RCS breeding question

[Yadokari]

I plan on keeping a handful of RCS in a planted community tank that consist of very small fish. Endler's, Pygmy Cory Cats and Scarlet Badis (Dario Dario) and Ghost shrimps will be their tankmates.

I know baby RCS are very small and often eaten by fish so I don't really expect 100% of the new born RCS to make it to adulthood. However, is there a possibility that at least 25-50% of them make it? Considering the fact that it IS a planted tank, with java moss and a driftwood with openings for hiding spots. Or will all of the babies get eaten up, which then of course, would mean I have to separate pregnant females in a new tank?

I just recently got a few RCS from craigslist, more on the way from Mgamer so I'm not really that experienced with them yet. I do hope to breed them and eventually (very slowly) have a surplus of them to sell off on craigslist or make a whole new tank.

Note: I am NOT trying to bust out shrimp colonies, I just want to know if it's possible to have an increase in RCS in a planted community tank.

[msjinkzd]

The short answer is yes. I started out with 10 cherries in a community tank with gourami, cherry barbs, tetras, and cories and now have 3 tanks of cherries. As long as you have ample cover (moss, etc) babies will survive. What size is the community tank?

[Yadokari]

20G

[Bobnova]

Depends on how endlers act. If they're like H. formosa(another very small fish) you can expect a 1% survival rate at most. I doubt, however, that they do.

If you put some dense java moss in the tank you should get at least 25-50% survival.

[StereoKills]

:iagree: While some smaller ones may get eaten, I would anticipate a decent survival rate.

[Yadokari]

Yay, thanks for the responses. That made my day, knowing I won't have to make a new tank just to multiply my cherry population, then having to scoop out the big shrimp and throw it into my main tank.