shrimp

alicialav said:
which ones are the big ones that look like wood? ;) thank you

There are several relatively large freshwater shrimp available in the aquarium hobby that could be construed to resemble wood, but you probably have Atyopsis moluccensis, the Asian fan/wood/bamboo/banana shrimp in mind; if not, then probably Atya gabonensis.
 
I'm not nearly as familiar with shrimp species as Veneer, but of all the types I've seen, I'd have to agree that you're probably thinking of Atyopsis molluccensis. I've got three, and they're a nice red/brown colour, with stripes that make them look a lot like a piece of wood.
If you're considering getting some shrimp and have a planted tank with no fish or very gentle fish that won't bother the shrimp or hog all the food, I'd recommend them - I'm fascinated with these shrimp, they're wonderful little pets. Every time I go into the room to get something, I end up sitting in front of the tank watching the shrimp :)
 
Are they the ones that hold out their hands like their catching balls? If so they could be bamboo shrimp (or that's what we call 'em in the uk). They look terribly cool and filter out floating particles. Personally I stick with my Amanos. Their habit of reappearing weeks after I assume them to have died is always like a mini christmas - and the sheer overfed joy they express at my over algaed tank pleases me too (yes.. I'm a bad housecleaner.. I do the water changes but the glass is distinctly wine bottle coloured sometimes!)

r
 
greendeltatke, I had mine alone for a while in the QT - I was planning to make it their permanent home - but moved them this week to use the QT for my new plec. They're now in my Southeast Asian tank with Amanos and cherry barbs, and they actually seem happier than when they were on their own. Their colour has improved, they're all turning a nice red, and they're cruising around like they own the place. The Amanos are pretty big (~1"), and the Atyopsis are still fairly small (~1.5"), and they seem to be getting along very well. I was also concerned that the fish would hog all the food, but it took the Atyopsis about ten minutes to sort out where the filter intake is and they spend much of their time there, pigging out on what the fish miss. I've seen Amanos actually climb over them, they don't even bat an eyelash :)
 
My area stinks :-( There's 3 fish stores in a 5 minute drive, yet only one of them sells shrimp, and it's only ghost shrimp.
 
I have not had very good luck with Singapore/wood/bamboo/whatever shrimp in mixed tanks. For me they do much better on their own, and I do not have to worry about feeding competition.

My Cameroon/Gabon shrimp has its own tank as well. The same reasoning applies.
 
RTR, I remember you saying that before, and for that reason I'm going to keep a very close eye on things to make sure they're getting enough food and not being bothered at all by the fish (who are so far completely ignoring them). Once the new pleco's out of quarantine, the 10g can go back to being the shrimp tank again, if they're not doing well in the other tank.
 
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