Mixing with cherries.

[amkr]

Hi,

I've been looking at adding something to my rather humble collection of 10 RCS's.

Unfortunately I've got a small water quality issue where I end up with about 9-10GH and 6KH so I guess that would rule out any sustainable crystal population.

It is my only tank and it functions as a display tank too so I'd rather not divide it up and I'd like to have something colourful and more exotic.

I've been looking into mixing some Rili's with my Red Cherries but I've had mixed answers on this, some saying you'll just end up with mutant cherries and other saying you'll have a mixed batch, other sources again saying they will revert back to wild type.

So I was wondering if anyone could add some insight into mixing Rili's with Red Cherries, or suggest any other solutions?

Cheers,

Mark

[torface]

Rilis will interbreed with red cherries, no doubt about it. I cant tell you the outcome though as i have no personal experience with them mixing. I would hazard a guess at the rilli gene being bred out eventually, but i could be wrong...

Have you considered getting some natives? We have some beautiful species here in Aus, they are cheap, hardy and easily obtainable. I have Darwin Red Nose Shrimp and think they are great :)

[torface]

Another option is to just buy an RO unit (+ salty shrimp minerals), solve your water issues and get the crystals :)

[amkr]

Ive looked into the red noses and they don't really appeal to me that much. They would be perfect aside from aesthetics :P I'm sure some people love them but not my cup of tea.

[torface]

Fair enough :)

Natives are not particularily "exotic" i know...

Have you looked at Chameleons?

[Aquathumb]

I housed 2 black cherries with my rilli shrimp for a few months, the resulting baby's reverted to brown/clear wild type... just my experience!

[amkr]

Hmm a bit better, they seem to come in a few varieties of colour (im guessing thats where the name comes from) ranging from brown to red to clear...

Not IDEAL but certaily closer to what I'd like..

I know.. im fussy :p

[KiwiBigD]

Hi' date='

I've been looking at adding something to my rather humble collection of 10 RCS's.

I've been looking into mixing some Rili's with my Red Cherries but I've had mixed answers on this, some saying you'll just end up with mutant cherries and other saying you'll have a mixed batch, other sources again saying they will revert back to wild type. So I was wondering if anyone could add some insight into mixing Rili's with Red Cherries, or suggest any other solutions?

[/quote']

Like others have advised already they will interbreed, but in my book theres nothing wrong with that. Some will revert back to the wild colour, but

the best part is you may get an 'evolution' effect as well, you never know what may come through. We've had some interesting colours come

through as the genetics are mixed, but we also have some very strong blacks that have come out of the melting pot as well that are throwing true

and quite pleased with the colour. Give it a try, whats the worse that can happen?

[torface]

They change colour :)

I know you are just beginning with keeping shrimps, but if you really want to get in to it, get an RO unit. You can pick them up for about $100 then you wont be held back by water quality... But it all depends on how much you're willing to spend this early in the hobby (we all know you'll get there soon, shrimp keeping is addictive )

Plenty of people do keep different coloured cherries together, and that's fine. You just need to be aware that the ofspring are more than likely going to be wild type...

[ineke]

It also depends on what you are going to do with your shrimp. If they are for resale then mixing colours is not the way to go. I have one red female that has been bred to a rili male but she is 2 weeks away so I can't tell you yet what that outcome will be.

If you just want a nice tank of rainbow shrimp you either try and buy just males- most breeders will have a surplus of them or let them breed and see what happens. It only becomes a problem if you want to sell them,then people expect shrimp that breed true. As they only live a couple of years you wont be "stuck " with the clear and wild ones for long. So decide what you want and then please yourself. It would be great to have a rainbow collection in one tank as long as you are happy!

[amkr]

Im just after a display. I don't want to sell off offspring. I guess if I get M/F's i'll end up with an abundance and have to offload some but I'll cross that bridge when it comes.

Regarding the R/O unit. I've got something under my tank (which I suspect is a bottom layer soil fert) thats buffering my tank up. My tapwater is GH 4 and KH2, I've got about 30% RO in at the moment to get it down to GH7 and KH 4 but it will most likely rise up to GH9-10 and KH6 again. In a perfect world I'd tear it down and fix it all up but I'm not willing to rip out my HC and toss out my fairly new soil for that yet!

[shrimped]

Im with the other guy give it a go you may just end up with some unique colours from the offspring lol

[amkr]

well, opportunity knocked and I answered :p

Tonight I swapped my fluuval 88g to 2OFUS who kindly gave me a few Rili's and some CRS's in exchange.

So those are dripping in now.

In sadder news, I lost my first RCS tonight too, silly bastards stuck his legs in the lilly pipe and died stuck to the filter with broken limbs and what not.

I've ghetto'd up a bit of a better mesh but theres still 3 slots up the top that shrimp can get stuck in, I'll look at getting some new lilly pipes will less slots on wednesday when Aquaristic is back open.

[BlueBolts]

A display tanks with a multitude of diff coloured cherries is awesome. I have a mixed cherry tank in my sons room, and he religiously watches them every morning and evening in awe ! Just saw your tank on another post...awesome mate, and well done.

[Squiggle]

Hmm a bit better' date=' they seem to come in a few varieties of colour (im guessing thats where the name comes from) ranging from brown to red to clear...

Not IDEAL but certaily closer to what I'd like..

I know.. im fussy :p[/quote']

Have you seen the native "Zebra's" they are pretty "exotic" looking :victorious:

[amkr]

do we get those in Aus?

[Squiggle]

Yeah dude, they are an Australian native, talk to Northboy - Bob to see if he can get you some. They are my favourite Aussie native shrimp :victorious:

[Squiggle]

How's this for timing dude, check this out :encouragement:

For Sale ZEBRA SHRIMP

[amkr]

haha I saw that and thought it was pretty good timing.

Turns out I've now got rili's and CRS thanks to a trade with 2OFUS. :)

[2OFUS]

haha I saw that and thought it was pretty good timing.

Turns out I've now got rili's and CRS thanks to a trade with 2OFUS. :)

I also gave you some nice CBS :)

[amkr]

You sure did, Thanks!

I was up until 1 getting them into the tank, they are all pretty happy now though!

[Squiggle]

Nice work Gary, sharing the love :victorious: