Bay leaves ok for shrimps?

[giantlumberjack]

Like the title says are Bay leaves ok for shrimps? 

Also got a couple other questions like do i only re-feed my shrimps after they are done with the leaves? 

Do i need to change it? Or will they eat it all/degrade over time?

[ange]

If it's unsafe at least they'll be well seasoned! I've never tried it but it would likely be fine, though I don't really see any benefits over blanched spinach or zucchini.

[Andy's Fish Den]

I am not sure on bay leaves. I do use Indian almond, mulberry and oak leaves in my shrimp tanks. The shrimp will munch on the leaves as the decompose in the tank, and soon you will just have the "framework" of the leave, the veins or whatever they are called left. I pull them out when they get to that point and add another leaf. 

[Daniel]

Bay leaves are from the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) plant. They grow here in North Carolina natively. I have collected freshwater ghost shrimp from shallow pools of water that were littered with the fallen leaves of bay laurels and the shrimp seemed perfectly healthy.

And I find shrimp in pools of water with maple leaves, oak leaves, hickory leaves, beech leaves, etc., and even long leaf pine, pine needles. I am not recommending that you put pine needles in your shrimp aquarium but I found more shrimp in this little pool full of pine needles than any other place that I collected that day.

[giantlumberjack]

Interesting, alright i think i will try it, see how it goes. Though should they be boiled just to be safe? Or will that remove all the good stuff from it?

Oh and ghost shrimp are from the America's? I did not know that.

[giantlumberjack]

So should i boil the leaves or just put them as is? Also for how long? 3, 5 minutes? More?

Edited November 28, 2020 by giantlumberjack

[Daniel]

Won't hurt to boil them for 5 minutes.

[Fishmonger_X]

I took notes from a really old fish guy. He told told me if you boil leaves than they become useless. The dirt and grime on the leaves immediately becomes good bacteria..... boiled it kills all benefits. Most rivers and ponds and lakes are covered in debris. That being said I know their are plenty of aquarium enthusiasts that need there tanks at perfect levels.... I think a little mud is good.

[Daniel]

@Fishmonger_X has got me on that one. I should have indicated I don't boil mine. Here is a fuller discussion of using leaf litter from earlier this year.

 

[Fishmonger_X]

It wasn't you Daniel but I agree with it. Just look at all the videos of Cory taking wild fish from muddy brown lakes and streams and rivers. I think we treat a lot of our fish to sensitive... (that's not saying that some need very specific water).... I have pretty high ph and hard water... I bet I can hatch and raise some of the more delicate tetras.... Maybe I'll try that this year. Myabe I'll fail. I feel like the stronger our tank-bred fish become than the better.

[giantlumberjack]

Thank you for the help guys. Sorry for the late response, for some reason it does not always tell me when somebody post in my threads.