Opening of Filter = Shrimp + Fry

[androo303]

Decided to clean out my canister filter (XP3 on a 25gallon tank), and low and behold.... about 2 dozen shrimp and 3 fry.. Woah. I thought I lost them all

I poured the contents of the filter into a big mixing bowl for the time being until I can figure out how to get the shrimp and fry out of it without pouring the filter gunk into the tank...

So my question is, how do i go about getting them all out without pouring all the filtered garbage back into my tank?

[Darth]

pour it through a net and then release them

[TLe041]

The same thing happened to me. I found 5 crystal red shrimps and 2 CPDs in my Eheim 2213. I have no idea how long they've been in there. I had to carefully take out each piece of bio media to make sure I wasn't missing anything or injuring them.

A net should work to separate the fishes/shrimps from the sludge.

[sas]

Yep always check filters, you might try putting sponges on
the intake to avoid little ones from being sucked in.
A simple X cut in a sponge does the trick, draw back is
make sure you clean the sponge often,
since it will reduce flow to your filter.

[bergenm]

I run into this on a regular basis... I do it one of two ways:

If there is just 1 or 2 shrimp, I use an eyedropper to suck them up

If there is more than one or two (or if they are impossible to catch), I take a turkey baster and suck out all the mulm - leaving just the shrimp and water. (put the mulm in another container and let it settle - once in a while you still suck up a shrimp ot two...

[androo303]

pour it through a net and then release them

A net should work to separate the fishes/shrimps from the sludge.

That is what i ended up doing. The wife was getting a little impatient with me, so I had to move quicker then expected...

I take a turkey baster and suck out all the mulm - leaving just the shrimp and water.

Definitely will keep this one in mind! i like it!