DIY Shrimp and Snail Biosphere

[Jspigs]

I decided to make a DIY shrimp and snail biosphere and I will document it in this thread.

Today (5/16/10):

I planted it with java moss and hornwort.

I have placed it where it will get indirect sunlight (for lighting for the plants).

I used a bunch of established gravel (for water purification) and then some new gravel on top of it (for aesthetic reasons).

I added three established ceramic rings (for extra water purification) on top of the gravel.

I added some snails that came with the plants and established gravel.

And finally, I added a berried ghost shrimp. I got a berried one because they were the same price as the non berried ones and because I have the ability to house the young. I know some people say ghost shrimp young won't survive in fresh water but I have also heard that they will so I am staying hopeful.

Pics:

 

[Jspigs]

Update

I noticed the ghost shrimp likes to eat the pond/bladder snails in the biosphere.

Because there were not many pond/bladder snails in there I felt the need to open it to add more snails and to add some gunk from established bio-media.

The gunk most likely contained a large amount of beneficial bacteria.

I do not plan to open it again for a long time.

 

[<3Oscar]

Thats really neat! Is it completely closed up?

 

[thebrandon]

Ghost shrimp young can survive in freshwater, I have had several ghost shrimp breed successfully in my tanks.

It's going to be really interesting to see how this project turns out!

I personally would have let it grow some algae and stuff before putting anything in, maybe some ferts too to help get the plants started, that way when the plant start dropping needles, well that in it self, along with the small amount of waste the shrimp/snails will produce will provide some sort of food for the plant.

keep us updated on how everything is going!

 

[Jspigs]

Update

Bad news, some of the ghost shrimps eggs did hatch but I have yet to find a living young ghost shrimp, I have only found dead ones.

"Biosphere Shrimp" Is completely closed up.

The temperature in Biosphere Shrimp is fine (78*F).

 

[Jspigs]

Update

None of the young ghost shrimp survived. I think the stress of the jouney to my house plus the stress of being placed in a new environment may have had something to do with all the young ghost shrimp either dieing or hatching dead (not sure which happened).

Today I added what I believe to be a male ghost shrimp to Biosphere Shrimp (that is what I decided to call my DIY biosphere). I am hoping the shrimp will breed.

 

[jamesstill84]

From what I understand, there are 2 different shrimp marketed as Ghost Shrimp. One of them will hatch the fry in freshwater and the other in brackish water. If your ghost has a red ring around it's claws, then it's the american shrimp and it breeds in freshwater.

I could be wrong in this though. :?

 

[Jspigs]

My ghost shrimp both have the red ring around their claws.

 

[jamesstill84]

I've never tried to breed them myself, but that's what I read online.

 

[jpappy789]

My understanding is that "ghost shrimp" is just a catch-all name for any white/transparent shrimp without any other common name...heck, I've seen macros labeled as such. planetinverts.com attributes the name specifically to Palaemonetes paludosus, but that doesn't mean LFS are going to be following that...they also list it as being capable of breeding in FW.