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Some pics of my latest aquisitions. I suspect they are Paratya australiensis. They have an overall pale blue body with a golden head covered in black spots. The photos really don't do them justice. Interestingly some of them do not have a rostrum. Not sure if this is a genetic defect, environmental or physical damage. They were found above a waterfall so I suspect the larvae will hatch out as mini adults. They have gone into a tank with my riffles (Australatya striolata).

Well I'm calling it. I've lost them. Have not seen the last one for a couple of weeks. lessons learned/observations: 1. Stability is critical. The bigger tank and small but regular water changes worked very well - condition picked up when moved to the bigger tank 2. Temperature - I suspect temperature too high in my fishroom at 26-27 in the hottest of summer. 3. Gut feeling - I've got a hypothesis that they need low bacterial counts in the water (a bit like discus) - if the water gets too stale, even with the low TDS condition drops off and they drop dead. When I put them on a constant rainwater drip condition improved. 4. The longest survivors were born from eggs that arrived on gravid females and they grew to adults in my tank - adds weight to the theory that successive generations in captivity become more robust. OR - all the shrimp died of old age at 1yr and never reproduced. *shrug* 5. None of my shrimp every berried 6. I still never found a food I saw them eat with any enthusiasm. we ran low on rainwater and have been switching to and from mains water and I think this variability in water supply was enough to finish off the last survivors. I'd like to try them again - options are run a chiller in the fishroom (where the constant water supply is) - or put the shrimp in my office where i have unheated tanks that stay < 24C..but it then up to me to keep up the fresh water which seems unlikley I'll be reliable enough! - bloody infuriating fussy shrimp.

Cleaning out dads shed and stumbled across some IAL. It has been sitting in the shed for about 5 years. Would it be still fine to use? There would be close to 1000 leaves. Thanks Zac

I have saw my riffles eat other shrimp babies. As fishmosy said if they are well fed they wont actively hunt there first preference is filter feeding. like most of our natives they will take an accepted snack if presented. there is probably slightly less bubs in the divisions with riffles but more than in with parataya they will eat bubs more often but also usually only if they are hungry or it walks in front of them from my experience with both.

I have choc's if you are interested pm.

Hey Bort, Sorry to hijack this thread but I have the same issue. I've just taken two stones out. Got two more to go. PH is 7.2. I don't want to drastically take it out because it mate harm the shrimps. How's your ph now?

Nogi showing off his Bloody Marys reminded me that I need to update this thread. I've since moved the colony to a larger tank (now roughly 35L instead of 27L). I'm concentrating on getting (1) fully coloured legs and (2) solid overall colour coverage. You'll notice the oldest ladies below with the back stripes have less coverage on their legs than the smaller females, so it seems like I'm getting somewhere. This is my main male. Bred him myself. Notice he even has good colour coverage on his pleopods. Not as good colour as the females, but definitely better than what I started out with. Finally, a little salute to all lovers of "Bloody Mary" cherries!

Yeah, I think so too. It is making patterns in the substrate that reminds me of those Japanese sand gardens. Hmm, that's giving me an idea for my next tank layout.