"The Feeder Tank"

[Mahamotorworks]

I will have a free 29G tank with Eco-Complete susbtrate in it. I would like to turn it into for lack of better words "The Feeder Tank". This is the plan. I have sold the plants that were in there(Thanks GIS Guy). I am going to get new plants and try to breed live food for my other fish, Ghost Shrimp. I can buy them from a LFS. I also want to house Feeder Guppies in this tank. I know that some of the Shrimp will be eaten. I was wondering what everyones take would be on this.

I have not decided on plants yet so I am open to suggestions.

Thanks

MAHA

 

[MissFishy]

I'm guessing you are planning on breeding ghost shrimp. From what I know about ghost shrimp babies, the babies often float to the top after hatching, where they will become quick fish food if you have guppies in there.

 

[Lotus]

I think you'd be better off breeding cherry shrimp in with the guppies. Because cherry shrimp produce tiny shrimp, they're less likely to get eaten by the guppies. If you give them the conditions they need, you should be able to get a good population of them fairly quickly.

The planktonic stage of ghost shrimp make excellent guppy food, which is not what you want.

 

[allconfused]

I've got a 20gal (2ft) that I breed fancy guppies in.
I have recently put in a few fresh water prawns (the see-thru ones, are these the same as ghost shrimp?).

Basically I started breeding the guppies because I got sick of buying new ones every month after my crayfish made them "disappear".

I was hoping that the prawns would breed as my crayfish makes quick work of them in the large tank (10 gone in about a week), it's only $5 for 10 of them here but I'd like to breed them if possible, now that you said that guppies eat baby prawns at the top of the tank I may need to re-think!!!!

A

 

[Brinny-chan]

Why not do something like a tank divider and grow guppies on one side and the shrimp on the other?

 

[Mahamotorworks]

I have been looking around. I can get 20 Cherry shrip for 2.25 each kinda expensive for feeders. I have thought about divding the tank. I have 2 HOB filters on it any way. So that wouldnt be a problem. I do want to plant this tank. I have Eco-Complete in it. My Brother has a empty 10G tank now that I gave him my 37G as an early christmas gift. We both have Angels. I think we are going to co-op this one. I dont know who will do what. I will try to do the shrimp.

Will Ghost and Cherry Shrimp cross breed? I may try both.

MAHA

 

[Lotus]

No, cherry and ghost shrimp won't cross breed.

If you do decide to try to breed shrimp, make sure you either use a sponge filter, or put a sponge over the intake of the filter, as the babies/larvae will get sucked up into it.

 

[Mahamotorworks]

Just to let everyone know I just aquired 30 Food grade (not really red) Cherry Shrimp for my 29G "The Feeder" tank. I only paid $6 for shipping. Will sponges used in the AC filter work as guards?

Thanks

MAHA

 

[Fuzz16]

ive heard people say that feeders are a big cause of HIH. is this true...or is it just with goldfish being fed, since thier supposedly nutritionless

 

[Big Vine]

The key in offering 'feeder-fish' for your aquarium critters is to make sure that you feed them lots...LOTS of good stuff...before you expect them to be eaten as prey.

In so doing, you are taking an essentially 'nutritionless' fish and loading them with healthy stuff that you would feed your predator fish anyway. This way they get to chase after it (highly entertaining, although a bit 'sad' for the feeder victims) rather than simply scoop it up off the bottom of the tank or the surface of the water (boring).

Big Vine