller are thriving in the same tank it was kept in).. the plants I was given never should have been sold in the first place.. and certainly not without some warning of their rough condition.

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cjstl

· #10 · May 13, 2014

I haven't sold anything on here yet, but I would put in a disclaimer. Something along the lines of "My plants may contain duckweed, MTS, ramshorns and/or bladder snails, diatoms, BBA, GSA, copepods, daphnia, seed shrimp, planaria, nematodes, and other unidentified critters, as these are all things that regularly come with plant shipments I receive, and are all thriving in my tanks. Buy at your own risk and don't whine about it."

Seriously, I haven't been in the hobby that long, but I just figured all these things are givens.

randpost

· #11 · May 13, 2014

I would prefer to be informed on any extras with an order, but I expect some travelers in all plants I order on these forums. I don't care much either way as I sit down and clean my plants I receive before adding them to tanks.

To each their own though.

dcutl002

· #12 · May 13, 2014

Silver Dollars will eat every bit of duckweed in the tank. Come to think of it, they eat all plants in the tank.

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lauraleellbp

· #13 · May 13, 2014

ctaylor3737 said:
You should mention it,when you post. However you should ask to if there is something you don't want to receive. You should always ask, and quarantine any and all plants. You do it,for fish so why not for plants? Same concept and ants can carry diseases. Dip, rinse and quarantine all plants period. Sadly to,you it happened. It would be on you if,the seller refused,because he did send you the plants you asked for.

-Chris

My take as well.

Mirkinator

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 13, 2014

Ok so thats 8 that would prefer to have it mentioned, and 1 crazy dude who it matters not...

And guys I completely agree there is some due diligence when ordering plants... just think it should go both ways and as much as im obligated to realize there is a risk, they are obligated to tell me the conditions of the tank it came from. Especially to members.. Duckweed is a whole different animal (plant?) then snails/algae. And its one thing to have a few straggling larval snails or some algae threads, but completely another to have it it what appears to be a completely inundated tank with duckweed covering every plant I received. Not only that, its the teeny tiny duckweed that makes it all the more fun to remove and not the bigger stuff.

*Sigh* Just rinsed and dunked the frogbit 4 times in a bucket and there is still some plantlets. Guess I need to rinse and dunk again. I should be warned if I need to do this, period. :angryman:

GuppyGuppyGuppyGuppyGuppy

· #15 · May 13, 2014

It's not so bad depending on what the tank will be for. For low-light fish and plants, it's nice.

starfire12

· #16 · May 13, 2014

Mirkinator I agree with you that anybody posting things for sale on a forum should add a disclaimer to the end of the post stating if there might be unwanted plants or creatures. I personal hate any form of duckweed, and would be very angry if I purchased plants only to discover them covered with duckweed.

cjstl

· #17 · May 13, 2014

My pearl gouramis eat the duckweed that I put in my main tank. I'm down to only a couple of bowls that still have the stuff in there. At one point, I separated out all the giant duckweed, since I find it just as useful but much less offensive.

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