Basic Dwarf Shrimp Questions

[BagelDog]

1. What is an ideal diet for Dwarf Shrimp? I'm looking at CRS and Amano in specific.

2. What else will these shrimp eat? I've heard Amano are algae killers.

3. Are there any other tank parameters that I need to stick to to ensure that shrimp will be happy and possibly breed?

4. In specific, are there any tips for successful breeding? This will be a shrimp only tank. I may add some shrimp to a tank with a few Rasbora Het and Neon Tetras, will these guys disturb the shrimp breeding?

5. Will I have to worry about cross-breeding between the two species?

6. Am I asking too many questions?!

[FasterShrimpo]

1. What is an ideal diet for Dwarf Shrimp? I'm looking at CRS and Amano in specific.

2. What else will these shrimp eat? I've heard Amano are algae killers.
-Flakes, snails, decaying plants, dead fish, algae, algae waffers/tablets, blanched veggies, more too.

3. Are there any other tank parameters that I need to stick to to ensure that shrimp will be happy and possibly breed?
-Depends on the shrimp. CRS 5.9-6.9. Almost anything else above 7.

4. In specific, are there any tips for successful breeding? This will be a shrimp only tank. I may add some shrimp to a tank with a few Rasbora Het and Neon Tetras, will these guys disturb the shrimp breeding?
-Just make sure the tank is kept well and they will breed. The fish might snack on a few babies, but no biggy.

5. Will I have to worry about cross-breeding between the two species?
-yes, not these dwarfs though.
6. Am I asking too many questions?!
- no not enough.


RCS, yellow shrimp, ghost shrimp, tons more.

[msjinkzd]

1. What is an ideal diet for Dwarf Shrimp? I'm looking at CRS and Amano in specific.
They both like a predominant veggie diet. Keep in mind if your tank is planted and established they will graze constantly on biofilm and infusoria so feeding them a pelleted diet is more of a supplement. My number one best advice is DON'T overfeed. I feed most of my shrimp tanks a maximum of three times a week. I like Hikari shrimp cuisine as well as ken's veggie sticks with added calcium and also his catfish pellets. I feed one pellet per 10 adult shrimp every 2-3 days.

2. What else will these shrimp eat? I've heard Amano are algae killers.Most dwarf shrimp are omnivorous so a balanced diet of veg and protein is good. this is why I feed a mix of the catfish pellets and the veggies sticks. Amanos are exceptional algae eaters but very unparticulalr about their supplemental foods.

3. Are there any other tank parameters that I need to stick to to ensure that shrimp will be happy and possibly breed?
That is very dependent on species, some like cooler soft water, some like warmer hard water. The CRS need soft water and cooler temps, amanos are pretty flexible and can adapt to what the CRS will need. Also, a cycled tank is a must. There must not be ammonia or nitrite and nitrate must stay below 20 ideally below 10 for them to thrive.

4. In specific, are there any tips for successful breeding? This will be a shrimp only tank. I may add some shrimp to a tank with a few Rasbora Het and Neon Tetras, will these guys disturb the shrimp breeding?
My best advice is to not overfeed as this often will lead to planaria in a shrimp only tank. I would recommend getting a good breeding colony going then adding adults in with your fish. The fish will try to eat juvenile shrimp, though if teh tank is planted its likely good colonies would establish.

5. Will I have to worry about cross-breeding between the two species?Nope, not at all. Those two are just fine to keep together (I do myself). The CRS will breed readily given the correct hardness, the amanos require bracksih water for their larvae to develop into shrimplets.

6. Am I asking too many questions?!
Not at all! Ask away :)

[BagelDog]

Thank you both for the quality info!

Being that I am a man of many questions, here are a few more.

1. I don't think I was specific enough in my third question. Here it goes again: What parameters do I need to follow to make the shrimp happy? Then... What parameters do I need to follow to make them breed?
(Tank stats: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10)

2. My CRS are in a tank with a PH of 7.8. IF I need to lower it what is the best way to do it?

3. What do I need to do to induce breeding? OR is it an inevitable thing?

4. My tank is well planted and established. I am currently feeding the Rasboras, Neons and Corys in the tank. The shrimp seem to be doing well (been in my tank for 45 days now) grazing on the plants and picking at the left over food. Do I need to purchase shrimp specific food?

5. Msjinkzd- you mentioned that the CRS will breed readily given that the tank has the correct hardness. What is the exact hardness I'm shooting for? How do I test for hardness? I own a Master test kit but hardness isn't included in that one.

6. I have heard things about shrimp getting ready to breed show a saddle. Do you have any pictures of shrimp that would help me identify if mine are attempting to breed?

7. Now... Have I asked too many questions?!

[BagelDog]

I'm embarrassed... I actually meant to say I own RCS!

Sorry for the confusion.:thud:

[pbmax]

I have a 10 gallon with some guppy and molly fry in it and 13 RCS - one adult and 12 juveniles that range from about 2/3" to about 3/4" in size. The tank is lightly planted with a divider down the middle - 7 RCS on one side and 6 on the other.

Of the juvenile females, just about all of them are saddled (a yellowish or orangish patch on the back where the head/body meets the tail; I'm a bit rusty on my shrimp anatomy terms :D)

My single adult female became berried last week - she's a total recluse now, but I'm okay with that as long as she holds onto her eggs!

My water parameters: ph - 8, gh - 4, kh - 5, a/n/n 0/0/<20 (guessing on the nitrates - they've been pretty low). I have a good amount of algae, 26 watts of 6500k CFL lighting, and I feed HGH algae wafers in addition to Ed's freshwater flake food.

I've had my RCS for about 2 weeks now and they appear to be thriving - noticeable growth and no casualties yet.

pbmax

[msjinkzd]

2. My CRS are in a tank with a PH of 7.8. IF I need to lower it what is the best way to do it?RCS right? They will do great in that tank, that is what mine is as well.

3. What do I need to do to induce breeding? OR is it an inevitable thing? Good clean water adn they will breed.

4. My tank is well planted and established. I am currently feeding the Rasboras, Neons and Corys in the tank. The shrimp seem to be doing well (been in my tank for 45 days now) grazing on the plants and picking at the left over food. Do I need to purchase shrimp specific food? No, you do not.

5. Msjinkzd- you mentioned that the CRS will breed readily given that the tank has the correct hardness. What is the exact hardness I'm shooting for? How do I test for hardness? I own a Master test kit but hardness isn't included in that one.Your water is likely to be moderately hard to hard just based on pH. This is not a fail safe way to know, but its pretty likely. API does make a hardness kit, its only a few dollars, I got mine from www.kensfish.com.

6. I have heard things about shrimp getting ready to breed show a saddle. Do you have any pictures of shrimp that would help me identify if mine are attempting to breed?The saddle is the patch right behind the head. Its the visible ovaries/eggs. This can either be yellow or green on cherry shrimp.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/ladez_12/saddled.jpg
7. Now... Have I asked too many questions?!

Nope! Ask away

[BagelDog]

Oh joy!:perv:
106463
I've definitely got a saddle on my hands. Two actually.
106464
Thanks again for the info.
I'll keep you posted as I get more anxious for shrimp babies.

[pbmax]

Congrats! Hopefully your males will get the job done :) Great looking shrimp!

pbmax

[BagelDog]

Still no berried females yet but I'm waiting patiently. It seems that the saddle is getting bigger. Does anyone have a picture of a Red Cherry Shrimp that is only a day or two from becoming berried? I'd like to know if I'm getting close or not.

Do saddled shrimp always become berried or is there some other factor I need to keep up on to ensure I get some babies?

[msjinkzd]

I don't think I have ever taken such close observation as to have pic within a day or so of berrying. If she is fertilized, you will get a berry.

[BagelDog]

Ah, I see. The "berried" look occurs when the female has already been fertilized. I thought the female would hold the eggs and THEN they would be fertilized. Good to know.