Hey just thought I’d check in and say hi I’ve got a new tank cycling and I have some shrimp that’s going to be going into it but I was wanting to get something else to go into it I was thinking about some little tetras what is your thoughts also I would like to get a couple of suckers don’t know any proper names that’s just what I call them. If anyone has any advice I would love to hear thanks in advance ?

I keep ember tetra and eon tetra with bloody mary red shrimps and that works fine, though the tank is densely planted, and most of the shrimp have reverted to boring wild colour now. I exect the fish get some of the newborn shrimp should they come across them though, so the tank should be well stocked with plants/moss/hiding places. Dwarf Corydora should also be ok with shrimps. Snails are ok as well!

I also keep wild type cull shrimp (from the bloody mary tank) with dwarf (mosquito) rasbora (and a killie) and they seem to be ok together but again it is a densely planted tank and the shrimps are very difficult to see, being clear and/or brown! Again though I expect the fish will eat any small/baby shrimps if they come across them. I wouldn't recommend guppies as they have quite large mouths and will go everywhere in an aquarium whereas rasbora/tetra prefer mid to top of an aquarium!

The brighter the colour of the shrimp the more likely they are to be seen by the fish and if the shrimp are small enough they are likely to be preyed upon. With your dark blue shrimp and dark subsrate I think you will be ok, how many shrimp do you have left and is the berried one still doing well? Has the salt treatment been successful?

Simon

Thanks for the advice yeah everything is going good I’ve got 7 shrimp left one that’s carrying eggs and another that got a yellow patch just behind her saddle so I’m thinking that she’s going to produce eggs soon. Sadly no the cherry coloured one died absolutely no idea as to why it was fine swimming about eating when I went to bed and in the morning it was dead. The baths worked I think I’ve not seen any signs to say otherwise and I give them a good check every day so soon as I see anything I can hopefully sort it. 

10 hours ago, Hammy said:

Hey just thought I’d check in and say hi I’ve got a new tank cycling and I have some shrimp that’s going to be going into it but I was wanting to get something else to go into it I was thinking about some little tetras what is your thoughts also I would like to get a couple of suckers don’t know any proper names that’s just what I call them. If anyone has any advice I would love to hear thanks in advance ?

I’ve never kept shrimp with tetras, so I can’t speak from experience on that one, but I can say that I’ve found shrimp are more enjoyable without fish in the tank (through recent exploration). Maybe an Ottocinclus or two (or three even) could be an unobtrusive addition? They’re one of the best ‘suckers’ out there. Very cute too.

I agree with  crabby, having fish in a tank tends to draw the eye away from the shrimp, and of course the shrimp won't be out and about quite so much! If you can resist the urge to get fish (for now at least) except a few ottocinclus (they don't move that much) that would be best and give your shrimp colony a better chance of growing quicker, but obviously the final decision will be yours!

I have fish (tetra) in my oldest tank mainly as that tank is 5 or 6 feet from where I normally sit so wanted something I could see from a distance. I have rasbora and killie in the specialised shrimp tank because I was having difficulty with shrimp in that tank anyway and covid started so I quickly grabbed some fish before lockdown etc so there would be something in that tank - I am thinking I may try and get some taiwan bee shrimmp for that tank next week, before winter gets here, though whether it will work tankwise or with the fish???????????????  

Simon

1 hour ago, sdlTBfanUK said:

I agree with  crabby, having fish in a tank tends to draw the eye away from the shrimp, and of course the shrimp won't be out and about quite so much! If you can resist the urge to get fish (for now at least) except a few ottocinclus (they don't move that much) that would be best and give your shrimp colony a better chance of growing quicker, but obviously the final decision will be yours!

I have fish (tetra) in my oldest tank mainly as that tank is 5 or 6 feet from where I normally sit so wanted something I could see from a distance. I have rasbora and killie in the specialised shrimp tank because I was having difficulty with shrimp in that tank anyway and covid started so I quickly grabbed some fish before lockdown etc so there would be something in that tank - I am thinking I may try and get some taiwan bee shrimmp for that tank next week, before winter gets here, though whether it will work tankwise or with the fish???????????????  

Simon

So do you have any Taiwan bees going right now Simon? Or just the red cherries/wilds? I forget some of the stuff that you and jayc have. 
Depending on the type you get, they could be targeted a lot more than your wilds are currently. Also I’m not too sure how the parameters would work, for neocaridina and taiwan bees. But I’d be very interested to see what comes of it if you try.

I have 3 tanks at the moment,

Tank 1 - bloody mary shrim with neon and ember tetras, though 90% of the shrimp are wild type now!

Tank 2 - the old taiwan bee shrimp tank, has 11 mosquito rasbora and 1 killie with wild type cherry shrimp, I have just done the maintenance on that tank and there are definitely shrimp still doing well (I don't feed shrimp in there) but they are clear or brown so VERY difficult to spot! I tested this tank last week and parameters were ideal for taiwan bee (PH6, TDS 140, KH 0-1, GH 5-6 (a bit high)) as it has been since set up.

Tank 3 - male betta with wild cherry shrimp, again just done that tank and there are shrimp doing well in there but again, I can ony see them with a strong light and magnifying glass due to their lack of colour.

I am looking at maybe just stocking up before winter so may get a job lot of bloody mary shrimp for tank 1 (and discard lots of wilds) and have a  final try with the taiwan bee as the tank 2 is at the moment. The parameters are perfect but the plants are still not nice and green with this substrate, as they were before with the other substrate but obviously shrimp are living in there, albeit not ones I wanted, so I can rule out disease and poisoning. As you say, the taiwan bee are much easier to see so may be preyed on by the fish so I won't buy expensive ones (ebay probably) or a large quantity (if I get any at all of course, though it is now or wait until next year). It would be the last lot I try until the fish die off and the tank is reset with the other substrate!

Simon

Thanks I’ve no problem with waiting it’s part of the hobby really. I was actually looking at the Ottos on line and was thinking of getting some so to have you guys mention them makes me happy. However it says online that they are happier being in a group rather than just one or two so do you think that I could have say 3 or 4 in my 64ltr tank 

That sounds like a good plan, I might even get 5 ot 6 as they are quite small!

Simon

Otos really do like it in a big group. I had 10 in my 4ft tank once, and they would swim together.

The problem with Otos is that, they compete with shrimp for the same food, ie. the biofilm on the surfaces of the tank.

If you are okay with that and prepared to feed them regularly when the biofilm runs out, then Otos are great companions to shrimp.

Of course they will both eat the same foods, so feeding both together is not difficult. Lot's of blanched veges like zucchinis, peas, carrots. 

Edited September 17, 20214 yr by jayc

Hey guys just thought I’d check in say hello and let you know that I lost one more of my adult shrimp I’m pretty sure that the cause was a failed malt anyways all the other’s are doing great as far as I can tell so I’m down to six adults however I have counted 16 fry so far and I’m pretty sure that I’ve not counted them all they are in there second week since hatched so pretty much double in size. The other female that’s in the tank does have some eggs on her but only 5 o 6 at the most. Thanks for all the advice and help 

Thanks for giving us the update and so pleased it seems to be going so well now, and that the shrimplets are also doing well. The last one that died may have just been weakened by the prior problems anyway, but you will get one die every now and again, and with the youngsters your colony is well on its way in the right direction!

Simon