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I have put an advert in the 'for sale' section so someone may want free shrimp locally, however it is a bit of a needle in a haystack but I would rather give them away than kill them!!!!!¬ Hope your new tank is cycling nicely. Simon

Thanks for the nudge, I have put something in the for sale section about free to anyone if wanted. I am new to forums so let me know if I have done anything wrongly. Better than keep killing them so worth a try? Simon

@sdlTBfanUK, start selling the extra shrimp either to your local fish shop or to fellow SKF members by advertising in this forum.

I am reading a lot of negative things on here regarding spinach and I suspect the big problem with most is they are not using ORGANIC as I have had no problem with spinach and the shrimps mob it and I have never had any deaths. IF you aren't sure then you can easily grow your own from seed on a window sill etc. If you buy it from a supermarket and it is labelled organic then it should be fine, but I would try a very small piece first time. Only takes a couple of minutes to prepare either fresh or frozen. Get a cup, put leaves in cup, pour on boiling water from kettle to just cover the spinach leaves, put in microwave on full for 1 minute and your done - simple as that. The whole leaf (I use baby spinach leaves) is gone in a day and I usually TREAT the shrimps once a week. One other thing to be wary of is 'pollution' so don't grow it near a source of pollution.

You never know, someone near Hastings UK may see this and get in contact at some stage! Chances quite slim though, so I won't hold my breath!

Yes agree with jayc, start selling them! Shirakura chi ebi is a great product, the little ones love that stuff! (Using that as well) Good luck picking out shrimps today! Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

I have heard of Borneo wild but my supplier doesn't sell that. I use the Bacter AE (Glasgarten) which I think is the same sort of thing as you are mentioning, bacteria booster and baby feed etc. I also use Shirakura Chi ebi as baby food, think that is what it is anyway?. Powder stuff I use a pin which I dip a few mm into the tank water quickly, then into the 'product' quickly, then back into the tank and that makes it easy to not use too much, otherwise it can be difficult to judge with powders etc. It sounds like I use a lot of things but using the aforementioned pin method means I only use a little (as per the video, use a lot less than manufacturers recommend etc). Maybe I should stop using them then I won't get so many babies surviving..... It was much easier to pick ones I didn't particularly like at the beginning, but the longer I do it the less 'unattractive' (they are all the attractive ones left now) but I am determined to get a couple to cull tomorrow, then that can be it for this year I think!!!!!!!! There are quite a few babies that are nothing special but I don't think you can rely on there colour/pattern at that stage, and anyway difficult to catch them at 2mm in size. Still, nothing you should even need to think about at the stage you are at, be a while yet. Simon

Sharing my pre holiday Preparation for my tanks... Filtration 1. 2 weeks prior to my departure, I clean/maintain my cannister filter, ensuring the impeller is clean and flow rate functioning efficiently. 2. I add charcoal/nitrazorb or purigen to the cannister and/or sump as a precautionary step - insurance policy. I deliberately don't do it the day before, just in case I break the impeller, shaft...etc, and prefer to ensure the filtration is absolutely perfect, as this is perhaps the most critical part of their survival whilst away. Water Quality 1. 1 week prior to departure, I do a complete WP test to ensure PH, GH, KH TDS and nitrates are at the level it should be, and would deliberately reduce TDS by about 10% to the "normal" level, as the TDS would naturally rise over the period. 2. 3 days Before departure, I'll do a 15-20% water change, remineralise the water, add mineral powder etc.... to ensure the water is in absolute perfect condition. 3. The day before departure, I'll do a 10% WC, to compensate for the heavy feeding over the past few days. Food 1. 2 weeks prior to departure, I will feed more high protein, fibre and fat food in their diets i.e. frozen blood worms, brine shrimp, blanched spinach/kale ..... whilst I'm away, the feeding regime would be powder food and pallets. 2. 2 weeks prior to departure, I will soak, then put some fresh IAL into all my tanks. 3. 2 days prior to departure, I will soak some dried mulberry leaves, and on the day of departure, i will place them into each tank. 4. 2 days before my departure, I will ensure my shrimps are all fed well, and that they are not scampering/rushing for food. Feeding Routine 1. I'm fortunate that I have a person to feed and watch over my tanks whilst away. The feeding schedule would describe each tank, and clearly define how much to feed i.e. 2 pallets for tank 1, 1 for tank 3 .. etc, or 20 ml of powder food (mix in water) ..etc 2. Depends on my confidence of the person, I will do a daily feeding schedule, otherwise an alternative day schedule. 3. Depending on length/time away, the shrimps would be OK, without a feeding routine for up to a week, even 2 weeks BUT, due to the number of berried shrimps and shrimplets, I would prefer a daily feed. Other 1. I also leave instructions to check on water levels and a lookout for dead shrimps. Each tank has a waterline mark to confirm level to top ups..etc. I have double the qty/volume of RO water I guesstimate that is required whilst away. 2. I leave two emergency contacts, just in case the person finds a massacre. 3. Depending on season, check to ensure heaters or chillers are all functioning correctly. I'll post my feeding schedule when I return on hols, as I haven't got it on me. Have done this routine over the past 2-3 years and have been extremely comfortable with it. Trust this helps .....