are rcs self limiting?

[Linda S]

I have them and amanos in my 36 gal BF with 4 hatchett fish , 4 turquiose rainbows, some otos and some cories and 1 betta. One of my females is berried again. From what I can tell I got about 5 juvies from the last batch. It's heavily planted and there is a BIG mound of java moss to hide and feed in. will this colony out grow my 36? how many are too many? Water quality is good, would that be a guage though? I leave one side panel of the tank grow algae for them, well and on the back glass.

 

[jaysen]

the rainbows and betta will keep the population in check.

 

[XanAvaloni]

What jaysen said. If you want to increase your population of RCS you should get a little tank and make it invert-only. A 5g or even a 1g would be big enough. Every time a female gets berried put her in there until she drops, then return her to the big tank. The babies can get cycled back too as soon as they are big enough to avoid the predators noted.

Or if you are satisfied to have slow population growth you can leave the setup as it is. But in answer to your question it is not the cherries who are limiting their own population: they have help.

 

[Squawkbert]

Agreed - even w/ cover, some will be picked off, maybe even by the Amanos (they're quite a bit larger than RSC and are huge compared to RCS shrimplets).

 

[Linda S]

thanks.