Sand Questions

[zerojoe0917]

I have white sand in my 10g tank, and rcs are about to move in.

i was wondering will the color of the sand (white) affect the colors of rcs (ex: like turn pink or pale)

and how do i get them to stay as red as possible?

thanks

JOE

 

[fishorama]

Dark substrate brings out the red better but I have a couple dark reds on pale tannish sand. Males are much lighter colored, older females seem redder too.

 

[zerojoe0917]

do you suggest me to change substrate?

 

[BubbleBack_Ek9_]

go with black substrate trust me i have rcs in play sand and they dont show much color so if u can go with as dark of a substrate as u can...

 

[Yadokari]

There is black sand available, if you're really into sand. You could just layer it right on top of the sand you have now (if you already installed it)

 

[thebullit]

they will appear more clear on a lighter substrate, as mine did so i changed to a black substrate and there colours now are the brightest red.

 

[msjinkzd]

I had the same experience. The rcs I keep on light river rock remain much paler. They do end up getting redder, but not until adulthood. The rcs I keep on black gravel or ecocomplete are dark red from birth. I would recommend changing your substrate now as it will be much more challening to do so once you have baby shrimp or juvenile shrimp in your tank. You could also try adding leaf litter or driftwood for tannins as I saw an improvement in shrimp color using those as well. Good luck!