Shrimp... to count or not to count?

I prefer live plants for their ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate uptake capabilities - part of what helps speed up cycling (in my experience). The more water processing the better in my book. My RCS keep them mostly algae free (with the exception of some of the beefier algae like staghorn or hair types). I would start out with a quick-growing, robust, stem type (like elodea, ludwigia repens, guppy grass, etc.) and make sure you have more than 2 watts per gallon (preferably 3 with that size of tank) of fluorescent lighting. I use 36 watts on each of my 10g tanks and myfast-growing stem plants are pretty happy.

You can definitely order through aquabid, though I would check the classifieds here first.
 
I
Found I can order both on "aquabid". anyone else ever order anything through there?

I got some RCS on here, but I got some from aquabid too, when there was a really good deal- free shipping, I think.

Try to get adults, not just juvies, if you want them to breed.
 
Juveniles usually ship better so I would get juveniles and grow them to adult size if it was me.


I also like getting Juveniles. You never know just how old the adult shrimps
are that you get. They might already be a year old and you know that many dwarf shrimp have a short life span.

Steve
 
how tiny are the juveniles?

would my betta bother them?

i suppose i could remove him while they grow a bit. are they fast growers? I hate to take him out of his new home just to stick him back into his crappy little betta bowl.

Steverd - you have both cherry red and green shrimp right? Do you keep them together? I know they won't cross breed but do they do okay in the same tank? My understanding from the research I've done is that they both like water that is very similar.
 
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