The Dwarf Cajuns [tank photo]

[chibikaie]

My shrimp? They REALLY like Hikari Shrimp Cuisine, but I should probably do more reading on crustacean nutrition before I decide on a staple food. (I'm currently rotating through my stock of goldfish foods, as most of them are herbivore-friendly.) Did you know that aquacultured penaeid shrimp (the ones raised for food) can develop molting issues if they are deficient in - can't remember exactly, I think it's phosphatidylcholine. But it's found in soy lecithin.

I did try to make gel food using spirulina powder, agar agar, squashed green peas (note to self: use baby food next time, pea shells do not squash well), smushed romaine lettuce, vitamin C, calcium carbonate, and red palm fruit oil (it's a really good supplement for vertebrates, high in vitamin A and I think E). It seems to have been quite the resounding failure. I'm thinking of trying straight spirulina powder next.

[acitydweller]

Originally Posted by SpecGrrl

Congrats!

It's like you have your very own WWE!

heh yea. They are not the prettiest little guys but they are very very interesting indeed. im trying to sort out their feeding first and foremost so maybe i'll have to goto petco or the Chinatown LFS during lunch time to pickup some sinking foods for them.

Originally Posted by chibikaie

My shrimp? They REALLY like Hikari Shrimp Cuisine, but I should probably do more reading on crustacean nutrition before I decide on a staple food. (I'm currently rotating through my stock of goldfish foods, as most of them are herbivore-friendly.) Did you know that aquacultured penaeid shrimp (the ones raised for food) can develop molting issues if they are deficient in - can't remember exactly, I think it's phosphatidylcholine. But it's found in soy lecithin.

I did try to make gel food using spirulina powder, agar agar, squashed green peas (note to self: use baby food next time, pea shells do not squash well), smushed romaine lettuce, vitamin C, calcium carbonate, and red palm fruit oil (it's a really good supplement for vertebrates, high in vitamin A and I think E). It seems to have been quite the resounding failure. I'm thinking of trying straight spirulina powder next.

If you use green peas, purée them first. Im asking jake (somewhatshocked) to see if he's got any protein enriched sinking foods on the menu.

There's soy lecithin in some of the flake foods so i'll have to try feeding that tonight.

Last night they've been doing the spiderman thing and hang upside down off the floaters. i began to wonder were they went until i looked up. They still amaze me

[chibikaie]

Er, well, the blender and I are not on speaking terms. Hence, baby food.

I seem to have read conflicting opinions on protein content, which is why I want to look into it more. Something about too much inducing molting too early. I should have paid better attention. Invertebrate physiology is kind of obscure.

[Bluek24a4]

Too much protein is not to be confused with no protein. Shrimp do need protein, but shouldn't be given an overwhelming amount of it. I look for foods that are in the 30% range and under when you look at their analysis.


Its not that it induces it too early, its that they get too big in their current shell before they're ready to shed it.

[Bananariot]

Watch out with these guys. Some are mean, I got a badazz pair that attacked shrimp. They got missing legs and stuff. Certainly nicer than CPO's to a point, but still will attack shrimp if they're mean enough.

[MABJ]

Them and CPOs will mix like salt and sugar. I also read they'll readily interbreed.

I know these guys are hardier at least.


From MABJ's iPhone
2G Fluval Spec ~ fauna and flora in the works!

[acitydweller]

woah, good to know. i was wondering if i could add some short finned fish like danios or something.

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

woah, good to know. i was wondering if i could add some short finned fish like danios or something.

Ooh that might work if they're quick, and you don't care too much if you lose a few. I'd pick something like least kilifish, because they should make up for losses. I'm not sure lol.


From MABJ's iPhone
2G Fluval Spec ~ fauna and flora in the works!

[Bananariot]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

woah, good to know. i was wondering if i could add some short finned fish like danios or something.

You probably want a fish that permanently lives in the upper tank. I had some CPD's and Micro rasbora that would go to the bottom during lights out.....then it became lights out for them lol

[acitydweller]

seems the St. Bonaventure crowd has experience with crays... my kinda crowd

thanks guys!

[MABJ]

Hahaha. A few of them are even catching them from the river behind our school.


From MABJ's iPhone
2G Fluval Spec ~ fauna and flora in the works!

[acitydweller]

there are dwarf crays there? cool

The only things i catch behind my house are mosquito bites

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

there are dwarf crays there? cool

The only things i catch behind my house are mosquito bites

I haven't seen them, but if they're anything like the ones in my area close by bonas, you find them small and release them as they grow lol


From MABJ's iPhone
2G Fluval Spec ~ fauna and flora in the works!

[philemon716]

Any update on these CPOs? I just reserved 3 from Gordon Rich (juvies I believe). Have they eaten any of your shrimps yet?

[SpecGrrl]

Originally Posted by philemon716

Any update on these CPOs? I just reserved 3 from Gordon Rich (juvies I believe). Have they eaten any of your shrimps yet?

Apparently if you keep them fed they don't pursue shrimp!