She or He? (RCS)

[leeser28]

I think this is a saddled female RCS, but I'm such a newbie to inverts I really have no idea. Can you tell?

[Squawkbert]

I'd guess "she"

[BreellaBlue87]

I'm going to say she. From what I have read, because you're gravel is pretty light she won't reach full redness

[The Zigman]

female..
her color will improve when she produces eggs...

[leeser28]

Thanks Everyone!

[Fish-Addict]

Where is the saddle?

[leeser28]

Where is the saddle?
If you look about a third of the way back behind her eyes a brown patch starts and continues for down her back for a short distance, it also domes down the sides a bit. It's not so easy to see, especially since she's in such sync with the sand. I put a blue line around what I think is a saddle, but again, I'm a REAL NEWBIE!

[JAY973]

Yup that's the saddle. that's were I usually notice my RCS has eggs.

[leeser28]

It's not as easy to see on her as it is with the Blue Pearls.

[Fish-Addict]

Thanks! Does it work with all shrimp?

[leeser28]

Hey Fish-Addict, I really don't know - From what I've read, it is true of the shrimp that are of this species - neocardinia. I see you have an amano shrimp - just one?

[Fish-Addict]

Hey Fish-Addict, I really don't know - From what I've read, it is true of the shrimp that are of this species - neocardinia. I see you have an amano shrimp - just one?
4 actually, soon to get more! I must change my signiture lol it is way out of date.

[leeser28]

Are you thinking about trying to breed them?

[Fish-Addict]

No because the babys need brackish water and all that stuff. I'll look into it though.

[leeser28]

I can understand that - I'm having a hard time just keeping my little guys alive -- I have had terrible luck even though the stock was good.

[oblongshrimp]

you will see a saddle with all dwarf species that I know of but its easier to see in some species. CRS are hard to see because the red eggs blend with the red body or is covered up by the white shell.

[BreellaBlue87]

you will see a saddle with all dwarf species that I know of but its easier to see in some species. CRS are hard to see because the red eggs blend with the red body or is covered up by the white shell.

none of my females have red eggs, nor have I ever seen a photo of a RCS with red eggs; yellow and green yes but never red.

[The Zigman]

none of my females have red eggs, nor have I ever seen a photo of a RCS with red eggs; yellow and green yes but never red.

CRS and RCS are not the same..

CRS are are Crystal red shrimp they are red and white.

RCS are red cherry shrimp, as discussed here.

Oblongshrimp was speaking about CRS

[leeser28]

CRS and RCS are not the same..

CRS are are Crystal red shrimp they are red and white.

RCS are red cherry shrimp, as discussed here.

Oblongshrimp was speaking about CRS

Thanks - I was a little confused, especially about the white shell bit.

[JAY973]

I can understand that - I'm having a hard time just keeping my little guys alive -- I have had terrible luck even though the stock was good.

Copper is suppose to be harmful to them so hopefully you don't have a high concentration out of your tap. I've also heard of horror stories of high losses after disturbing the gravel.

[leeser28]

Copper is suppose to be harmful to them so hopefully you don't have a high concentration out of your tap. I've also heard of horror stories of high losses after disturbing the gravel.

It was really strange, I changed the water in my aquarium at my office on Sunday, at the time all 9 were alive and healthy - dosed with Prime, went home. When I go into the office the next morning all the juvies were dead but the 5 adults were fine (checked the water, there was between 0 and .25 ppm ammonia but I had dosed with Prime less than 18 hours previous) - so I did another water change again using the Prime. Checked back a few hours later and several of the adults had died, two more were on the way out, and one was still healthy. I removed her ( the one in the pic in this thread), put her in RO water (because at this point it seemed likely something else was in the water that they didn't like) and brought her home, where she's still living. But, she's in a tank with Blue Pearls, I don't have another place for her yet. I've had other invert issues this week too - not a good week in my household for inverts I'm afraid.

[pik01]

shrimp are especially sensitive to ammonia and nitrite. If the exposure is low enough or for a short enough time, they may not die right away. I'm guessing your adults were able to survive for longer but still died due to ammonia poisoning. They don't have a lot of bioload, but the tank still has to be fully cycled. If it's only shrimp in the tank, you can transfer filter media from an established tank, and with the addition of plants, it will kickstart your cycle. Sorry for your losses :(

[bitbot]

My RCS have much lighter saddles than that - yellowy white. But the position looks right.

[leeser28]

shrimp are especially sensitive to ammonia and nitrite. If the exposure is low enough or for a short enough time, they may not die right away. I'm guessing your adults were able to survive for longer but still died due to ammonia poisoning. They don't have a lot of bioload, but the tank still has to be fully cycled. If it's only shrimp in the tank, you can transfer filter media from an established tank, and with the addition of plants, it will kickstart your cycle. Sorry for your losses :(

Thanks! I actually had cycled it, but it was only 2 gallons with no true filter, just space under the gravel and an airstone. Not my brightest purchase, but something marketed as being just fine (bought it before learning what I know now). But with such a small bioload I thought they'd be OK after the tank was cycled, but no. So, the point is, I'm not sure if it was the ammonia spike, or if it was a change in the water. I have since found out that the Poughkeepsie water supply does have areas where there is copper in the water, but I don't know if that's true of where my office is. I don't know... thanks again for your condolences, I just feel really bad for the shrimp!

[BreellaBlue87]

I have since found out that the Poughkeepsie water supply does have areas where there is copper in the water, but I don't know if that's true of where my office is. I don't know... thanks again for your condolences, I just feel really bad for the shrimp!

I worked at a vet clinic in Hastings-on-Hudson and we only fed the animals purified water we got through a company on delivery (like a water thing at an office, big blue jugs)

I used to think Doc was paranoid, maybe now he had his reasons.

[leeser28]

I worked at a vet clinic in Hastings-on-Hudson and we only fed the animals purified water we got through a company on delivery (like a water thing at an office, big blue jugs)

I used to think Doc was paranoid, maybe now he had his reasons.

I think so. I could use RO water, but then I lose the buffering effects of the dissolved salts in tap water. But, it wouldn't be that hard to add baking soda. Still trying to decide what to do... I do have a 5 gallon with an internal I just purchased from an AC member - definitely getting rid of the loser 2 gallon!

[msjinkzd]

Glad you were able to save the one, but so sorry fora ll your troubles :(

[leeser28]

Glad you were able to save the one, but so sorry fora ll your troubles :(
Thanks! I'm actually surprised she made it, I feel kind of bad because the blue pearls haven't accepted her (which is probably a good thing since we don't want them interbreeding) but at the same time I feel sad that she might be lonely.