ghost shrimp

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I am with bigspizz.

I've had a couple dozen Ghost Shrimp. Several females, all pregnant (transparent--see the eggs). I've seen several fry, and was excited, but never seen them reach adulthood. I did some research on the side, and it is the general consensus that GS are harder to raise to adulthood than Red cherry shrimp.

I say invest in some more and get RCS. I am thinking of doing the same when I run out of feeder fish.
 
I've found that breeding Ghost shrimp is easier than Cherry Shrimp. I have no idea what's wrong with my water but my cherries would eventually die for no reason. The ghosties on the other hand are really hardy. I even accidentally introduced a baby (post-larval) shrimp into my guppy breeding tank and somehow it survived being eaten.

I'll write up a more detailed set up later when I get the chance.
Basically I have a 10 gal + heater + bubbler + compact fluoresent light and some duckweed. When the shrimp releases the babies, they'll be in the larval form and its fairly important to feed them. If you don't they die within a day (maximum 2). To feed them either use baby brine shrimp or frozen brine shrimp (though the survival rate is lower). I'm assuming anything small should also work (microworms, daphnia?) but I don't have any of those cultures at the moment. After 2-3 days they'll have converted to the mini shrimp forms and then I don't specifically feed them anymore.
 
Btw my ghosties are constantly berried. I guess it's cuz they're happy. Even while they have an egg clutch, you can see the pre-eggs (green blob) in their bodies. As soon as they release then a day or two after new eggs will take their place. I feed them everyday and haven't had any problems with parental predation, the babies just jet away when anything touches them (their siblings included)

I went from 6 (2 male/4 female) to at least 100. BUT they grow frigging slow. That's my main complaint and they bite you when you put your hand in for maintenance.
 
they bite? i thought they just prick u with that thingymagigy like sw shrimp...im lost :?:
 
Nah it doesnt hurt but considering their size I can still feel something. Sort of like an ant bite.

I dont have filtration for my breeding tank but thats just me. Bubbler seems to be adequate for me, and I dont seperate the berried females. They're all in the same tank, fry and parents. Though if you want to put in a sponge filter, it won't do any harm.
 
Thanks Zing for the tips. I was what light would work best for the java moss? Also, where is a good place to buy brine shrimp for feeding the larvee? Should my lfs store have these things?
 
I looked online and it says cherry shrimp are 5 dollars each. At my lfs store I can get the ghost shrimp for 10cents. I think I may try the ghost shrimp then was I get better go for the cherry shrimp. Are could I breed both in the same tank?
 
Also, I got my filter in today so Im just about ready to go. I just poured tap water in the tank and a few drops of de-chlorinator, Zip-Drops) and I will let that aireote for the night. Is that water ok are should I drop a teaspoon of salt in there? thanks
 
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