Opae Ula

[shrimpaholich]

Does anyone keep the super shrimps? and im not talking about those stupid bio-orbs either. those are death traps.

[jayc]

It's unlikely that anyone in Australia would have any, let alone keeping Opae Ula. What with our strict quarantine laws.

 

[NoGi]

If any of our international members keep them, please post some pics. Would love to see them.

[Odin]

Here is a quick video of mine

 

 

Edited November 8, 2015 by Mech

[shrimpaholich]

i am gona be setting up a tank for them soon. 40 Breeder. i was gona use it for ghost shrimp, but they ate one of my guppies -_-... so now its Opae's in the 40!

[Odin]

sounds good, heres some from tonight at feeding time..

 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2015 by fishmosy
fixing video links

[shrimpaholich]

they look so happy. i hope mine will be that happy

they look so happy. i hope mine will be that happy

[fishmosy]

I noticed you are using what appears to be coral skeleton as the rock in your tank. 

That makes me wonder what water parameters you are keeping these guys in? Do you use an RO and remineralising salt or tap water? 

[Odin]

 

On ‎6‎/‎11‎/‎2015‎ ‎3‎:‎58‎:‎17‎, fishmosy said:

I noticed you are using what appears to be coral skeleton as the rock in your tank. 

That makes me wonder what water parameters you are keeping these guys in? Do you use an RO and remineralising salt or tap water? 

You have a good eye, these guys require brackish water so I am using RO water mixed with marine salt at about 50% the strength of full marine water. Mine Is currently 1.012 SG (it's doesn't have to be this as they do well in 1.010 up to 1.015SG.

No reminerlising is needed and I use ocean rock/dead coral to stop the water becoming acidic over time, it's a natural PH buffer.

Feed them once a week, and they seem to be doing well.. 

If you watch the next video and look at the top center of the rock at 2:05 a shrimp drops down through the water to reach the sand but they don't move and just float down, I assume they are lazy haha. Thing is they do this from the top of the tank and some end up free falling down upside down and you think one has just died and is floating down and just as they hit the sand they correct themselves and swim off! Heart attack central when you see them upside down lifeless and falling.

 

Here's the Video, skip to 2:05 lol

 

Edited November 8, 2015 by fishmosy
Added info

[fishmosy]

That's very interesting behavior. Its great to see you can keep them at a relatively high density.

I'm guessing they don't require a specialist diet?

[Odin]

7 hours ago, fishmosy said:

That's very interesting behavior. Its great to see you can keep them at a relatively high density.

I'm guessing they don't require a specialist diet?

They don't require any feeding by the keeper at all, but i feed mine to aid a good diet to promote breeding. They will eat algae and biofilm and can go months without food but they wont breed :)

edit: i feed them on a high quality shirmp pellet but they also like pure spirulina powder

They are also only 1cm on average in size fully grown so you can keep them in a very high density and they are very social shrimp and always hang out together. They also swim around in the open space all over the tank alot so they make use of the whole tank and not just the substrate. This 67litre tank would home 1000 easily but as they only breed a few times a year they are very slow reproducers.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Mech

[fishmosy]

Awesome, thanks for your answers.

Is the shrimp pellet high in protein and do you think this brings on breeding?

[Odin]

The majority of these are still too young to breed but I have noticed 1 or 2 baby's in the tank, which I'm really happy about. I have another 2 tanks setup that are maturing, 2 x 30litre cubes so I can try some selective breeding. I'd like to try and breed a tank of red and clear banded opae ula. 

 

Not sure if I can post brands but it's a well known one and is made up of:

 

Ingredients: Kelp, insect proteins, dandelion, stinging nettles, spinach, mulberry leaves, chlorella, montmorillonite, Moringa oleifera, rosemary, mannan-oligosaccharides, ß-glucans, flower pollen, turmeric, cinnamon
Analytical constituents: 23.1% crude protein, 6.2% crude fat, 9.2% crude fibre, 17.3% crude ash
 

Edited November 9, 2015 by Mech

[fishmosy]

Yeah you are OK to post the brand name.

Not a huge protein level.

[Odin]

I'm feeding them dennerle shrimp king complete at the moment, I get free samples of this alot and as they don't get fed dailey I've never had to buy any. What brands are higher in protein? I'm always open to opinions on what to buy next.

 

heres the babyone i spoke about, hes at the front in the middle.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Mech

[Odin]

Just realised I'm thread hijacking :/ sorry lol.

[fishmosy]

Nice work. they are a pretty little shrimp.

Not sure on what foods would have a higher protein level as many of the shrimp foods available in Europe are not available here in Australia.

[Grubs]

Interesting little shrimp.  v little and seemingly very active.

[shrimpaholich]

i have some shells i collected from the beach. can i put those into the tank and skip buying crushed coral?

[Odin]

4 hours ago, shrimpaholich said:

i have some shells i collected from the beach. can i put those into the tank and skip buying crushed coral?

I can't gaurentee it will buffer your water so I'd just go with either ocean rock, crushed coral or a lump of calcium carbonate.

You can put a small glass bowl of crushed coral in the tank if it's an issue with the overall aesthetics of your setup. If you go with ocean rock make sure you don't buy live rock, it will die off and fill your tank with ammonia.

[shrimpaholich]

thanks mech. ill get a lump of some calcium carbonate just to be sure. ill throw the shells in for looks if anything. its not that i dont want the crushed coral look, i just dont want to buy it. i made the (most recent) live rock thread on the petshrimp fourms. so i know about that :p thanks though. off to the LFS!!

[Odin]

Ahhh I'm on there too and remember your topic 

[shrimpaholich]

so i got a 15lb bag of CaribSea Florida Crushed Coral geo-marine Aragonite formula. that'll work?

[Odin]

yup, looks good.... just stay away from the 'live' marine rock and live gravel/crushed coral and you will be fine.

 

make sure you rinse and clean it as it will need it before it goes in the tank but be sure to clean it with RO/distilled water only.

[shrimpaholich]

aw dang. that means a trip to the store again :(