Hey guys,
I want to start a colony of Cherry Shrimp that can eventually be used as a food source for cichlids. But, even though they’ll be used as food, I want them to be cool looking food. At least before they’re swallowed.
I have a thing for Blue things. Blue fish, Blue lizards, Blue trucks. If a blue chick moves into the neighborhood my girlfriend is in trouble. So, I’m primarily interested in the Blue Velvet (Cherry) Shrimp. To my understanding the color variants are all the same Shrimp, just different colors. Are there any other tangible differences? Harder to breed? more fragile? Prone to illness? Taste too fishy for my cichlids to appreciate?
I have a 40 gallon breeder aquarium that has been established for years that will be converted to their home. It previously housed a pair of Apistos and a colony of Guppies (food). It’s moderately to heavily planted with “Lucky Bamboo”, Java Moss and a couple of hanging house plants that dip into the water (and often take root and grow throughout the tank). So once the threat(s) are removed it should be a good home for them. Oh! and a prefilter on the canister's intake.
The male Apisto killed the female a while ago and it’s gotten boring. I’ll be taking the male Apisto out when the Shrimp arrive.
Here’s my question / concern:
If I keep the Guppies, they’ll be a threat to young Shrimp. Down the road that shouldn’t matter but in the early stages it can be a big deal. So, should I scrap the Guppies too?
If I scrap the Guppies, will a small group of Shrimp produce enough waste to sustain bacteria of an established tank? I’m thinking no.
And… how many Shrimps should I buy to start what is to be a breeding colony?
And... Since everyone likes to see pics... This is the tank as it currently sits...

I want to start a colony of Cherry Shrimp that can eventually be used as a food source for cichlids. But, even though they’ll be used as food, I want them to be cool looking food. At least before they’re swallowed.
I have a thing for Blue things. Blue fish, Blue lizards, Blue trucks. If a blue chick moves into the neighborhood my girlfriend is in trouble. So, I’m primarily interested in the Blue Velvet (Cherry) Shrimp. To my understanding the color variants are all the same Shrimp, just different colors. Are there any other tangible differences? Harder to breed? more fragile? Prone to illness? Taste too fishy for my cichlids to appreciate?
I have a 40 gallon breeder aquarium that has been established for years that will be converted to their home. It previously housed a pair of Apistos and a colony of Guppies (food). It’s moderately to heavily planted with “Lucky Bamboo”, Java Moss and a couple of hanging house plants that dip into the water (and often take root and grow throughout the tank). So once the threat(s) are removed it should be a good home for them. Oh! and a prefilter on the canister's intake.
The male Apisto killed the female a while ago and it’s gotten boring. I’ll be taking the male Apisto out when the Shrimp arrive.
Here’s my question / concern:
If I keep the Guppies, they’ll be a threat to young Shrimp. Down the road that shouldn’t matter but in the early stages it can be a big deal. So, should I scrap the Guppies too?
If I scrap the Guppies, will a small group of Shrimp produce enough waste to sustain bacteria of an established tank? I’m thinking no.
And… how many Shrimps should I buy to start what is to be a breeding colony?
And... Since everyone likes to see pics... This is the tank as it currently sits...
