Invert only tank

[James0816]

If one wanted to set up a tank for just shrimp, what species could they keep without having to worry about cross breeding and such?

[FtwayneFish]

there is a few good internet sites with interbreeding charts like petshrimp.com, planetinverts.com.

Good Luck!

[msjinkzd]

generally speaking, you can keep a species of caridina with a species of neocaridina (like crystal reds with cherries). Here is a compatability chart:http://www.planetinverts.com/Will%20These%20Shrimp%20Interbreed.html

Sometimes the larger shrimp can outcompete the smaller species for food.

[DarrylR]

I have cherry red shrimp, crystal red shrimp, and amanos in the same same. Neither can cross breed. As for signs of fighting over feed I place Crystal Reds as the most aggressive, than Amanos, than Cherry Reds.

I haven't see any deaths, or cannabalism of another species. And the Crystal/Cherry are breeding like rabbits, so it seems everyone is getting food in the end.

[Mgamer20o0]

thats prob the best mixture you can have.....

[James0816]

excellent links! excellent! one thing though...noone mentions the ghost shrimp. granted they are basically feeders but i really like them.

[Danyal]

i'm a fan of the ghost shrimp too, they add a bit of fun to the tank.

[Mgamer20o0]

they can.... eat other shrimp at times.

[Yadokari]

I love ghost shrimp. I find them to be the best scavengers, compared to the more popular chery shrimp/amano.

Whenever my slow as hell dario darios don't see an uneaten tubifex, my ghost shrimp swim over and start looking around and pick at the floor until they run into the worm. Then they viciously attack it and eat it alive. I think watching ghosties eat is very amusing :)

[Yadokari]

they can.... eat other shrimp at times.

There have been evidence of this, although I do think it's extremely rare and only occurs in desperate situations. Ghosties are generally friendly in community tanks.

[Fishy_Fun]

i believe some cherry reds would be good

[James0816]

Sry..Have to revive as I don't think it was actually answered as far as having ghost shrimpies with others without fear of cross breading.

[msjinkzd]

they won't crossbreed

[FtwayneFish]

nope they wont

[pixl8r]

Ghost Shrimp, in the Americas are ~99% Palaemonetes sp. thus a completely different genus so there's no chance of cross breeding with Neocaridina (Red Cherry) or Caridina (Crystal Red, Tiger, etc...) shrimp.

You can also keep some Macrobrachium shrimp (long arm shrimp or freshwater prawn) if they're from one of the more peaceful species, assamense, dayanum, kulsiense, eriocheirum, or most of the smaller Macro species. The larger Macros (such as rosenbergii) will desimate anything but the largest and most aggressive of fish.

Another type that I didn't notice mentioned are the filter feeding shrim. Though I would recommend that you wait at least four months before adding any to a newly established aquarium. They eat by extending fans into the water and catching microbial live and eating it. They also require good water flow, so a power head is usually a good idea.