Cherry Shrimp...now what? :eek:
- Thread starter OrangeCones
- Start date
for 25 I'd do at least around a 10 gal, preferably more (cuz theyll start to multiply right away) or you could separate them into two tanks. i think 10 of them can live fine in the 5 gal.
as for tank mates, if you think the fish cant eat the shrimp, then its probably safe to put them in the tank with that fish. Goldfish are clearly a no as i have learned lol. I keep mine fine right now with mollies, SAEs, corydoras, otocinclus(obviously not even a threat to babies), and one male betta(I have had my cherries in my 10 gal with a female plakat, and they bred fine in there despite its presence.) The betta is the only one who will actively seek out the shrimp if he notices them. though shrimp are too fast to be caught.
the cherries would be perfect for your Oto tank!
of course they do best without tank mates, but otos are 100% fine. they wont know the difference lol.
Sorry about not being able to supply you with the cherry shrimp, I have only just recently been able to grow my population again (goldfish is gone)
as for tank mates, if you think the fish cant eat the shrimp, then its probably safe to put them in the tank with that fish. Goldfish are clearly a no as i have learned lol. I keep mine fine right now with mollies, SAEs, corydoras, otocinclus(obviously not even a threat to babies), and one male betta(I have had my cherries in my 10 gal with a female plakat, and they bred fine in there despite its presence.) The betta is the only one who will actively seek out the shrimp if he notices them. though shrimp are too fast to be caught.
the cherries would be perfect for your Oto tank!
of course they do best without tank mates, but otos are 100% fine. they wont know the difference lol.
Sorry about not being able to supply you with the cherry shrimp, I have only just recently been able to grow my population again (goldfish is gone)
I'm worried that the shrimp wold scavenge the eggs the otos lay (I've had some sucess breeding them). Do you think they would? The otos don't lay a 'nest' to guard, but use the plants to attach eggs to.
Do you know what your pH, GH, KH is on the tank you keep shrimp in? Some of my tanks are mostly RO water, so the pH, GH, and KH is low in those. I just want to make sure they are provided the best QT tank for now.
Do you know what your pH, GH, KH is on the tank you keep shrimp in? Some of my tanks are mostly RO water, so the pH, GH, and KH is low in those. I just want to make sure they are provided the best QT tank for now.
they would like higher GH KH and pH slightly alkaline. quite different from most other sulawesi shrimps...but they are tolerant so i bet they can do fine in that water too if you acclimate them well enough.
pH is around 8.0 the pH reading is 7.0 now because of influence from CO2. KH is 8-9dKH and GH in my tank is something nuts, like 26dGH. dont base it on my tank though, i bought them from a lower pH tank than mine, probably a setup closer to yours (since the LFS uses the same water for crystal red shrimp.
Ok ,I did forget that youre breeding them in there, so maybe the shrimp would be best on their own. after you breed hundreds of them you could try distributing them among your tanks and see where they work and with which fish they live best.
pH is around 8.0 the pH reading is 7.0 now because of influence from CO2. KH is 8-9dKH and GH in my tank is something nuts, like 26dGH. dont base it on my tank though, i bought them from a lower pH tank than mine, probably a setup closer to yours (since the LFS uses the same water for crystal red shrimp.
Ok ,I did forget that youre breeding them in there, so maybe the shrimp would be best on their own. after you breed hundreds of them you could try distributing them among your tanks and see where they work and with which fish they live best.
Agree with all that Newman says, of course! 
Although I do have to say that I keep mine in RO water with a low GH KH, maybe because most are born and raised in there they become accustomed to it? They're my most hardy shrimp (as they should be!) and have no issues with the water. My pH is 7.0-7.2 and has been as low as 6.2 with them living fine. And my temperature is 76-77 degrees(F).
I've never had issues with any fish except the SAE and Kuhli picking at the shrimp, all the other fish have been fine (as far as I know) so you could just test it out once you get it all going. But if you are breeding fish that lay eggs I might be weary of shrimp bothering it, not intentionally of course, but just because they're scavengers.
Oh yeah and I'd say at least 10 gallons if you're keeping them together, they will reproduce like crazy! Unless a lot of them are juveniles it might take a few rounds.
Although I do have to say that I keep mine in RO water with a low GH KH, maybe because most are born and raised in there they become accustomed to it? They're my most hardy shrimp (as they should be!) and have no issues with the water. My pH is 7.0-7.2 and has been as low as 6.2 with them living fine. And my temperature is 76-77 degrees(F).I've never had issues with any fish except the SAE and Kuhli picking at the shrimp, all the other fish have been fine (as far as I know) so you could just test it out once you get it all going. But if you are breeding fish that lay eggs I might be weary of shrimp bothering it, not intentionally of course, but just because they're scavengers.
Oh yeah and I'd say at least 10 gallons if you're keeping them together, they will reproduce like crazy! Unless a lot of them are juveniles it might take a few rounds.
Ok, the breeder sent me the readings of pH, KH, GH on the tank the shrimp come from, so I can match that here. Yipee!
They are also sending some moss for them to cling to in shipping so they don't get all freaked out with nothing to stand on (unlike fish who like just water). No idea what moss will be sent.
I have several mosses here, as well as quite a lot of other plants. Any suggestions on what plants they LIKE to climb around on?
I'm going to put them in a 10 gallon (alone - maybe a few snails if they hitch a ride on the plants I'll move in).
I can put some branchy driftwood pieces in there too (algae covered - my otos have plenty for now LOL).
(Newman - skip reading this paragraph. LOL!) I have an Anubias barteri 'Petite' that has leaves maybe 1" across that is totally wasted (other than it looks pretty) on my Florida Flagfish, as they are HUGE compared to it. That plant is HUGE, larger than my palm now, maybe I'll split it into 2 or 3.
Lots of stem plants. But stems require trimming more often than the others...would me going in there every week or so and trimming/replanting stem plants freak them out too much?
Any suggestions, please let me know. Gotta get things done by tomorrow late morning.
They are also sending some moss for them to cling to in shipping so they don't get all freaked out with nothing to stand on (unlike fish who like just water). No idea what moss will be sent.
I have several mosses here, as well as quite a lot of other plants. Any suggestions on what plants they LIKE to climb around on?
I'm going to put them in a 10 gallon (alone - maybe a few snails if they hitch a ride on the plants I'll move in).
I can put some branchy driftwood pieces in there too (algae covered - my otos have plenty for now LOL).
(Newman - skip reading this paragraph. LOL!) I have an Anubias barteri 'Petite' that has leaves maybe 1" across that is totally wasted (other than it looks pretty) on my Florida Flagfish, as they are HUGE compared to it. That plant is HUGE, larger than my palm now, maybe I'll split it into 2 or 3.
Lots of stem plants. But stems require trimming more often than the others...would me going in there every week or so and trimming/replanting stem plants freak them out too much?
Any suggestions, please let me know. Gotta get things done by tomorrow late morning.
Yay for shrimpies! They LOVE moss, I have the Christmas moss and Java moss, I'd say that is ultimately their favorite plant, plus its usually where the shrimplets hide. Other than that I haven't noticed any particular plant being a favorite, they love cleaning out the little squares on the lace leaf, which rocks! But they wander all over the tank and the surface of the water. I'm not positive what plant it is, I had Lauraf ID it once, I forget the name...but anyway it floats on top of the water I don't have it planted, and they love that because they can sit up there and get food from the surface. I think the java fern is also another favorite, I have an anubias congensis, but they don't hang out on it much nor the aponogeton ulvaceus. I think they ultimately like bushy plants, that is where I see mine most often.
They also LOVE blood worms and brine shrimp, but blood worms for sure!
And not that I should, but I stick my hands in my tank all the time, haha. Either trimming or catching a floating leaf, cleaning something...moving something. I try to avoid that though, but my shrimp actually like to come over to my hand like "Hey what's this?! Food?!" Then I stick my finger at them and they jump away. Although I'd definitely wait until they are acclimated a bit before sticking your hands in a bunch, just so they can decrease any stress and get use to the new place!
But really, shrimp are SO fun and not much is really required. Especially because you have such well established tanks and so much knowledge!
edit: I looked and she had said it was whorled pennywort that I have, that's the surface floater in the tank!
They also LOVE blood worms and brine shrimp, but blood worms for sure!
And not that I should, but I stick my hands in my tank all the time, haha. Either trimming or catching a floating leaf, cleaning something...moving something. I try to avoid that though, but my shrimp actually like to come over to my hand like "Hey what's this?! Food?!" Then I stick my finger at them and they jump away. Although I'd definitely wait until they are acclimated a bit before sticking your hands in a bunch, just so they can decrease any stress and get use to the new place!
But really, shrimp are SO fun and not much is really required. Especially because you have such well established tanks and so much knowledge!
edit: I looked and she had said it was whorled pennywort that I have, that's the surface floater in the tank!
yes i agree, they adore floating plants. I have had them in anacharis and hornwort and they would spend their entire lives in a big mass of those floating plants, hiding from my goldfish. once i took all of those floating plants away though I stopped seeing them...
in my 10 gallon they enjoyed hiding in the dwarf sag mat, always hiding in between the leaves from the female plakat betta who loved to dive into the dwarf sag in attempts to catch the shrimp (kinda reminded me of a booby diving for fish lol)
i know your told me to skip that paragraph Orange but....
*ALL**ALL**ALL**ALL**ALL*
I am sure you can get away with not feeding them anything specific. I have never fed mine and they reproduced just the same. they eat w/e is on plants, and w/e algae grows in their tank.
I am sure bloodworms and other protein once in a while would hurt, but they should be overfed on protein foods (i hear its not good for them)
For data on cherry shrimp planet inverts has some nice dietary info. also any info on diet for crystal shrimp can be used for cherry shrimp too
good foods for them can include w/e you feed to your ottos. I like to think of them as mainly vegetarian shrimp.
in my 10 gallon they enjoyed hiding in the dwarf sag mat, always hiding in between the leaves from the female plakat betta who loved to dive into the dwarf sag in attempts to catch the shrimp (kinda reminded me of a booby diving for fish lol)
i know your told me to skip that paragraph Orange but....
*ALL**ALL**ALL**ALL**ALL*
I am sure you can get away with not feeding them anything specific. I have never fed mine and they reproduced just the same. they eat w/e is on plants, and w/e algae grows in their tank.
I am sure bloodworms and other protein once in a while would hurt, but they should be overfed on protein foods (i hear its not good for them)
For data on cherry shrimp planet inverts has some nice dietary info. also any info on diet for crystal shrimp can be used for cherry shrimp too
good foods for them can include w/e you feed to your ottos. I like to think of them as mainly vegetarian shrimp.
Normal Cherry Behavior?
Ok, they arrived today, temp of the water was a flat 60, yikes!
I drip acclimated them for 90 minutes and brought their temp up to 70. I left the tank at that for now as I didn't want to shock them with too much of a change. I was thinking bumping it up to 76-77 over the next few days.
I've TRIED to get some decent pics of them, but they are in constant motion. They pause for a few seconds on the gravel or a plant or an algae wafer before they are off.
Is this normal for them, or are they still freaked out over the new tank?
Ok, they arrived today, temp of the water was a flat 60, yikes!
I drip acclimated them for 90 minutes and brought their temp up to 70. I left the tank at that for now as I didn't want to shock them with too much of a change. I was thinking bumping it up to 76-77 over the next few days.
I've TRIED to get some decent pics of them, but they are in constant motion. They pause for a few seconds on the gravel or a plant or an algae wafer before they are off.
Is this normal for them, or are they still freaked out over the new tank?
Burrr cold!! Nice job at getting that up 10 degrees! 77 is probably good as well, that's what I keep mine at, they've even managed when I accidentally had it at 80-82 (so did the fish, tough little guys).
I think they're just excited about the new tank! Mine swim around all over, but eventually they stop on a leaf for a few to eat or walk slowly on it, then sputter off somewhere else. Maybe you have a nicer setup than the seller so they are in heaven going crazy! But as long as they're healthy I think it's totally normal. Cute little shrimpies. Makes me want to go home and stare at mine!
I think they're just excited about the new tank! Mine swim around all over, but eventually they stop on a leaf for a few to eat or walk slowly on it, then sputter off somewhere else. Maybe you have a nicer setup than the seller so they are in heaven going crazy! But as long as they're healthy I think it's totally normal. Cute little shrimpies. Makes me want to go home and stare at mine!
Some are teeny tiny, most about 3/8 inch long, and some are about an inch. I have two females at the largest size and 3 that are male (presuming...lack of red coloration). They seem to 'shoal' like fish do. If one jets off in one direction, and passes over others, then others take off to follow.
Hubby says its like they are playing leapfrog, and the one who jumps is 'it' in a game of tag next, racing toward home base, with the others chasing it.
Hubby says its like they are playing leapfrog, and the one who jumps is 'it' in a game of tag next, racing toward home base, with the others chasing it.
That's totally cute! Mine don't hang out with each other very much, they are always doing their own thing. Sometimes the cherries sit on the amanos or the frogs for a ride, then they're off again. Yours are like a little posse!
I notice when they breed they seem to have more males than females, I don't have as any females as I'd like but I do have a wild cherry female and two wild cherry males. A lot of people don't like them because they're brown but it's a speckled brown with a bit of black...I think it's pretty!
Oh and I will be waiting for some photos!
I notice when they breed they seem to have more males than females, I don't have as any females as I'd like but I do have a wild cherry female and two wild cherry males. A lot of people don't like them because they're brown but it's a speckled brown with a bit of black...I think it's pretty!
Oh and I will be waiting for some photos!
nice you got them! sounds like theyre getting used to the tank. theyll slow down a lot and act peaceful with time. i rarely see mine swimming around (but they do) mostly they just pick on the walls or plants in my tank. after a long time they will either crawl off into the shade and out of sight or they will swim over to the next plant.
in a small tank they get nervous after a water change too (and often the change in temp) so they start moving around more.
Thats very interesting riseabove! I have never seen that coloration in mine, they are either speckled red females and clear males, or extremely red females. And i do notice that there are fewer females in a population as time goes on and the population grows. most develop into males. maybe it has to do with warm tank temp? i keep mine just around 77F.
Orange, try to breed us up intense red females! I rarely get to see mine, but the mature females are very red:
in a small tank they get nervous after a water change too (and often the change in temp) so they start moving around more.
Thats very interesting riseabove! I have never seen that coloration in mine, they are either speckled red females and clear males, or extremely red females. And i do notice that there are fewer females in a population as time goes on and the population grows. most develop into males. maybe it has to do with warm tank temp? i keep mine just around 77F.
Orange, try to breed us up intense red females! I rarely get to see mine, but the mature females are very red:
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@Newman GORGEOUS RED COLOR!!! *squee!* I don't have any THAT intense, but definitely a few decently red ones. Yours totally reminds me of a different shrimp species that I can't think of at the moment...
Here is a photo of one of the odd colored ones:
Some of the other odd ones are more black than brown, but pretty similar. Someone ID'd them as "wild cherry shrimp" so that's all I know!
I do agree OC needs to breed some crazy beautiful cherries! And a video is a must if no photos work
Here is a photo of one of the odd colored ones:
Some of the other odd ones are more black than brown, but pretty similar. Someone ID'd them as "wild cherry shrimp" so that's all I know!
I do agree OC needs to breed some crazy beautiful cherries! And a video is a must if no photos work
