Sulawesi: Which to pick?

[Dwarf Puffers]

I'm getting some sulawesi shrimp off of planetinverts, and I'm wondering which ones people like. I'm thinking harlequin and blue skeleton shrimp, and maybe the red stripes too (depends if I can find the money). They're all so amazing, you just don't know how to pick :drool:

http://www.planetinverts.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71

[msjinkzd]

I have to tell you, I am waiting to get sulawesi shrimp until they are no longer wild caught. I can't find the link, but basically these shrimp come from (i believe) 2 lakes and are being heavily over-collected. Its rumored they are already being endangered. Some german breeders have been able to get them to breed in the home aquaria, and several folks have had babies from shrimp they collected while berried. I would imagine in 6 months to a year's time, their prices will halve as they are bred by hobbyists. They are all beautiful.

[Dwarf Puffers]

Strangely enough, I read your post just after seeing multiple "500 heads of sulawesi shrimp" on aquabid. Sad. The guy looks like a local arowana breeder who emptied the lakes of shrimp to sell. Why are all new discoveries allowed to be plundered like this?

[msjinkzd]

One good thing about buying from Ryan is that he IS trying to breed them. I heard about the aquabid sales, its sick to me.

[Dwarf Puffers]

I'm going to cancel my order. I can't sleep easy if I'm supporting overfishing. I'll get some when they're tank bred (and cheaper!).

[msjinkzd]

Its hard, I have been torn as well. I am certainly not judging the people who are buying them from responsible sellers like Ryan. I am sure he will have tank-reared babies in no time. I just can't let myself purchase them until I know I am not furthering a problem. Hopefully the permits for import and collection will become better enforced to preserve the species.

[msjinkzd]

Here is a thread about them with some info on where they are from and how they are caught:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/shrimp/64229-sulawesi-wholesaler-hit-aquabid-those-poor.html

[Mgamer20o0]

if you look at the pricing they already came down $10-$20 a shrimp. the first per order from ryan was like $30-40 or more per shrimp. most are now down to about $20. when you add in the extra two he is sending its $14 per shrimp. thats already almost half of what they were going for.

[pixl8r]

I know two people here in the U.S. that have had success breeding different species of Sulawesi shrimp. When enough people put the effort into it prices will drop quickly.

[lymabean]

how d oyou breed them? do they need brackish water for larval? I have alos been looking but this discourages me. The same thing happened with the celestial pearl danio...

[beviking]

Haven't followed any recent developments but last I heard they needed very hard water with low KH (or was it GH?). A very odd combination since both are usually high if the pH is high.

If you are buying the shrimp to feed to your fish, yes you are furthering over-harvesting. If you are buying with the intent on breeding and distributing (sale/trade) than you are NOT supporting over harvesting.

Hmm, Ryan has come down in price eh???? Ineresting... :idea:

[Yadokari]

They do not have a larvae stage and breed in FW. However, they do need a PH of above 8.
There are only a few people who have been able to get them to breed, it's still in the "experimental" stage though.
I suggest the majority of us should just wait till the supply for them is large enough. The price is just waaaaaay too up there. :-(

[Easydoesit]

those slender blue shrimp look pretty crazy

[MotionInSilver]

I'm drooling on those shrimp! Too bad Ryan's sold out on all of them.

But I think another guy, Frank does sell them from time to time too.

[Inka4040]

The harlequins are apparently linked to specific sponges in the lake, and success rates apart from those sponges haven't been that great, though someone out there has bred them in captivity. Those lakes are actually in danger due to mining and deforestation activity in the area anyway, so our tanks may be the safest place for them after all... Sad either way though.

[Rbishop]

I like the harlequins

[v164e]

I'm drooling on those shrimp! Too bad Ryan's sold out on all of them.

But I think another guy, Frank does sell them from time to time too.


Ryan has proven to be an unreliable source. I wouldn't recommend giving him your money.

Who is this Frank? Does he have an online store? I've already tried to order these shrimp but I haven't found a good source. It would be great to find some other people selling these shrimp in North America.

[The Zigman]

I think we should get together, and dcide which ones we each should get, and we should each get a different type, that way we each can help to breed them, and share them with others, without each one of us having the same shimp...

I mean we each have what, 10, 000 cherry shrimp?