Red cherry shrimp stopped breeding.

[Sonnycbr]

My red cherry shrimp seem to have stopped breeding. I don't see any babies at all where I used to see dozens on the glass and plants. I use RO water mineralised with Equilibrium. I've checked the TDS and it's 225. I don't know if I'm overfeeding/underfeeding or what. Its only a 10 gallon tank so should I be doing regular water changes? Has anybody any ideas on what could be the cause?

 

[jayc]

6 hours ago, Sonnycbr said:

overfeeding/underfeeding or what

What have you been feeding them?

 

The females need protein to produce eggs. Lots of protein.

Try feeding them more frozen bloodworms, at least once a week.

[sdlTBfanUK]

Cherry chrimp are very simple to keep usually. There will come a time when they reach maximum occupancy as the tank can't support anymore, how many do you have in a 10 gallon tank? 

Has anything else changed in the last 6 months as all seemed to be doing well? Feeding a bit more may help but be careful as it is easy to overdo and that could really mess everything up! As JayC, what are you feeding at the moment?

Simon

[Sonnycbr]

Thanks for the help guys. I feed them a home made food that I found online, it contains bee pollen, Spirulina, Chlorella powder and other stuff I can't remember. I'll be sure to get the frozen bloodworm on Monday. The number of shrimp has definitely dropped so I'd estimate there are only about 50 in there now, down from maybe 100. I can see loads of exoskeletons so they're still shedding, which I guess is a good sign.

[jayc]

On 8/15/2021 at 3:45 AM, Sonnycbr said:

I'll be sure to get the frozen bloodworm on Monday

Let us know if it makes a difference.

There is another thing you can try ... 100% water change. Then readjust the parameters back and reacclimating the shrimp into the tank. Being careful to not kill off beneficial bacteria - that means keeping the filter media and substrate in water the whole process.

An old tank can loose all a lot of minerals, or cause a build up of a certain waste that normal water changes won't (completely) get rid off. The occasional 100% water change can bring back these lost minerals, or balance that waste product to a more reasonable levels.

A full water change could also simulate fresh rainfalls for the shrimp.

I do that to my tanks once a year. It also gives me the chance to rescape or replace substrate.

Edited August 16, 2021 by jayc

[Sonnycbr]

That sounds good to me. I'll get on it.

[piste]

in my experience...less is more..let em chill.seems to me...even RCS much prefer stability...and are much more resilient than much advise would allude.  Though I have had my struggles.  I find it is virtually impossible to underfeed.  with a few plants especially.but easier to overfeed.  good luck.

[Sonnycbr]

Update: changed the water and all seems to be going well. A few days after the water change I noticed 4 or 5 babies on the front glass but I haven't seen them since. Do I need anything special by way of food for them? I let algae grow on 3 sides of the tank and feed Bacter AE now and again. When I first started with this tank they bred like mad, I had dozens of babies all over the place. I have one small Corydora in there with the shrimp.

[jayc]

5 hours ago, Sonnycbr said:

A few days after the water change I noticed 4 or 5 babies on the front glass

Woo hoo!! 

Great news. I'm glad the 100% water change worked.

They are probably hiding.

Keep feeding Bacter AE by syringing it directly into clumps of moss or under hiding spots.

[Sonnycbr]

1 hour ago, jayc said:

Woo hoo!! 

Great news. I'm glad the 100% water change worked.

They are probably hiding.

Keep feeding Bacter AE by syringing it directly into clumps of moss or under hiding spots.

Thanks for the tip Jayc, I have just been sprinkling the powder on to the water. I'll use the syringe from now on.

[jayc]

You're welcome, and either a syringe or a pipette will work to get the fine food particles directly to where the baby shrimp are hiding.

[sdlTBfanUK]

Fantastic news, as JayC states, they are probably hiding as all babies do, so there may be more than you think! Still, any is a good step forward?

There may be enough biofilm in the tank with the Bacter AE as well so you don't probably need to feed extra with only a few baby shrimp. If you start getting lots of babies then you can use this baby food which I used to use - just get a pin, dip it in the tank about 5mm, then into the food (powder), knock off excess from the pin, then swirl the pin in the tank and the food should get to most of the tank. Most foods I always use less than they recommend! The amount as aove it wouldn't hurt to use even with only a few babies, I'm sure adults will eat it as well, so if you do get it I would start when you get it but only dose as above and maybe every other day!

https://www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/shirakura-mironekuton/136-shirakura-chi-ebi-20g.html?search_query=chi+ebi&results=4

The package is deceptive as it is a piece of card with a couple of mm of food on top, having said that if used sparingly it lasts a long time, I only ever bought 1 and it will likely be postage free as it can just go in a normal envelope? You will need to find a small container from somewhere to put/keep it in.

Simon