dropped eggs?

F

fishorama

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Jun 28, 2006
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Whoo Hoo! I now have a berried red cherry female, my first so I have new questions.

While looking closely I saw a tiny speck or 2 come off the rear-most part of the shrimp. The last 2 (or 2 pair?) or swimmerettes were moving & the specks were whitish. Did she drop eggs or was it shrimp poo (I've never seen either)?

Other questions-- Is there a way to tell if the eggs are fertile or not? Or would she not hold them? Is there a way to tell by looking how soon the eggs might hatch? I hadn't seen her for a few days so not sure how long she's been berried.

Anatomy-- Where is the shrimp's "vent"? I assume it's 1 opening for all "functions".
 
Cherry shrimp eggs are usually yellow or green, you will see her turning them frequently. The poo is usually very tiny and stringy (for lack of better descriptive term) and color would depend on what they have been eating. It typically takes 2-3 weeks (closer to 3 in my experience) for the eggs to hatch. I am under the impression that in order for the female to be berried, the eggs would have to be fertilized (easily could be wrong here). I thought the males fertilize the female and then the eggs are transferred to the swimmerettes.

Edit: I have never had a cherry shrimp drop her eggs. I have read posts where it has happened, but never have I experienced that first hand.
 
Last edited:
fishorama said:
Whoo Hoo! I now have a berried red cherry female, my first so I have new questions.

While looking closely I saw a tiny speck or 2 come off the rear-most part of the shrimp. The last 2 (or 2 pair?) or swimmerettes were moving & the specks were whitish. Did she drop eggs or was it shrimp poo (I've never seen either)?I too have just joined the "berried" club. It could be poo. Im pretty sure if they arnt fertil she will drop em.

Other questions-- Is there a way to tell if the eggs are fertile or not? Or would she not hold them? Is there a way to tell by looking how soon the eggs might hatch? I hadn't seen her for a few days so not sure how long she's been berried. she should drop un-fertile eggs. it should take about 3 weeks depending on temp.

Anatomy-- Where is the shrimp's "vent"? I assume it's 1 opening for all "functions".
Click to expand...
I honestly dont know.
 
Thank you both. Now that she's been out more I see she's gotten the pretty dorsal stripe down her back. That is new to me too, kinda like a pregnant woman's "glow" ?although she's not as nearly as red as some I've seen.

The shrimp are in with tiny fish right now so I don't think too many babies will survive this time. But lots of plants so maybe. I saw another female with a small saddle spot. I had no idea how interesting shrimp could be.
 
Are'nt they awesome! I like the glow thought lol. But its more like the stripe women actually get from there upper va jay jay area to above there belly button lol.
 
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