How long do shrimp live and do they eat live plants?

JosephMCorbett

JosephMCorbett

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Feb 7, 2005
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Northern California
I've got two (amano/glass/?) shrimp that were listed as "Algae Eating" shrimp. They are each about 1 inch long and mostly transparent. Was wondering how long they live and if they are known for eating live plants. My Amazon Sword has been getting chewed on and was wondering who is the culprit. I had an ADF that went back to the LFS on suspiecion of chewing plants and cories. That was about a week ago. Trimmed the eaten leaves and waiting to see if more appear. Don't think it's the snail...never seen him perched on a plant. Positive it is not the Pleco or Farlowella.
 
I have 3 amano shrimp and i haven't ever had a problem with them eating my plants. As far as the algae eating goes they can be great algae eaters but sometimes i have to starve them of all other food for a time. They love to eat the blood worms that i feed my adf. They even eat the sinking shrimp pellets i feed my corys, the shrimp charge up to the pellets and steal them away from the corys.

As far as the adfs go, i have 2 and one of them is crazy. I am fairly certain that he was the demise of 3 of my neon tetras and i have seen him bite onto the other frogs foot and shake him around. He seems to attack anything of any size but has only been able to do damage to the neons. However i don't believe he has ever taken a bite out of plant, he prefers blood.

nate
 
Mine never eat plants. Its most likely the snail. Nearly every kind of snail will eat the plants. My ammanos have lived for a year now. Not sure how much longer they will.
 
Agreed, if you've got 'Amano' shrimp (Caridina japonica), they're not the culprits. These shrimp are great for planted tanks, they strip hair algae off leaves and driftwood but IME never harm the plants in any way.
What type of snails do you have, and what fish are in the tank with the plec and cory cats?? There are lots of fish that will munch on plants, as well as some species of snail.
 
Amano shrimp are not equipped to eat plants. Sailfin plecos are. Clowns bite holes in the leaves (puffer holes are round, loach holes are V to Y shaped). If the Mystery Snail is an Apple of the commoner species, they eat plants quite well and voraciously. Real Mystery Snails don't eat plants.

It is not true that "nearly every kind of snail will eat plants".

Ammano shrimp grow to 2" for the females, 1" of a bit more for the males. They live 2-5 years.
 
ok. So we're sure it's not the shrimp. I just don't think it's the Pleco. I may be wrong, but he's so lazy he doesn't even go for algae. He eats when I feed the other fish. Never seen him eat the plants...but I don't watch him all night either. The Mystery Snail is not an Apple...no snorkle. It's not a Ramshorn either...not the right shape. It's more of a round snail with black and tan bands, about 1.5" o.d. with a trap door. Don't think its the Loaches. I'm pretty sure it was the ADF. We'll see. Also, I may have a vitamin deficiancy contributing to the holes in the Sword.
 
I've got two Amano or Glass shrimp (don't know which). Didn't think they would make it, but 6 months later they are still there. I've got 5 clown and 2 Pictus Cats that I was sure would be getting a couple dollar treat or two. In the 125 I loose them for weeks on end, thinking "well they finally got them". Only to see them on top of the powerhead in the corner.
 
looks like they got scared to death haha. And one of my clowns somtimes like to sleep on the powerhead.
 
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