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If you live in an area where the winter temps don't freeze, you could put them into an outdoor pond. That's another option. It can just be an old kids sand pit or flower pot with aquatic plants. Alternatively, if the culls are not too bland, you can sell them back to a LFS.

Here is my formula for re-mineralising RO or Rain water: Powdered compound Grams needed: Calcium Sulphate CaSO4 Heptahydrate (so it dissolves easily) or Dihydrate if you can't find it, but dihydrate is not as soluble. 58gm Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salt) MgSO4 37gm Potassium Sulphate (aka Sulphate Of Potash) K2SO4 11gm Iron Sulphate (optional) FeSO4 0.30gm Manganese Sulphate (optional) MnSO4 0.16gm Total weight 106.46gm Multiply accordingly if you need to mix bigger batches. Alternatively, Iron and Manganese can be replaced with a Micro-nutrient (trace element) mix of 0.46gm. Again micro nutrients or trace elements are optional, but a small amount of these minerals can be beneficial for shrimps. They will get it elsewhere if it is not added here. You can either use it in powder form, adding small teaspoons to your water change until a TDS of 140-160 is reached. OR You can premix this in 500ml bottle of RO water, and drip it into your water change until the desired TDS 140-160 is reached. If you have a TDS pen, you can check how much 1gm will raise TDS in 1L of water. Similarly you can also test GH/KH raise in 1L of water. It is very important you test this yourself, since there can be a number of variables between your mix and my mix. This mix will not alter pH. You will be able to find all you need at www.aquariumonlinestore.com.au <--- Back in business as of Jan 2018! It is getting more difficult sourcing Calcium Sulphate heptahydrate. The best source I can find is from home brew shops. keg-king.com.au/calcium-sulphate-1kg.html - $9.75 for a kilo. This is food grade stuff. removed - never seem to be in stock. https://www.keg-king.com.au/calcium-sulphate-caso4-300g.html.html https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111974621019 - $20.89 for 1kg of Calcium Sulphate. https://www.bunnings.com.au/manutec-1kg-epsom-salt_p2960980 - 1kg of Magnesium Sulphate. https://www.bunnings.com.au/richgro-1kg-soluble-powder-sulphate-of-potash_p2980321 - 1kg of Potassium Sulphate (Potash). Alternatively, if you need a remin mix for Neocaridina or Tigers, you can replace 15g - 20g of Calcium Sulphate with Calcium Carbonate or Calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is probably easier to dissolve in water and that would be the preference. This will raise KH a bit. http://keg-king.com.au/calcium-carbonate-caco3-300g.html - $4.95 for 300g of Calcium Carbonate.

I have brown shrimp from red cherry and they are in with fish, lots are alive and breeding in that tank. As they are brown I don't think the fish see them or are as interested in them! I had some in with a fighter as well and he wasn't interested in them either. I have even given loads to a friend who has a huge tank and he was taking them as food for his much larger fish and he has had a population ever since and is well happy but some must get eaten admittedly. Having said that they know they are prey so either hide or rocket across the tank (if you have never seen this you are in for amazement) when a predator comes close. It's just part of natures cycle, and the ones that survive do nothing but good in the tank as well, so why try and fight/beat it! Simon

If your blue velvet starts to produce different color shrimps, it means its not a pure breed, and i'm sure you may get wild shrimps, that's what I'm getting, I will be starting a new tank for wine red, king kong and pinto (fishbone) soon. I'm getting to many wild, and low grade reds, I put them in my turtle tank. Starting another tank for king kong, wine red and pinto.

Well, you have me looking at my large tank thinking about creating hiding places for shrimp. If I have to cull, I guess that gives them a better chance than if I just euthanize them. Sadly, also reading JayC's comment, I don't live in a place where I can put them outside in the winter. It's a snow day today. Perhaps one of my favorite LFS's, from whom I got my lovely floating plants, will take culls. He doesn't seem too particular about the shrimp in his tank. You and JayC have given me ideas. Thanks.

The easiest route would be to take out the 'culls' and just put them in the fish tank, as you say the fish will enjoy the treat and you will probably also get some survive and breed in the fish tank where they will happily work away as cleaning crew etc. After all they would be a staple food source for lots of creatures in nature! Hope all goes well with the beautiful blue shrimp when they arrive? Simon

Thank you for this great article . Finally got the answers I have been looking for. I have all the items just need to try it out. Will let you all know the results at a later date.