Zebra Shrimps - Doomed ?

[2OFUS]

Thats promising. How long have you had them in the tank?

I got them when u and bb receive yours

about 3 weeks ago

[northboy]

Marcus

Do you want some of the survivors, the tough 60?

When a few of you breed yours they will be tougher again, as for exact hardnesses? they are still not genetically spoilt so the have some adaptability.

Bob

[BlueBolts]

Thanks Bob, maybe one day.....just need to kick my wounds for a while...thanks :-(

[torface]

Just read this thread, wow it seems that maybe Zebs are harder to keep than TBs :confused:

[Adrian.]

We manage to keep these alive for ages (at least until their all sold). The ones that arrive the long journey in one piece all survive. Our Melbourne tap water seems ideal for them, dont use RO or any mix for them at all. THe water out the tap here is 6.8-7 GH 1 KH1 or less and a TDS of 68.

Cute little buggers. SO has anyone bred them yet other than Bob?

[ineke]

Wayne has a thread with pictures of the babies.

[wayne6442]

Ive finally killed my last zeb :crushed: .... I'll stick with exotic shrimps

Hi BlueBolts' date=' Sad Sad, sorry to hear about your little Zeb's. Don't give up, please try again. This is my second attempt at keeping the Zebs the first lot I killed within a week.

I was running mine before in a community tank with cherries and I think that they died from some shrimp disease past onto them by the cherries

This time I decided to keep them separate and give them something different! I keep them in a very small tank 360x270x210 mm Substrate is fine whit sand ,( boiled and washed ) before inclusion, two small pieces of lava rock. Has a small internal filter an air stone, and heater set at 24deg. I use tap water that has been filtered through a small portable RO unit ( cost $ 60.00 from Filter systems Australia) I do about a 5%/10% water change weekly, and I add about 1/3 of a scoop of shrimp mineral GH/KH every second water change, or when I think of it. I feed them on ocean nutrition shrimp wafers ,two to three times a week. and include a small IAL or mulberry leaf occasionally. I don't measure TDS etc but today I checked the PH and it is around 7.2.

So far my guys are doing very well with two drops of little ones to date,

Hope this helps you all in keeping these beautiful little shrimp keep at it

Regards

Wayne

[ATTACH]4807[/ATTACH

[fishmosy]

C'mon BB chin up. Wayne, Bob and I can't be the only people to keep these guys. They are too good.

[northboy]

There has to be more out there keeping them longer, after talking with Ben on one of the Zebra creeks I am starting to think Leaves are a must for them and after a few more generations they will most likely be not so dependant, but I still think the most important thing is good water quality.

Ben those 40 or so I caught the day you were with me have been living in a 20lt bucket suspended in a pond to keep the temp stable, I feed them when I remember, BUT they have Leaves. The other thing is there water always has a milky colour to it and still they live.

Also the 60 that survives the 10+ days in the post are in a pond and breeding well.

Bottom line is! they really are not that touchy in Crystal type water with a PH of around 7ish

Keep up the good work boys

Bob

[fishmosy]

Yes I believe low TDS or EC and LEAVES are the secrets to maintaining zebras.

I have done 40% water changes in my tank and never seen a death. I typically do 20-30% water changes every 1-2weeks as I use rainwater/borewater that naturally has a low TDS.

I can't keep the leaves up to mine either, they just demolish them.

[BlueBolts]

Thanks ALL for sharing the info, what a great forum !

I believe one of the critical things here, especially with wild caught shrimps is that they are kept in their own tanks, as they are more susceptable and sensitive to foreign/new bacteria etc... once they've been tank bred for a few generations, then their immunity will/may improve.

I'll just wait for 1-2 generations from all 3 of you......good work on being the pioneers ! :victorious:

Fishmosy - felt like a murderer when I failed on my second attempt ! :-(

[Wraithie]

I am very keen to try my hand at these and have plans to establish a tank specifically for them, its great to see feedback from the guys here as it gives me more ideas on how to do it successfully. :)