Cherry Shrimp help

[Pyramid_Party]

Hi Guys,

I got a few questions. I been thinking about breeding these shrimp for my fish as a snack food. I got a 10 gal, heater, sponge filter. I will add some plants, maybe real or fake, dont know yet. I wanted to ask, how often do they spawn and how many babies per spawn? I read someone say they started with 10 shrimp and in 6 months now have 100, they seems very little for me. I dont know, just let me know anything you know. Im very much thinking of starting a little colony of Cherry Shrimp. Thx

 

[msjinkzd]

A sexually mature female will generally berry with 20-30 eggs, meaning 20-30 baby shrimp will hatch after about 21 days of the female carrying them in her swimmerettes. Often I will see my females saddled while berried, which means once the eggs hatch she is usually very quickly berried again. They hit sexual maturity at about half inch, which takes about 6-8 weeks from hatching. So its very very possible to go from 10-20 shrimp to a few hundred in just a few months. Obviously if you start with sexually mature shrimp and more females then males your numbers will go up quicker. Keep in mind, the general rule of thumb is about 10 adult shrimp per gallon of water. When your stocking gets denser, often water quality will suffer. Shrimp do not tolerate poor water quality so keep that in mind. Its also very easy to overfeed shrimp which can lead to secondary pests like planaria, scuds, hydra, etc. Be cautious of how much you are feeding as they don't eat much and will also graze on plants and infusoria which grows in the tank.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Would watersprite and java moss be good? I was thinking the watersprite wasnt good because it would block light and maybe take nutrients from the moss. Also, could I add some guppies or would they eat the baby shrimp? Also, could the shrimp climb up the heater or sponge filter tube and leave the tank? WHat are some good tankmates for the shrimp, if not guppies?

 

[msjinkzd]

Would watersprite and java moss be good?Yes I was thinking the watersprite wasnt good because it would block light and maybe take nutrients from the moss. Moss has VERY low requirements, shouldn't be a problem Also, could I add some guppies or would they eat the baby shrimp? Yes, most fish will eat the baby shrimp although its possible themajority could survive if areas of dense planting are provided.Also, could the shrimp climb up the heater or sponge filter tube and leave the tank? I have neverhad that happen.WHat are some good tankmates for the shrimp, if not guppies?

pygmy cories, microfish or very small tetras (embers). Any fish like a tetra/guppy/microrasbora will try to eat the newly hatched baby shrimp. If you really want the shrimp to reproduce rapidly ofr your fish, i would make this an invert only tank.

 

[chesterthehero]

java moss is great for shrimp.. i would keep the fish out of the tank though

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Yup, Im not adding fish to it. I bought an Aqueon filter for a 10 gallon, plus I am gonna run the sponge filter too. I think I will only decorate the tank with moss. Im gonna use sand on the bottom too. I was thinking of adding hornwort butI heard it dies after 6-8 weeks.