Thinking of breeding shrimp what should i know

[Rockhoe14er]

So i'm thinking of trying to breed some shrimp. Orange pumpkin shrimp to be exact and i'm curious what information i need to know to save myself for making costly mistakes. I have a cycled fluval edge with two ottos's ready for some shrimp. My pH in the tank and in my tap is 6.5 kH 0-1 Gh around 6-8 No idea about what my tds's are should i get a meter? I also have lots of anubis nana growing in the tank and that's the only plant.


So how do these tank specs sound. I figure that my pH is a bit low so i'm curious of a way to increase it without having to constantly add a buffered solution too my tank. I'm also curious if i should try cardinia instead of neocardinia since my tank specs seem to be more naturally closer to their liking. So what do you guys think? Any advice for someone new to shrimp any tips and tricks i should know about? water changes? foods who to get them from?

[randyl]

Orange pumpkin, like most other Neo's, shouldn't be too hard to breed. Your PH and GH/KH are fine, it's better not to touch that if it's already stable. You should have fun.

BTW, although a lot people say ottos are fine with shimp, I'm not too sure about that, especially for shrimplets. So it's your choice if they go to another tank.

If water is stable, it will be harder to stop them from breeding than getting them to breed. You'll think the same a few weeks later ;-) Enjoy, if you don't enjoy it then you're not doing it right.

[Lifeblood]

I think with your water it will be easier to go with a Caridina species that prefers the water you have.

[GeToChKn]

6.5 is lower end of neo's or perfect for most cardina's. I wouldn't go lower than 6.5 with neo's though. Tigers would love it too. Guess it comes down to what color you want and can go from there. lol.

[azjenny]

Originally Posted by randyl

Orange pumpkin, like most other Neo's, shouldn't be too hard to breed. Your PH and GH/KH are fine, it's better not to touch that if it's already stable. You should have fun.

BTW, although a lot people say ottos are fine with shimp, I'm not too sure about that, especially for shrimplets. So it's your choice if they go to another tank.

If water is stable, it will be harder to stop them from breeding than getting them to breed. You'll think the same a few weeks later ;-) Enjoy, if you don't enjoy it then you're not doing it right.

Why do you say this about Otos? Do you have some experience to the contrary? I've always heard they were 100% safe. Would like to know about anything that says differently being that I have two in with my breeding shrimpies.

[Warlock]

Shrimp like BARRY WHITE

[Rockhoe14er]

Is there any downside to cardinia?

[hedge_fund]

neos don't really breed as readily once you get lower than PH 6.4. you're right on the cusp of things so you might want to try cardina instead.

[Lifeblood]

Originally Posted by Rockhoe14er

Is there any downside to cardinia?

That is kind of a loaded question, everything has a down side and there are so many species of caridina that yes some are not optimal. For instance if you wanted Orange shrimp, you should stick to Neo and increase your ph slightly to be safe.

[Rockhoe14er]

how do you increase your pH? by adding buffers to the water? some type of bicarb? do you have to treat all new water that comes into the tank?

also what about the total dissolved solids? do i need a meter? wouldn't increasing my pH increase my dissolved solids?

[Lifeblood]

There are many ways to change the pH of your water, you want something that will keep it at the pH you want it not just to raise it once, test in a week, raise it again.. oops too high.. lower it.

You should pick a shrimp, then pick a pH, then figure out the most stable way to keep the water at that pH.

[Rockhoe14er]

Well i think i really want pumpkin shrimp. Now i have to find some way to raise my pH by .5

[randyl]

Originally Posted by Rockhoe14er

how do you increase your pH? by adding buffers to the water? some type of bicarb? do you have to treat all new water that comes into the tank?

also what about the total dissolved solids? do i need a meter? wouldn't increasing my pH increase my dissolved solids?

This is why I always say stable parameters is more important than perfect parameters. Before you even start you're already trying to change parameters in a small tank. PH 6.4 isn't perfect for Neos but trust me they will breed if it's stable. I have a tank with Akadama substrate (PH=<6.5) with CRS in it and I like to put a few Neos in the same tank just so it doesn't look too lonely sometimes (CRS can get quiet, Neos always seems to be finding something to eat), and those female neos are 90% either saddled or berried, seldom in between.

Another thing is if you have never kept any shrimp, don't start with CRS even if your water seems to be good for them. Start with Neos to gain some experience. They are all very adorable. Don't hate me for talking you out of starting your shrimp experience with CRS now, you may thank me later.

About the question about ottos. No, I never keep any fish with shrimp. Call me paranoid but I don't want the shrimplets be any fish's meal. I don't believe any fish will let a shrimplet go if it's seen. Yes, most people think ottos are shrimp safe, but unless losing some shrimplet is acceptable (not to me, no matter what shrimp), I wouldn't try it.

[Rockhoe14er]

Originally Posted by randyl

This is why I always say stable parameters is more important than perfect parameters. Before you even start you're already trying to change parameters in a small tank. PH 6.4 isn't perfect for Neos but trust me they will breed if it's stable. I have a tank with Akadama substrate (PH=<6.5) with CRS in it and I like to put a few Neos in the same tank just so it doesn't look too lonely sometimes (CRS can get quiet, Neos always seems to be finding something to eat), and those female neos are 90% either saddled or berried, seldom in between.

Another thing is if you have never kept any shrimp, don't start with CRS even if your water seems to be good for them. Start with Neos to gain some experience. They are all very adorable. Don't hate me for talking you out of starting your shrimp experience with CRS now, you may thank me later.

About the question about ottos. No, I never keep any fish with shrimp. Call me paranoid but I don't want the shrimplets be any fish's meal. I don't believe any fish will let a shrimplet go if it's seen. Yes, most people think ottos are shrimp safe, but unless losing some shrimplet is acceptable (not to me, no matter what shrimp), I wouldn't try it.

Just curious why you say not to start with cardinia?

[randyl]

Originally Posted by Rockhoe14er

Just curious why you say not to start with cardinia?

If you have a good understanding of water management and done enough research on water parameters of different shrimps, then you can start with any shrimp. Go for blue bolt if you so desire. Judging by your initial post I assumed you haven't had much experience with shrimp so I suggested to start with Neos (you wanted to get orange pumpkin anyways). Another reason is Fluval Edge is not very big, Caridina's don't breed as well in smaller tanks (of course, there are tons of exceptions), and I AM SURE Neo's will breed like rabbits in a tank of that size given the right condition.

Neo's are cheaper, easier to keep and breed, they are definitely a good starter shrimp. By starting with them you get to observe shrimp saddling, berrying, releasing shrimplets, learn to care shrimplets and see them grow. Caridina's are NOT as fragile as most people think (unless you start with something that's $30 each or more), however, getting them to breed in a small tank isn't easy. So, it's really your choice, you'll gain experience either way, but by starting with Neo's the satisfying first experience is almost a sure thing.

My first batch of shrimp was 5 x SS grade CRS in a Fluval Spec (smaller than yours). One female got berried the second day I got them, and died about a week or two later. I wasn't a newbie, I did commercial killie/discuss breeding 20 years ago and have a Bachelor degree in Aquaculture. I got much more satisfaction with my first batch of Neo's though, they started breeding less than 2 weeks after they were introduced in my tanks, and they never stop ;-)

Even with Neo's, keep your parameters STABLE and don't make them PERFECT.

PS: I know it's a long post I just made, just trying to help someone like me a while back. Hope I didn't mislead you in any way as that's not my intention.