Took The CRS Plunge

[Jay_Walker]

Well, I have had a successful year or so of keeping and breeding neos of various colors, and decided to finally take the CRS plunge (with my 3rd tank). I started with 11 about 2 months ago, and since those were thriving after a month I decided to add 11 more. All 22 are alive and well, and I'm anxiously awaiting a population explosion ? The one question I have: is there any way to tell when females are saddled (like with neos) so I can isolate them for controlled breeding? Maybe a dark room and a light behind the tank like when checking chicken eggs in the incubator? I'm just curious really. If I get any sort of breeding I will be ecstatic! Now I just need to sell off some of my cherries to fund this new endeavor ? 

And 1 more ? 

Edited March 6, 2020 by Jay_Walker

[sdlTBfanUK]

Lovely photos!

I don't know of any way of seeing the saddle on Caridina shrimp, I have quite a bright light but couldn't see it so I am not sure whether the light would work and it would be very fiddly to do anyway.

If the shrimp are mature enough I would expect breeding to start soon as we are now in springtime, but they may not be quite old enough? It is easier to see the eggs when berried, in the early stages as they are yellow (yolk) but then usually go greyish with time as the yolk is used up. The shrimp look quite small so I don't know how old they are but I think they need to be around 4-6 months old to breed!

I wouldn't worry about overpopulating at this stage? It may not even be a problem this year depending on how much of the breeding season(s) they are mature enough to breed, how many females you have etc etc? Just enjoy watching them grow/mature for now.

Simon

Edited March 7, 2020 by sdlTBfanUK

[Jay_Walker]

Thanks, Simon! I agree, I think they may be a little small for breeding just yet but hopefully some hit maturity within this peak season. I have also noticed that they are much pickier eaters than my neos, but I enjoy trying new things to see what they will like.