Starting up a shrimp and/or snail tank?

SubluxT7

SubluxT7

Biology Major
Jul 29, 2006
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0
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Virginia Beach, VA
Real Name
Sandra
Well, I have a couple of tanks laying around collecting dust (5g and 10g). I was thinking of starting a shrimp and/or snail tank with the possibility of breeding either/or/both. Unfortunately, I don't know much about shrimp or snails so I would like some info on them such as:

Optimal PH, Substrate (sand gravel), heater (yes or no), low light (live) plants or plastic? If I use 1 as a breeder tank how should it be set up? Since both carry light bioloads does the tank have to by cycled at all? I have filters on both tanks that put through around 10x the tank volume.

I am thinking along the lines of RCS/Yellow shrimp and apple snails (neither of which we have a supply of around here).:help:

Any and all comments welcomed here. I am looking for and advice/comments, etc. that would help me out (I have serious MTS apparently).

SubluxT7:headbang2:
 
for these snails and shrimp are more or less the same and prefere a ph above 7 about7.4 is adaquate to help stop shell corrosion.

gravel will be better as snails dont really like sand that much.

heater yes.

plants deff live, or is that just me.

you willl need atleast 2.5gal per adult Apple snail. and 10 per gall shrimp as a rule of thumb.

you will have to suppliment the snails diet with a high rich food ie:green veggies like zuccini, shelled peas. there is a sticky it the top of this room about feeding apple snails, with some great home made food recipies.

lights not nessesary but i prefare a low light. shrimp love to graze of the plants and love all mosses.

am sure someone else will chime as i prob forgot to mention something.
 
Optimal PH, Substrate (sand gravel), heater (yes or no), low light (live) plants or plastic? If I use 1 as a breeder tank how should it be set up? Since both carry light bioloads does the tank have to by cycled at all? I have filters on both tanks that put through around 10x the tank volume.
I like to have a dark substrate for shrimp as it seems to make their colors pop more. As for heater, that depends on your ambient temps. I keep my invert tanks around 74ish degrees, some require heaters others do not. A cycled tank is a must for snails as they have a pretty high bioload and shrimp do not tolerate fluctuations at all. As for filtration, in shrimp only tanks I use sponge filters. In tanks with the apple snails, I use HOB's or canisters as they are larger waste producers. In any case, the intake needs to be covered with a sponge or media bag to protect both the snails who seem to like to graze there, and any shrimp or baby shrimp.
I am thinking along the lines of RCS/Yellow shrimp and apple snails (neither of which we have a supply of around here).:help:
Click to expand...
As for pH, neocaridina (which is what RCS/yellows are) are not as particular as caridina (crystals, tigers, etc) and can do well in a wide range with a pH over 7ish being ideal. With apple snails, the higher the pH the better (assuming the hardness is high as well) as this helps prevent erosion of their shells. Feeding them a calcium rich diet as mentioned helps new shell growth but the hardness of the water will prevent erosion and damage to established shell. I plant ALL my invert tanks with lowlight plants as they like to graze on the infusoria and algae that grows on the plants and it helps to keep the water parameters more stable and is aesthetically more pleasing to me.

You will be surprised how active and engaging an invert tank can be. I personally prefer to keep my apple snails seperate from my shrimp as when the shrimp become very numerous, they tend to aggravate the snails with their excessive grooming. They can be housed together safely though. Another great snail is the nerite, they will lay eggs in fw but the eggs will not hatch. They are outstanding algae eaters and there are a variety available for fw tanks. I have spikey, olive, and zebras and really enjoy them. Apple snails definately have the most personality though and are much fun to keep
Let us know if you have any other questions!
 
I have never done a sponge filter at all. How does that work and what equipment would be necessary. Right now, in my danio fry tank..i have a media bag over my intake to prevent them from being sucked up but I am open to all suggestions here ( I didn't INTEND for them to breed, but apparently they were "in the mood for love").

SubluxT7:headbang2:
 
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