Unprepared for cherry shrimp arrival

[fishie111]

I'm getting some cherry shrimp. They are coming either tomorrow or Wednesday and I am unprepared for their arrival. I posted an earlier thread asking questions about a 2G tank, but I will not have time to get it cycled before their arrival. This leaves me with 2 options:

1) 5G heated, cycled tank with very small (~0.5 inch) juvenile honey gourami
2) 2.5G unheated, uncycled tank by themselves. I could siphon some mulm off an existing tank and presoak the filter sponge or I borrow some filter media from another tank

Which of these options is safest for these guys? I could get the tank set-up tonight, but how would I introduce ammonia for the bacteria to keep the cycle going? A small mystery snail, perhaps or will I need to obtain a cherry shrimp safe fish (suggestions)?

 

[Draal5]

I would do unheated 2.5 just change water often they can last quite awhile that way put them in a warm spot.

I kept 3 amnos in a small kriter keeper for three weeks just indirect light for heat you should be fine just have some plant like java moss for them

 

[Mgamer20o0]

just keep up with the water changes. 50%-75% every day or two.

 

[FtwayneFish]

option 2

 

[msjinkzd]

They probably don't need a heater if you keep your house at a decent temp (I keep my shrimp only tanks around 70). Just borrow some media from the other tank to seed the filter in the 2g, shrimp have a low bioload and should do fine with just some seeded filter media, or some established gravel from your tank.