Amano Shrimp - Help Or Hinderance ?

[karlp]

What do people keeping Amanos think of them ?

I'm still not sure if they're a good thing. I've got 10 in a 52 gallon tank which now only suffers with a little bba that has to be cut out periodically, but the Amanos don't really touch this stuff. They seem pretty busy during the day, but have now got into the habbit of disappearing off with food intended for the plecs and catfish and every two weeks, my water turns frothy, which I think is because the shrimp have released a load of eggs/larvae.

I'm tempted to remove them from the main tank so I could have a few more fish or have the tank less loaded.

Opinions ?

 

[Themuleous]

I wouldnt remove them, in the past I wasn't really sure that they would work, but they are tried and tested and I have seen my own eat several types of algae. Granted they dont work on BBA but most others are taken.

I guess you could remove them. You'll soon see what a difference they were making.

BTW in a 50g tank you'd probably need more like 25-40 shrimp. Im never quite sure on the stocking density for these but I have 10 in my 20g.

I dont think there is much you can do about them taking the fish food, other than feeding less so the fish eat it all quickly preventing the shrimp getting to it. But think this is just one of those things with shrimp, they are scavangers after all.

Sam

 

[George Farmer]

I doubt 10 shrimp will do much in a 52G, both in terms of bio-load and algae eating. The only animal that tends to touch BBA are SAEs, and only when they are hungry enough.

My opinion - If you like the look of them then keep them if not then remove. You already know that the best algae control is plant growth through appriopiate lighting, CO2 and nutrients.

 

[nmonks]

Agreed. I'm a real convert to this. After setting up a busy tank with lots of fish, but only having to scrape algae from the glass four times in the last YEAR, and even then only a few spots, I'm completely sold on the whole plants beat algae thing. OK, my plants are stuff like Cabomba, lilies, and stuff that isn't all that special, and to be honest the tank doesn't look all the good, but there's no algae! I figure, just find some species that grows wild in your tank, and use that instead of "algae eaters".

Cheers,

Neale

My opinion - If you like the look of them then keep them if not then remove. You already know that the best algae control is plant growth through appriopiate lighting, CO2 and nutrients.