[Barrelz]

Now that I have your attention. Anyone keep Amano Shrimp with their Cherry Shrimp colonies? I ask because I added 4 Amanos to a tank I had 16 Red Cherry Shrimp in. I cant be sure but the Cherry Shrimp just don't seem as active and seem to be dwindling in numbers. I often count just 4 at most out and about.

Not saying the Amanos are killing them directly. But the greedy little ** do get to the food pretty pronto. But saying that, its a relatively heavily planted tank with loads of algae as I dont scrape the sides or back. So food really isnt an issue.

The females all were saddled a while ago, but stopped showing this a few weeks back. ABout the same time as I added Co2 to the tank? But I dont think thats the issue as I keep it down to 1 bubble per 3-4 seconds and the drop checker stays quite a dark green. The fish also show no ill signs of Co2 overdose. Being 3 platys and some Otos.

Are Cherry Shrimp ok with Co2?

My Tap water is on the hard side. With around 300ppm with a TDS metre. Everything seems to thrive, Plant + Fauna but I cant get the Cherry Shrimp to multiply. In fact the numbers seem to be declining. Every Cherry SHrimp I see is full size now, around 2 cms. Keep Temp at 24c.

There is a tonne of cover with Rosewood and plants. Sand substrate.

I don't think its the water params, because I am successfully keeping another Tank of Crystal Blue Cherry Shrimp alive.

At a loss really.

Maybe the Cherry Shrimp Strain is weak as I get them from a UK chain called MaidenHead Aquatics who import them. Where as the the Crystal Blues were from a UK breeder ( Cost a BOMB ).

 

[somewhatshocked]

What kind of fish do you keep with your shrimp? Even the smallest in the hobby will nip, pick, chase, harass shrimp - and eat babies. It's possible that's part of the issue.

Do you know your CO2 concentration? Bubbles per second is relative and isn't the same from tank-to-tank. Shrimp are just more sensitive than fish. Also possible that's part of the issue.

What are your other water parameters? kH? gH? ammonia/nitirite/nitrate?

 

[Barrelz]

What kind of fish do you keep with your shrimp? Even the smallest in the hobby will nip, pick, chase, harass shrimp - and eat babies. It's possible that's part of the issue.

Do you know your CO2 concentration? Bubbles per second is relative and isn't the same from tank-to-tank. Shrimp are just more sensitive than fish. Also possible that's part of the issue.

What are your other water parameters? kH? gH? ammonia/nitirite/nitrate?

No way of checking actual definitive CO2 levels. But like I said, the drop checker is a dark to mid green, and is only 10cms from top of tank ( with Co2 rising, actual Co2 levels should be less than my indicator) I used fresh indicator fluid to determine this too. I personally don't think its too much CO2. But willing to consider this.
Not checked full params in a while. But I know Ammonia and Nitrites should be zero. The tanks 3 years+ mature and I have been keeping fish for 20 years. I will take reading tomorrow and post none the less. But the Tap water hardness levels never caused me concern before. Treat water for Chloramine before adding.

I know Shrimp can be trickier than fish. Last couple of months was the only time I tried. In my opinion Tank is completely healthy, so I am thinking stress from tankmates ( yet I see literally no interaction and nothing to suggest this)?

Tanks a 55 Litre. So not big at all. Around 10 gallon I think. Pretty important info I missed out there. Sorry.

Oh and 3 female platys. and 4 Ottos. and 4 amono shrimp.

 

[somewhatshocked]

You can determine CO2 level by testing for the pH drop caused by the formation of carbonic acid when CO2 dissolves.

It's likely not too much CO2. But combined with other issues in a tank, it could potentially be problematic. Most of those would be oxygen-related and shrimp would be hovering near the top of your tank. Not a problem you have.

Definitely check your kH & gH when you have the chance just to be safe. But... based on where you are in the UK, and your TDS, you're probably in perfect Neo territory. Any idea what kind of parameters your source kept their shrimp in?

Platys can bother shrimp for sure. I've even seen Otos consume shrimplets. More likely that the Platys are causing them to hide than they're getting devoured. Especially when you consider that sometimes shrimp just hide 24/7. That's definitely the norm when they're carrying eggs. So there could be no issue at all. I've broken down tanks I thought housed 75-80 shrimp only to find 400-500. Pretty much every time I've broken down a tank, honestly.

 

[Zoidburg]

Could be a combo of tank mates, parameters, CO2 and maybe improper diet.

At minimum, I would recommend a fish-free tank and feeding more vegetable or algae based foods and less meat source/protein foods. If feeding an "algae pellet", double check ingredients, since many are actually "algae infused" rather than being algae based.

 

[Barrelz]

Not planning on keeping a shrimp only tank right now. Although that is something I will be doing at some point. SO, they will just have to put up with having Fish tank mates.
The platys will be moving out to another tank with a male to breed and instead will be replaced with a few guppies and endlers. Perhaps those smaller fish are slightly better.

Counted 5 Cherry shrimp today. One thing I have noticed is that I never seem to see a male anymore. Definitely had at least one before, but simply haven't been able to identify one for a few weeks now. I guess that could explain why no eggs? Will the females still produce saddles with no males available?

The water chemistry seems fine for the Amanos, as there is one female who has had a huge clutch of eggs under her belly now for a couple of weeks. Feel kind of bad for her that nothing will come of them to be honest. All that effort and commitment for nought. I would assume that if she is happy to breed and hold onto the clutch, then the Cherry Shrimp would be fine to breed to.

Will post water params later if I get the chance.

I'm starting to think that maybe I had a mass die off at some point and only have a few females left or something. Never saw any dead shrimp though. The ones I do see are full grown females.

Cheers for the help and advice guys.

On a side note. I noticed I have a stray Black Shrimp that came with an order of 10 Blue Dream shrimp. A bonus. Lol. I don't want him messing with the Blues strain, so was gonna put him in with the reds. Will it breed with the reds? If so, what colour to expect?

 

[Zoidburg]

Amanos can handle a much wider range of parameters than the cherries can... I mean, after all, their zoes require brackish to saltwater in order to grow and mature and the adults can live in freshwater to brackish water.

So you're basically comparing apples to oranges here.

Also.... the eggs are likely to hatch if they're fertilized. Free fish food.


Black + red could result in brown/clear/wild type shrimp, or something else. If you have no males and you want them to reproduce, that might help.