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With such a great number of hobbyist joining the forum, thought I'd start a thread on some basic shrimp maintenance/breeding advise and techniques I'm guided with..... Water Parameters (WP) is critical, so depending on the shrimp type, do some research and ensure your tanks (WP) are within the recommended range. There are extreme cases (i.e. PH at 5 or 7.5 where CRS are successfully kept/bred, but on avg. these WP are theoretically a good starting point.... Caridina (CRS, CBS, SW/GB, TB*, Tiger**..) PH - 6.4 KH - 0-2 GH - 4-6 TDS - 100-200 Temp - 21-23 *TB (KK, WR & BB) - Some breeders prefer a slightly lower PH (5.6 - 6.2) for Taiwan Bee **Tigers - Some breeders prefer a slightly higher PH (7-7.4), KH - 2-8 and GH - 6-10 for Tigers Neocaridina (All colour variants of Cherry Shrimp) PH - 6.4 KH - 0-2 GH - 4-6 TDS - 100-200 Temp - 21-23 There's several thread on the forum with regards to soil type/recommendations, filters, chillers etc, so I'll just focus on the "day to day" maintenance and breeding habits I practice religiously... * Weekly water change (WC) is beneficial to even the best filtered system. I only do a 5-10% weekly WC per week, just to "freshen" the water. Add minerals like salty shrimp, mineral powder etc... On each WC. * The quality and consistency of Tap water varies. Reverse Osmosis (RO) water is recommended, to avoid any imbalances/pitfalls that can occur. Control what goes into your tank, to ensure minimal unexpected deaths. * Ensure a varied diet of commercial and fresh food to your shrimps, including. Powdered food to feed your shrimplets.. I daily feed all my shrimp, and depending on stock levels and shrimplets, two feelings per days are done. * Do water top ups caused by evaporation. I use straight RO water to top up all my tanks. * filter maintenance is done every 6-8 weeks for all my nano tanks, and 8-12 weeks for my breeding racks. This ensure the filters/bacteria is running efficiently. Ensure the filters are only rinsed off with the tanks water...do not over clean, and or use tap water, as this will kill the beneficial bacteria. * On a established system, ensure your nitrates are kept below 20ppm. Low nitrates do promote breeding ! Other notable mentions.. *Shrimp consume their exoskeleton that they shed during molting. This is a a rich source of essential minerals for the shrimp, so do leave them there for their consumption. *Iodine supplement is not necessary as freshwater crustaceans obtain iodine from their food. *Metals like zinc, lead, and elemental copper, are toxic for shrimps and will kill them. *Majority of fish feed on shrimps. Although through clever aquascaping, a co-existance can prevail, But it really depends on the seriousness you take your shrimps/hobby, i.e selective breeding program's, exotic shrimps ... *Hiding spots/shelters are important especially in periods of molting. Shelters can be bought or created via aquascaping. *Avoid chemical, and short term solutions...i.e. PH Up/Down.....I personally don't use ferts, and anything chemical.... *During our summer periods, have a Plan B even if you are running chillers. Have some RO ice blocks in the fridge for emergencies.. *Observe your shrimps, and develop an eye to notice any changes in their behaviour. This may highlight some potential issues before it becomes real issues. *Shrimps require oxygen rich waters. Ensure ample aeration, surface agitation etc... *PATIENCE IS KEY Mother Nature, whether purely natural or influenced by us do throw all of us a "curve ball"... So don't be discourage, get advise and share the grief with this forum, as your experience will help others.... No doubt, there's '000's of other advise, so please do add it onto this thread.......

After a 5 year break from fish keeping. Thought I would get back into it with a shrimp tank. Ill keep a tab on all expenses etc because I find it helpful and like to see what I spend on a tank. Also dad has a shed full of fish gear so alot of things came from there. AR-620- free from the shed Sponge filters - From the shed Schego WS3 air pump- free from the shed Eheim 2215- $25 Pisces iron sand 20kg- $60 The tech den Up aqua shrimp sand red- $50 The tech den Ceramic shrimp breeding cave- $8 The tech den Java moss- $5 Weeping moss- $5 SS mesh x 4 - $5 Wood- free Shrimp are 10 yellow 5 carbon rilli and 5 blue cherry shrimp. Wanted some colour but didn't want to go to expensive as Im just starting out. End goal is a display tank with white gloves as they are my favourite but $$$ for my liking. Thinking of adding some CRS in soon, I see alot of micshlings which look like CBS to me. Need to read up on those. Pictures from start until now. Cycling with the help of some established sponge filters Sand and moss in. Lilly pipes in. Still deciding on what to do with the intake cover. This is just a cut up piece of foam. Trying to make a nice display piece of wood out of about 10 pieces. I ended up using 3 pieces. As it sits now Still playing around with the wood designs etc. Also will cut the sponges out next weekend. I have read that shrimp love a lot of air and most just use sponge filters. Are there any nice looking sponge filters on the market? Black back ground will be applied this weekend. Thats all for today. Any help and tips will be greatly appreciated! Thanks Zac

Seriously considering one of these for my new tank, currently cycling. http://aquakitz.com/2016/01/15/chihiros-doctor-ver-2/ Certainly mixed reviews, and I wouldn't pay as much as the Twinstar unit costs, but at a hundred bucks I'd possibly go for one of these. Interestingly, while the advertising talks up all advantages for shrimp including increased shrimplet survival, a couple of sellers have told me they're only for planted tanks. Another question would be that when it's removing algae is it removing biofilm, and if so do I need to feed special food to the shrimplets. I'm really looking for someone who's actually used these, not just opinions. Has anyone actually used these in a shrimp tank and noticed effects, either good or bad? I've searched and read a couple of threads on here, not really much info there on these yet. Thank you

Hi nogi thanks for having me lol What u think of my shrimp?

Thanks for the fix up. Every other time I have inserted pictures it has worked from just using the direct link option from photobucket. I think I have narrowed these guys down to being either Pacific Blue Eyes- but didn't think I had put any of their tank weed into the original tub of water. Threadfins Dwarf Neon Rainbows. I will be pretty excited if they are either Dwarf Neons or Threadfins. And if they have been spawning in my cory tank there is very good chance that there are more fry growing up hidden in the jungle of that tank.

they are a very cool little shrimp they just have the added challenge of requiring a very well setup and maintained tank it seems to put all the skills we have learnt to the test. most of our fresh caught natives are similar they need clean stable water a healthy biosphere and nutritious food if you have the space and a little time highly recommend them I am loving the challenge so far.

All coming along nicely. I've added some seasoned material and half a dozen red ramshorn snails, and a treatment of "Aquasonic Bio Culture", which is said to be a cycling bacteria additive that actually works. Time will tell, I'm watching/testing carefully. Plants are responding very strongly to 6 hours a day of light, set on timer. Water is much clearer now, but certainly not finished and highly aerated with both an airstone and the filter box out let. I dropped the level to about 6cm from the cover edge to allow the light to fully reach the surface for the frogbit (which is taking off). If I wasn't having floating plants it would be fine filled right up. Camera didn't quite focus properly, I'll play with the settings more next time.

first week has now past all still looking happy no losses I have saw in the jungle they are a very active and interesting shrimp. they display some similarities to there cousins but seem to roam more freely around the tank than other crystals I have kept. they are accepting all foods so far as well as grazing the biofilm and algae around the tank. I am really enjoying keeping them.

Hi Bluebolts I can't find the abbreviations for TDS in the library and I notice it is used here a lot. forgive my ignorance but what is it and should I be worried about this for RCS Cheers Ineke