Jump to content

Improving Shrimp Colouration 101


BlueBolts
 Share

Recommended Posts

Depth of colouration/intensity in shrimps are often linked to several factors.

1. Water Parameters - It is important to research and determine the optimum WP related to your specific shrimp. Ensuring zero - ammonia & nitrites, low nitrates, ideal PH, KH, GH, TDS, Temp...is critical to ensure optimum WP. Great WP = Happy Shrimps

2. Environment - Depending on the type of shrimps, the colour of the substrate (darker substrate, deeper coloration) and lighting .. etc can play a role. I personally do not think shrimps are aware of their colour ( I.e. red, yellow...etc) they are just trying to blend in with the environment. In contradiction to this though, I have some black. Brown and red (female ONLY), that has very dark/deep colouration on a white sand substrate. Food, and additives (Calcium...etc) do/may effect colouration too.

3. Genetics - The MOST important factor of shrimp colouration. Selective breeding is the ONLY way to truly ensure depth/intensity of colour. Even with ideal WP and environment, poor quality stock will not result in the targeted colouration.

With a quality selective programe, ideal WP/environment and PATiENCE, we'll well in our way to improving shrimp colouration.

Please do add your thoughts and experience ..... Thanks.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great write up BB. One thing I have not seen a discussion on is exactly what to look for when selective breeding... is it as simple as picking the strongest coloured male and female and moving them to there own tank?

Also what do you consider "Ideal" for Neocaridina Heteropoda? I know they are hardy and not to fussy about WP but what would you consider to be perfect for them?

Im keeping my reds,oranges,yellows,rillis and backs at:

PH - 7.6

KH - 2

GH - 6

TDS - unknown (dont have a TDS meter yet)

Temp - 23

Also, do you add calcium? if so what do you use?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Selective breeding is subjective. PRL (Pure Red Line) / PBL (Pure Black Line) are the accepted pinnacle of CRS/CBS, but hobbyist may focus on patterns/body colouration, instead of coloured legs etc.....depending on the level/experience. I initially started out just wanting to have CRS's, then keeping them alive, then breeding them, then successfully growing shrimplets.... which leads to patterns/grades, then quality/depth of colour, then coloured legs etc....

Selective breeding via culling, individual tank for selected pairs etc, are all depended on space, $ and permission (!). Many are doing this via breeding boxes etc.. just need to ensure water quality, 02 level etc are ample.

There's a wide view of ideal WP for Neocaridina Heteropoda...PH - 7-7.5, Kh - 2, GH - 6-10, TDS - 200+ & Temp 22-25 seem to be the accepted level, but my cherries are at 6.4-7, KH - 1, GH 5, TDS 200 & Temp 23, as they do share the tank with my Caridina. I just collect them, and don't really focus too much on breeding % for the cherries, so not too focus on giving them the perfect environment....priorities are in mt TB & Tiger's :-).

Like some fishes, I do believe they can eventually adapt to softer water, but that's just my opinion.

I do add calcium, and generally use CaSO4....but this is dependant upon you GH level, soil type and shrimp #'s....

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Thanks for this writeup Blue Bolts,

When should I start looking at culling, I began with low quality and expensive (for their grade) shrimp bought from 2 different aquariums (must have been someone's culls) before finding forum members to buy from, now after having some with better colouration I am wondering when to look at culling. It seems that the shrimp of lesser quality seem to be berried more often than my better shrimp so I am hesitant to take any out. Also I seem to have a slight planaria problem and I keep siphoning them out every 3 days to try to keep their numbers down while I save up for another tank and filter to set up, get the parameters right and transfer all shrimp while I treat my current tank. I am too scared to treat the tank as I do not want to kill any. I do see shrimplets from time to time but I think that the planaria are gobbling most of them up. At the moment I have around 20 shrimp of varying grades, I think some of them that I bought from a breeder are CRS/CBS crosses as although their white is more solid their red is more of a dull red than the first shrimp I bought. I am thinking of removing all shrimp with clear patches in their white stripes.

Any advice? What sort of population numbers would you have before beginning to cull? Maybe they can help test the new tank (when I finally get it!)

Anyway I guess as a noob to the hobby I am just looking for guidance and advice,

Thanks

Scott

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Scott, no time to waste for any selective breeding programs. Delays will just result in more culls, and a compromise. Depending on your goals, tank numbers etc... even off a batch of 20+, if there's ONLY 1 Pair you like, then the rest would be culls. Lower quality shrimp do berry more frequently and easily.

Obviously, if you're just having them as a hobby, for viewing, then culling may not be necessary, BUT if you goal is to achieve the best possible quality and stock, then there's no time like the present.

Post a pic of your stock ....

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another awesome write up BB, I just love reading your sticky's, I feel so much smarter :victorious:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HOF Member

Great write up BB The only hard bit is knowing when to cull. i put some culls in a tank to cycle it and the male ended up being a good Red not solid but a nice colour he was quite small when I culled him. Luckily when I had the tank cycled I caught him out and put him with the rest. So what size is a good size? Can you cull too soon?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great write up BB The only hard bit is knowing when to cull. i put some culls in a tank to cycle it and the male ended up being a good Red not solid but a nice colour he was quite small when I culled him. Luckily when I had the tank cycled I caught him out and put him with the rest. So what size is a good size? Can you cull too soon?

Really depends on your expectations, and selective breeding goals. Other factors is whether you are prepared to purchase shrimps to add to your quality/line, and/or decide to just use what you've got !

Yes, I've had similar experience with my culls becoming a lot better then initially graded, BUT at the end of the day it's quality was still a "cull" category.....again, depends on the depth of your expectations and goals.

I too find it extremely difficult to cull my babies, BUT, for the better good of quality, it has to be done :-)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Scott' date=' no time to waste for any selective breeding programs. Delays will just result in more culls, and a compromise. Depending on your goals, tank numbers etc... even off a batch of 20+, if there's ONLY 1 Pair you like, then the rest would be culls. Lower quality shrimp do berry more frequently and easily.

Obviously, if you're just having them as a hobby, for viewing, then culling may not be necessary, BUT if you goal is to achieve the best possible quality and stock, then there's no time like the present.

Post a pic of your stock ....[/quote']

Thanks for the advice Bluebolts, I would love to post a pic but am still confused as to how to do it. I think I will still set up my new tank first before culling any. I am still getting the hang of everything really and with 3 kids and a missus that can't see the point of me spending money in my hobby unfourtunately I will have to make this a gradual thing. I love having them to look at but like the idea of selective breeding for better quality. I am so jealous of some of the setups people have in this forum and I can only just learn and aspire to eventually one day get a rack set up. At the moment I will just work on getting my second tank then getting rid of those horible planaria.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

very informative post BB :)

Scotty if you want to post a pic upload it to an external hosting site such as photobucket. Once you do that it will provide you with a URL address.

When you click on reply or begin a new post you will see a little pic of a tree in a box you click on that and select FROM URL and paste it in there :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
So' date=' who does have the best PBL and PRL in Australia?[/quote']

Apparently I have 1 female prl. The male died. I need a male to breed her with.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...

This is really useful information for people just starting to get to the point of culling...like me :)

Thanks for the post.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Thanks for sharing.

By the way, not directly related to topic.but  I'd like to point out that pale coloration, if comes with loss of appetite, and inactivity, is sign of trouble. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...
  • 1 year later...

Thank you for sharing this write up. I always struggled with lighting but this time i want to get everything right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Great write up, thanks @BlueBolts

Had my small colony only 6 weeks or so, still waiting for the first berries. Totally chuffed with them. Trying to get my head around which tank to set up as the cull tank...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...

Thanks for this. In my small colony the blue neos seem to be pretty inconsistent and I have to *cull* constantly. Is this normal? 

Edit: I meant "cull" not "fill". I hate autocorrect sometimes lol.

Edited by abepaniagua
  • Confused 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, sdlTBfanUK said:

What do you need to fill constantly? Are you aking about tank water evaporation?

Simon

Sorry, meant cull. My autocorrect changed it.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That makes more sense. And yes, culling constantly is "normal", especially when the shrimps are of poor genetic quality, that is ... they are too inbred with no new genes. So getting good quality shrimps that are from different parents will improve the gene pool.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Join Our Community!

    Register today, ask questions and share your shrimp and fish tank experiences with us!

  • Must Read SKF Articles

  • Posts

    • krogoo22
      I would add that boiling discourages natural decomposition and would likely break down the antifungals present in the bark, letting the fungus actually grow.
    • sdlTBfanUK
      I shall probably just call him bertie as I did the previous 2 I had.
    • jayc
      What nice friends you have! Have you named the new betta yet? 
    • sdlTBfanUK
      I had friends round at the weekend, moving furniture around so now I can see the fish tanks from where I normally sit. The only tank that has been running since I moved has had bloody mary shrimps in it and they are fine. It was my betta tank before, and after moving my friends went out and got me a new betta;- As you can see he is ultra healthy looking (pic is of him in the fish store tank) and he has been very active from the moment he arrived and started a bubble nest within an hour of going into the tank. He is about half the size of a fully grown one! He is a bit bland to look at as just white but I went for him as the tank is quite (understatement) dark and so he is easily visible, even from a distance. Hopefully he won't devour the shrimps (the odd baby shrimp I don't mind) but I will have to see on that issue! All the water parameters seem fine aside frm KH which is 6 as this area has harder water than where I was before, but I will gradually get that down using the filtered water (RO) with GH+ shrimp remineraliser from this point, that has no KH and I will just do it gradually over a loooong period as neither he nor the shrimps seem unhappy as it currently is anyway! Apparently the store he came from also sell blue bolt (and some other taiwan bee type) shrimps etc so I will start thinking about setting that tank up (it is situ next to the betta tank) at some point in the near future, though that will be months away even when I do decide to start, as the substrate needs running-in, and the tank will need to cycle etc. 
    • sdlTBfanUK
      I see the 2 shrimplets, very exciting and the shrimp in the photo look very healthy! The KH is fine at 3 and slowly dropping because of the substrate, but still in the acceptable range. Not sure about your tank size, other than 'nano' but if you have fish in that same tank (I think I see one in the photo blrred and at the back) I would do 25% weekly water changes (mainly because of the fish) and that will help counter the substrate as well, until the substrate is 'exhausted' of its buffering ability. Use the same kh4 new water as currently and always add the new water slowly, a drip method is best. Obviously you will need to be extra careful when removing the old water that you don't remove any of the new shrimplets........ Try not to change too much though as you may do more harm than good and it looks like everything is actually already going well, visible mating behavour and shrimplets doing well. Hope you manage to get rid of the planaria and that usually involves sizeable water changes in the process so complete that first and from then do the 25% regular water change routine. As the population grows you will need to increase the amount of food but be cautious not to overfeed. The bacter AE should help with biofilm growth etc but it isn't actually a food for the shrimps, though you may see them eating some if it isn't dissolved fully. The scuds are harmless and I would (and did in the past) remove them manually when you see them.
×
×
  • Create New...