Shrimp Keepers Forum welcomes SmoothScales.

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regards,
skfadmin

Hello, and thank you for the welcome.  

While I don't have any shrimp right now, I am doing research on different shrimp, setups, and necessities to have a successful tank.  I'm really interested in black tigers, blue tigers, and crystal reds because of their vibrant colors, but would obviously want to start with cheaper and hardier shrimp until I get some experience.  I joined this forum to get more information on what I'll need, what to expect, and guidance as I progress with my tank.  

Other things about me - I am an animal lover of all types and currently keep Ball Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, and am kept by three cats.  :) 

Welcome to SKF @SmoothScales

I believe the cheapest and hardier shrimp out of the ones you are interested in should be the CRS, Followed closely by the blue tigers. I have no idea what the shrimp costs where you live but it should be cheaper then in Australia. The cheapest and hardiest shrimp are usually the Cherry varieties and they come in all sorts of colours.

A few things I would suggest you get when you start is a TDS pen, RO Unit, GH and KH testing kits, PH, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates testing kits. Depending on the shrimp you want to start with you may need some buffering shrimp soil. I hope this helps.

Thanks for introducing yourself. PLease share some pics of your other pets.

3 hours ago, SmoothScales said:

and am kept by three cats.

Ahahahaha.

 

4 hours ago, Disciple said:

Welcome to SKF @SmoothScales

I believe the cheapest and hardier shrimp out of the ones you are interested in should be the CRS, Followed closely by the blue tigers. I have no idea what the shrimp costs where you live but it should be cheaper then in Australia. The cheapest and hardiest shrimp are usually the Cherry varieties and they come in all sorts of colours.

A few things I would suggest you get when you start is a TDS pen, RO Unit, GH and KH testing kits, PH, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates testing kits. Depending on the shrimp you want to start with you may need some buffering shrimp soil. I hope this helps.

Thanks for introducing yourself. PLease share some pics of your other pets.

Thanks for the intro!  I haven't looked into a RO unit yet, but have been looking at test kits and TDS units.  

A local tropical fish shop carries a kit similar to this one - http://www.alphaprobreeders.com/aquarium-pharmaceuticals-freshwater-master-test-kit/ - although I think it's a different brand name.  I'm also thinking of ordering this TDS pen from Amazon if anyone has had experience with it to vouch for it - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C0A7ZY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000VTQM70&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=086R2AFC38GTYCDP52Y3 

I was considering this ph neutral substrate for the tank, but I'm a firm believer that everything in a plan is fluid until it's actually set up (no plan survives first contact).  http://www.bigalspets.com/fish/substrates/super-naturals-river-of-doubt-5-lb.html

 

You mentioned Cherry shrimp are some of the hardiest, would you recommend them as a good starting point before jumping into the Tigers and CRS?  

 

As for pets, there are quite a few snakes, so posting pics of each of them would take up quite a bit of space.  I can offer a link to my collection thread on BP.net, if anyone would want to check that out to see my snakes.  (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?233081-Smooth-Scales-Snakes)

As for my kitties, I guess I need to downsize the picture sizes or post one at a time?  I just got an error message about size. :P  

 

 

This is Punkin. She's an indoor cat who likes to pretend she's brave and ventures out onto the front porch.  I've also had her the longest, so she gets posted first. :)

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by SmoothScales

This is Cleopatra.  She's a lover, not a fighter.  And a bit of a purr slut.

And finally, here is Marshmallow.  She was a rescue kitty when she was little more than skin and bones and a puffy tail.  Now, she's a foot warming, pillow stealing, moth hunter who gets away with anything.  Who has a puffy tail.  lol

1 hour ago, SmoothScales said:

A local tropical fish shop carries a kit similar to this one - http://www.alphaprobreeders.com/aquarium-pharmaceuticals-freshwater-master-test-kit/ 

The API Master test kit is ok for the Ammonia, Nitrite, GK & KH kit.

But you'd still need Nitrate. The pH kit is not the most accurate, highly suggest a pH Pen instead.

1 hour ago, SmoothScales said:

 I'm also thinking of ordering this TDS pen from Amazon if anyone has had experience with it to vouch for it

TDS pen is a must have. And that one is a good brand. I have the HM Digital AP1 which has temperature measurements as well, and does automatic temperature compensation for TDS. HM digital is a good reliable and accurate TDS meter to get. Get the AP1 if it doesn't cost much more than the basic model you linked.

 

1 hour ago, SmoothScales said:

was considering this ph neutral substrate for the tank, but I'm a firm believer that everything in a plan is fluid until it's actually set up (no plan survives first contact).  http://www.bigalspets.com/fish/substrates/super-naturals-river-of-doubt-5-lb.html

Substrate is highly dependant on which shrimp you plan to keep.

Tigers and Neocaridina (cherry shrimps) are ok with that pH neutral gravel you linked. But consider a good plant substrate for Caridina (CRS/CBS, Taiwan Bees) even Tigers can adapt to this substrate. 

So let us know what you want to start with.

And if you want suggestions on which plant substrate to use, let us know what brands/types you can source where you are located.

 

1 hour ago, SmoothScales said:

You mentioned Cherry shrimp are some of the hardiest, would you recommend them as a good starting point before jumping into the Tigers and CRS?

Yes, this is good advice. Start off with Cherries and learn how to look after them. Cherries are more tolerant to a wider swing in water parameters, and they are cheaper to start out with. Nothing worse than seeing a big investment in shrimps die off because you were new to the hobby.

 

If you have kept fish before, than you will have some good basics. But shrimp requires a bit more of a learning curve compared to fish.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by jayc

5 hours ago, SmoothScales said:

 

As for pets, there are quite a few snakes, so posting pics of each of them would take up quite a bit of space.  I can offer a link to my collection thread on BP.net, if anyone would want to check that out to see my snakes.  (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?233081-Smooth-Scales-Snakes)

 

Since Jayc has answered your questions all I can say is Cool snakes! 

On 4/26/2016 at 11:42 PM, jayc said:

Tigers and Neocaridina (cherry shrimps) are ok with that pH neutral gravel you linked. But consider a good plant substrate for Caridina (CRS/CBS, Taiwan Bees) even Tigers can adapt to this substrate. 

So let us know what you want to start with.

I'll be starting with the cherry shrimp.  They have the bright color I like, and a couple of you have already recommended them as starters to get a newbie experienced in caring for shrimp.  

The fish store I mentioned earlier has a Fluval brand substrate for plants and shrimp.  I'm sure they have others, but that one I remember off the top of my head.  If you have recommendations, I could see if they have the brand/type on hand or if they can order it.  

I think it is a good choice and once you have a hang of it you can go to tigers or crs. 

On 28/04/2016 at 10:26 AM, SmoothScales said:

I'll be starting with the cherry shrimp.  They have the bright color I like, and a couple of you have already recommended them as starters to get a newbie experienced in caring for shrimp.  

The fish store I mentioned earlier has a Fluval brand substrate for plants and shrimp.  I'm sure they have others, but that one I remember off the top of my head.  If you have recommendations, I could see if they have the brand/type on hand or if they can order it.