Black king kong crash course please!

[BiGGiE]

Hi everyone

just wanting to know what the most important factors are for keeping king kongs happy and potentially breeding them

water parameters temperature foods??

any info would be greatly appreciated as im sure many members keep them

cheers

Dave

[Squiggle]

Definitely stable water parameters is the most important thing about keeping KK's. if you are serious about getting them then you need to get a decent RO unit & then remineralise the water with Saltyshrimp minerals, you'll also need a TDS(total dissolved solids) pen to know how much minerals to add. Keeping the water between 21-23degrees is the next thing, so you'll probably need a chiller for summer & then a variety of foods, between commercial foods & natural foods you should get a pretty good variety. Taiwan bees are not for beginners, so unless you've got a pretty good idea on keeping shrimp then I wouldn't recommend them :victorious:

[BiGGiE]

Thanks for the quick reply!!

In regards to ro water and minerals is that to have the water right for them to breed?

Or essential for survival?

[Squiggle]

Both, it's essential for their survival & they will breed when they are happy in the correct WP's :victorious:

[Dean]

if your setting up a tank from scratch then this is my recipe for successful breeding.

tank- minimum 80ltr

filtration- canister & sponge filters

substrate- benibachi (minimum 6cm depth)

substrate additive- Bee max

water- Ro/Di unit

water additives- saltyshrimp bee shrimp mineral GH+

Pens- EC or TDS (low range)

Foods- kale tablets or ambitious

plants- moss

keep the tank as stable as possible. premix all your water for changes with saltyshrimp before adding to tank.

top up with pure RO only. keep EC/TDS as close as possible with every water change.

keep the bottom of the tank with minimum amount of things on it.

add shrimp and breed :)

[JonX]

if your setting up a tank from scratch then this is my recipe for successful breeding.

tank- minimum 80ltr

filtration- canister & sponge filters

substrate- benibachi (minimum 6cm depth)

substrate additive- Bee max

water- Ro/Di unit

water additives- saltyshrimp bee shrimp mineral GH+

Pens- EC or TDS (low range)

Foods- kale tablets or ambitious

plants- moss

keep the tank as stable as possible. premix all your water for changes with saltyshrimp before adding to tank.

top up with pure RO only. keep EC/TDS as close as possible with every water change.

keep the bottom of the tank with minimum amount of things on it.

add shrimp and breed :)

That easy peasy? :/

[Dean]

it really is that easy :) if you seen my tanks and how little i do you would die laughing lol

[CNgo2006]

it really is that easy :) if you seen my tanks and how little i do you would die laughing lol

If only we can all have automated systems like yours Dean! Mate you don't even have to feed, separate the shrimp for selective breeding, etc. do you there is a robot that does that for you right?

[JonX]

it really is that easy :) if you seen my tanks and how little i do you would die laughing lol

My new 2fr tank is exactly your list - except salty shrimp. Im going to buy some!

[ineke]

I make my tanks too fussy do the shrimp need hiding places, is long moss enough, do they need little shelters?

[Dean]

If only we can all have automated systems like yours Dean! Mate you don't even have to feed' date=' separate the shrimp for selective breeding, etc. do you there is a robot that does that for you right?[/quote']i wish i had a robot helper sometimes :) but as for the automated system, its only for all water changes etc. i dont have time to do changes on 8000ltr every few weeks :) a good size clump of moss is essential i think. i have 2-3 nano shelters in all the TB tanks and moss on the back walls and some on shelters. what we think looks pretty and what works for shrimp are not the same :) you can have a tank for looking at and breed a few shrimp or have a tank for breeding and have lots of shrimp..

[Squiggle]

substrate- benibachi (minimum 6cm depth)

add shrimp and breed :)

Nice one Dean, forgot to mention the substrate, maybe I was just blocking it out after my work today, lol :victorious:

[ineke]

Thanks Dean I think my new tank setup is closer to what I need just going to take a few things out tomorrow :encouragement:

[JonX]

it really is that easy :) if you seen my tanks and how little i do you would die laughing lol

I just spent a lazy $100 at boss aquaria!

:)

Im thinking of removing my beloved goldvine as it is in the way when catchin my shrimp out.

[ineke]

I think I need to do that too although it is easy just to pull it out when I need to. But looks like less is more in shrimp tanks

[CBrian]

I think I need to do that too although it is easy just to pull it out when I need to. But looks like less is more in shrimp tanks

I think that's true, but do you guys reckon shrimp appreciate ground cover plants? I've got hair grass, but I'm not sure if I should pull it out?

[CNgo2006]

I just spent a lazy $100 at boss aquaria!

:)

Bro your gonna have to spend more than that if you want to keep TBs! And just when you think you have everything out comes your wallet again! LOL!

[ineke]

I think that's true' date=' but do you guys reckon shrimp appreciate ground cover plants? I've got hair grass, but I'm not sure if I should pull it out?[/quote']

Only problem will be catching them out when the grass grows a bit higher and thicker. The shrimp will love it you may end up cursing it but it does look nice

[CNgo2006]

I think I need to do that too although it is easy just to pull it out when I need to. But looks like less is more in shrimp tanks

Doing some research I found some successful breeders overseas have no plants at all in their tanks, all they have in their tanks is heaps of leaf litter.

[JonX]

Bro your gonna have to spend more than that if you want to keep TBs! And just when you think you have everything out comes your wallet again! LOL!

I spent 4.6k on tigers and taiwans in 7 days. Sold 1.5k in crs stock so it doesn't hurt so bad. :/

Still feel slightly guilty tho.

[BiGGiE]

Can u guys suggest a good ro unit? And im assuming u can get saltyshrimp mineral from bossaquaria?

[JonX]

Can u guys suggest a good ro unit? And im assuming u can get saltyshrimp mineral from bossaquaria?

I just bought the 240 grams for $25 off Boss aquaria

[Squiggle]

Have a look on fleabay for the ones by FSA(filter systems australia) they've got good units pretty cheap & they have great customer service :victorious:

[ineke]

Doing some research I found some successful breeders overseas have no plants at all in their tanks' date=' all they have in their tanks is heaps of leaf litter.[/quote']

i had mulberry leaves and IAL on the tank bottoms this morning and decided they were looking very untidy so started to take some out- the shrimp clung on for dear life definitely not happy to see it go!

[CBrian]

Doing some research I found some successful breeders overseas have no plants at all in their tanks' date=' all they have in their tanks is heaps of leaf litter.[/quote']

I think that's true because they want to breed with ease of maintenance, the shrimp probably love the plants (I'm hoping aha) but they do get in the way...