(Updated w/ New Pictures) Unsure about the gender of my CR shrimp

[Zolanski]

Hey guys,

 

So a couple days back I bought two CRS in hopes of starting a colony of shrimp. I added them into my tank of 5 Red cherries. All has been well, apart from the fact that I do not know the gender of both my CRS. One of them is significantly bigger than the other, but I still have no idea.

 

Occasionally, I will see the little one chase the bigger one around the tank, but I don't know if that means anything. It would be helpful if someone could tell me the gender of both of my shrimp, or give me some tips to observe myself.

 

I have a photo of both of them, but it's not the best quality. Also, if my CRS are both males, would it be possible from them to cross-breed with my RCS?

 

Help would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

 

NEW PICTURES:

http://i.imgur.com/ioghYSG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/IrMcil3.jpg

Edited January 7, 2015 by Zolanski

[Zolanski]

Here are the photos:

Smaller one:

http://i.imgur.com/SNzJlPM.jpg

Bigger one:

http://i.imgur.com/Kg4MquK.jpg

Together:

http://i.imgur.com/edX0bXR.jpg

 

Iphone quality, I know. Sorry :)

Edited January 7, 2015 by Zolanski

[Squiggle]

The phone quality definitely doesn't help, need to get clearer pics of them side on & of the antennae. In saying that, my best guess & this is really just a guess cause of the pic quality, I'd say they are both female but I definitely can't be certain.

[Zolanski]

The phone quality definitely doesn't help, need to get clearer pics of them side on & of the antennae. In saying that, my best guess & this is really just a guess cause of the pic quality, I'd say they are both female but I definitely can't be certain.

I've got a better camera somewhere actually. I'll take better looking photos and update the OP. In saying that, do you have any tips for myself to identify the gender?

[Squiggle]

Females have a much rounder underbelly & males are much flatter, also the short antennules are much shorter in the females. Here is a pic a sourced from an English forum called "UKAPS" it gives you a good comparison of body shape.

[Zolanski]

Females have a much rounder underbelly & males are much flatter, also the short antennules are much shorter in the females. Here is a pic a sourced from an English forum called "UKAPS" it gives you a good comparison of body shape.

To be honest both of my shrimp have the more flatter belly (from what I can see), but I can't quite comment since I haven't had my shrimp for a long time. As far as the antennules, there is a slight difference in size. I was thinking about putting them both in a breeding box, and see if anything happens. Since I regularly see the smaller one chase the bigger one. Thoughts?

[Squiggle]

Could work dude, best off getting a good pic of both so we can see & help!

[Zolanski]

Could work dude, best off getting a good pic of both so we can see & help!

Will do!

[Zolanski]

Could work dude, best off getting a good pic of both so we can see & help!

Can I also add that one of my CRS has a orange/brown circle sort of where his front legs are, could this be the unfertilised eggs? My RCS are different, and have their eggs on the top of their backs.

[jayc]

 Also, if my CRS are both males, would it be possible from them to cross-breed with my RCS?

 

 

No they won't. CRS will not cross breed with RCS.

 

 

Can I also add that one of my CRS has a orange/brown circle sort of where his front legs are, could this be the unfertilised eggs? My RCS are different, and have their eggs on the top of their backs.

 

A picture might help, but it doesn't sound like eggs. A saddled CRS will also have eggs on their back as well, but it's not so visible due to their colouration.

After the eggs are fertilised, they lay them and move them to their pleopods (fins under the tail).

Edited January 7, 2015 by jayc

[Zolanski]

No they won't. CRS will not cross breed with RCS.

 

 

 

A picture might help, but it doesn't sound like eggs. A saddled CRS will also have eggs on their back as well, but it's not so visible due to their colouration.

After the eggs are fertilised, they lay them and move them to their pleopods (fins under the tail).

Here's a picture, but you have to zoom in, and it's not the best quality since it was taken on my phone. It's located on the first red stripe (left to right).

http://i.imgur.com/6Ub3nVL.jpg

 

Do you have any tips to encourage my CRS to molt? Since I've put them into the tank there hasn't been any signs of them going into the process. And my RCS have molted a couple times actually.

Edited January 7, 2015 by Zolanski

[Zolanski]

Update: The bigger shrimp is now bending it's tail every so often. Could it be going into the process of molting?

[OzShrimp]

Not necassarily :) Also your CRS wont breed with your cherry shrimp they are a different species so you will be fine

[2OFUS]

Looks male to me

[Zolanski]

Not necassarily :) Also your CRS wont breed with your cherry shrimp they are a different species so you will be fine

Thanks for the heads up!

 

Do you have any idea what the gender of my shrimp could be?

[Zolanski]

Looks male to me

Both? 

[2OFUS]

Yep

[Zolanski]

Yep

Dang it, looks like I have to get a female or two then 

[Zolanski]

New Pictures:

 

http://i.imgur.com/ioghYSG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/IrMcil3.jpg

Edited January 7, 2015 by Zolanski

[salvanost]

small one looks like male

the problem is the big one, did u see any saddle? should visible for the big shrimp if its's female

[2OFUS]

Picture is alittle bit better lol

I'd say the one on the right is the female

[Zolanski]

small one looks like male

the problem is the big one, did u see any saddle? should visible for the big shrimp if its's female

I think you're referring the right one to be the bigger one. If so, it's a bit hard to see the saddle due to the coloration of it's body. I've heard that you can shine a light at the shrimp and the saddle will be more visible. Is this true?

[Zolanski]

Picture is alittle bit better lol

I'd say the one on the right is the female

The only camera i've got apart from my phone is an olympus, it's the best I can do.

What about the left one, do you think it's a female or male?

[petfish]

not shine a light at, it's shine a light through, put shrimp in small tank/bowl and put strong light under tank/bowl, then look over the top, if female you can see egg's in the body.

[OzShrimp]

I would say you have 1 male 1 female going off the last pics