CRS colony starting to establish (finally)

[newbreed]

Just thought I would write up my journey with my CRS.

I bought these guys July last year (from Fishmosy) and had them in with my TB for seven months without any berries, super frustrating.

After a reset on one of my three foot tanks, I moved the CRS in there by their lonesome and the magic started to happen.

The quality of these isn't the best but also not the worst. I recently was very lucky to be a recipient of some 'culls' from Gbang. With these boys in the mix I am expecting to see the quality of offspring increase dramatically over the next few generations.

The tank they are in has benibachi soil, eheim 2213, chiller, two sponge filters and two Mini Oxydators.

I have been adding mineral powder, Bee Max, Genchem beta-G as required. And have just started small additions of Blackwater extract with water changes.

I noticed a drop off in breeding a few months ago and realised I had stopped adding IAL. Once these went back in, the juvie survival rate improved, I am of the belief this is a great source of micro bacteria for the tank and an awesome food source for the littlest ones.

It has been running with an Aquamedic Twin T5 light for the last five months. Lots of plant growth and biofilm on the back panel, usually see a gang of little shrimp grazing there in the mornings.

Unfortunately, some of the plants are being infested with BBA, but I will trim in a couple of weeks to remove this.

I have allowed the plants to grow like mad and the CRS seem to really enjoy their forest.

I feed a mixture of Benibachi Kale, Beni Ambitious, Boss Snow, Boss Crack and occasionally some frozen Kale (prepared as in Bluebolts thread).

For baby feeds I have followed Squiggs example and used powdered Spirulina, Barley Powder, powdered bee pollen, mixed with water and syringed to different corners of the tank. Now have also used Borneo Wild Bebi and the little ones loved that too!

Edited June 6, 2014 by newbreed

[newbreed]

More pics...

 

So all in all, have gone from a startup of around 15 to just over fifty now. Love staring at this tank as everywhere you turn you see someone playing and swimming around. Can't wait for the number to hit 100, will look stunning.

 

Hope you enjoy the pics!!

Edited June 6, 2014 by newbreed

[BlueBolts]

Thanks for sharing your journey...nice read, and congrats.

[newbreed]

Thanks BB!

[ineke]

Woohoo well done Jamie! It's great when things finally start happening after waiting so long. Sounds like your journey has mimicked mine, nothing for months and months and then suddenly it all happens. Hope it keeps up for you!

[OzShrimp]

Looking good mate!

I found when i was in sydney and had my CRS separate to my cherrys they did better aswell :) 

[Shrimp Aqua]

Good read Newbreed, can't wait for this to happen at my house                        1

[Squiggle]

Awesome stuff dude, very well done!

[fishmosy]

Nice to see you've got them to breeding age. Well done mate.

[poeticwinter]

i have some problem with breeding crs, cbs before. but now they breed very quick. congrats on your crs project :) they are indeed looking very cute on the large colony!

[Kev]

Congrats, I am still working on my Crs. ;)

[Gbang]

YIEW!!! looking good mate :)

[newbreed]

So after a couple of months of no breeding activity, which I believe is due to the fact these guys live in a cold garage, just before I went on holidays I saw one of the girls berried again.

After two weeks away I have come home to find eight berried now!! Happy dance time soon!

The colony is starting to expand!

This is them playing in Bossaquaria Shrimp Snow, they love it!!

[ineke]

Awesome !

[newbreed]

Thanks Ineke!! I am just really chuffed with how everything is developing now!

Guess that patience thing really does pay off!?!

[keego]

Looking good & well done

[yeswaitnosorry]

Love the photos. Well done.

[newbreed]

Think there's about to be a population explosion.

Had a quick count through today in the CRS tank. Know I have around 70 adults now, counted 14 berried mums!!

But as I was counting the shrimplets I got to 123 and started to freak out!!

Once the mums drop what they are currently carrying the tank will be swarming!

Edited October 22, 2014 by newbreed

[newbreed]

Luckily they have a three foot tank all to themselves!!

[ineke]

great stuff Jamie. They are looking great. Won't be long and you will need MORE TANKS!!!!!!!!!!

[jayc]

You can never have too many CRS.

[ineke]

no never too many just not enough tanks!!!!!!

[newbreed]

Mmmmm, did somebody say more tanks?? Sounds good to me!!

Edited October 22, 2014 by newbreed

[Squiggle]

Oooooh, more CRS & more tanks, sounds like a good plan to me.

[Ronskitz]

Awesome stuff so there is soon to be a new thread? Getting onto the rack 2 lol