First decision

Identify free-living organisms before treatment

You found a worm, hydra or other free-living organism in the system.

Use the whole card. The action stays attached to what must be observed and recorded, plus the nearest inference or action the current guidance cannot support.

Observe first

Record scale, body form, movement, exact location, attachment, affected denominator and whether the organism is on or near shrimp.

First action

Collect clear observations and narrow the organism group before changing food, removing animals or considering treatment.

Record next

Record images or video, size, movement, substrate, counts, shrimp contact, feeding conditions, recent additions and trend.

Stop boundary

Do not treat from a common name or blurry image, and do not assume disappearance proves eradication, efficacy or host safety.

Continue with the governing guide

Identify free-living organisms before treatment owns the complete method, evidence, limitations and revision history. This card introduces no separate biological claim.

Teaching card titled Identify free-living organisms before treatment: first decision. Situation: You found a worm, hydra or other free-living organism in the system. Observe first: Record scale, body form, movement, exact location, attachment, affected denominator and whether the organism is on or near shrimp. First action: Collect clear observations and narrow the organism group before changing food, removing animals or considering treatment. Record next: Record images or video, size, movement, substrate, counts, shrimp contact, feeding conditions, recent additions and trend. Stop boundary: Do not treat from a common name or blurry image, and do not assume disappearance proves eradication, efficacy or host safety. The permanent card is at moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/pests and the governing guide is at moltandmoss.com/care/pests. — Original typography-only teaching visual containing the complete card. It is not specimen evidence.

Copy the complete card

Keep every part and both permanent links together.

MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD
Version: 1.0
Reviewed: 2026-08-12
Topic: Identify free-living organisms before treatment

Situation: You found a worm, hydra or other free-living organism in the system.
Observe first: Record scale, body form, movement, exact location, attachment, affected denominator and whether the organism is on or near shrimp.
First action: Collect clear observations and narrow the organism group before changing food, removing animals or considering treatment.
Record next: Record images or video, size, movement, substrate, counts, shrimp contact, feeding conditions, recent additions and trend.
Stop boundary: Do not treat from a common name or blurry image, and do not assume disappearance proves eradication, efficacy or host safety.
Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/pests
Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/pests

This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide.

Open the portable text version or open the complete visual card.

Copy the exact accessibility description

Use this complete description when a platform provides an alt-text field. Do not shorten away the stopping boundary.

Teaching card titled Identify free-living organisms before treatment: first decision. Situation: You found a worm, hydra or other free-living organism in the system. Observe first: Record scale, body form, movement, exact location, attachment, affected denominator and whether the organism is on or near shrimp. First action: Collect clear observations and narrow the organism group before changing food, removing animals or considering treatment. Record next: Record images or video, size, movement, substrate, counts, shrimp contact, feeding conditions, recent additions and trend. Stop boundary: Do not treat from a common name or blurry image, and do not assume disappearance proves eradication, efficacy or host safety. The permanent card is at moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/pests and the governing guide is at moltandmoss.com/care/pests.

Card version 1.0, reviewed 2026-08-12. This is a first-decision aid, not diagnosis, treatment authorization, emergency service or a complete method.