Shrimp hitchhikers.....help

[ragawaga]

I'm still waiting on my tank today, but got my order of plants this morning. That's no biggie, I've placed most of them into the container I've been soaking my driftwood in.

I was looking at the tub with the monosolenium tenerum that I'd ordered and noticed some strands of what looked like java moss.....so to alleviate my boredom I decided to try to pick them out. On opening the tub I discovered a small shrimp at the top of the plants, I thought it would've been dead having been in the unheated container...although still very moist it wasn't submerged. However I placed it into a small jug of the driftwood water to discover it was alive. So after going through all of the 3 tubs I now have 4 of what appear to be Amano shrimp.

Below are some pics (click for full size).

Can anyone confirm that they are amano.?

They are in a VERY small (7" x 3" x 4") tank that I used to use ages ago to grow guppy fry to be a little larger. I've got a 50W heater in the tank. Would it be possible to keep them alive by performing large daily water changes? They won't be able to go into the tank when I get it as obviously it's not cycled....and on top of that it will have amazonia aquasoil ammonia will be present fairly quickly.

Any suggestions on keeping them alive until the tank is cycled?

 

[ShadowBeast]

They look more like wild Neocaridina.

 

[happypoet]

How big are they? I don't believe they are Amano. If they are wild-type Neocaridina, which looks possible to me, you should have no problem keeping them alive. They're very hardy. They'll eat just about anything. Blanched veggies that are replaced every day would be a good food that wouldn't foul up the water. Even better would be a rock or plant with algae on it if you have one available.
They have a very low bioload, so I'd just do a partial water change every few days.
Also, If the temp is stable in your house, I wouldn't worry with the heater in that size tank.
All of this advice hinges on them being Neocaridina, though.

 

[XanAvaloni]

interesting, albeit partial, striping there. Possible cull tigers? (gazes at own tiger tank)....yeah, definite possibility.

Better pics if possible and I will then leave it to the better-informed-about-more-species to determine.

now to the vastly more important question: from whom did you get these plants???? Not that I would be lusting after some accidental volunteer hitchhiker actual SHRIMP after all the unsolicited worthless nasty snails I have been afflicted with in plant orders over the years or anything. ...