Breeding Tank

[GrayScale]

Alright so I've finally got my display tank setup the way I want it and it's been running for a good 6 months now.

I'm currently trying to decide how I want to set up my breeding tank and what I have room for. Here are my options and was just looking at getting some advice on what some of you more experienced folks would do.

I'm looking to breed some celestial pearl danios as well as cherry shrimp. I'm very undecided on tank size and setup though. I was only going to get a 2.5 gallon for breeding the shrimp and just breeding the CPDs in my main tank since they will be the only fish in there minus a bristlenose pleco and a few cherry shrimp for display. But then I asked myself, what if the CPD fry don't survive? Then I would have no other space to relocate.

My next thought was to get a 5 gallon and breed both in the same tank. Not sure if the shrimp would eat the eggs if they find them in the moss I plan on planting in there. This is the size tank I was hoping to get due to space.

Lastly, it would be a tight fit but I can probably manage it. Getting a 10 gallon tank and using a divider right down the middle to have a 5 gallon section for the shrimp and a 5 gallon section for the CPD.

I feel like the last option would be the best option just to be on the safe side however I would prefer the 5 gallon option for space.

As far as lighting, filtration, substrate I was thinking of going pretty low tech. With basic hood and light fixture. A sponge filter so I don't suck up any baby shrimp or fish and I already have mature filter media from my main tank. If I end up doing the 10g with a divider I will probabyl do a sand substrate on the shrimp side and possibly a sand bottom layer with a layer of pebbles on top just in case I can't relocate the parents in time after the eggs are scattered. If it's just the 5gallon setup I will just use a black sand substrate. No matter what the tank size I will be planting java moss and possibly put my little java ferns in there with some pots or other decoration for hiding.

So with that being said I was just wanting some input on what tank size setup would you do from the options above? And would the 5gallon option be feasible or just a bad idea especially if I have like 50 shrimp in there.

 

[GrayScale]

Upon further thinking, since the CPDs hatch and mature faster than the RCS they may decide to pick on or eat the RCS as they develop even though CPDs aren't necesarily aggressive towards them. I do believe I will stick with the 10 gallon and use a divider to separate the 2 and scape them differently and see how things develop.
I may even experiment once I am comfortable with the process by removing the divider to see how they react with eachother during the mating and maturing process.


I will be using this thread as a log with pictures for the developmental process. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas it would be much appreciated since I'm fairly new at fishkeeping (about 6 months) and especially breeding.

 

[GrayScale]

Day 1:

breeding tank setup. Low tech with sponge filter, heater, 20 watt flourescent hood with glass canopy, 10 gallon tank, weighted moss mats, and 2 lava rock with moss and anubiasc attached. Will be installing check valves and a splitter to run airstone to add more water circulation.

unsure of other low light plants to put in no co2 additive.

Transferred filter media from main tank and added 25% water from main tank. Dosed with flourish. Set lights on a timer for a 9 hour cycle sine it's not fully planted. Will add more main tank water when adding shrimp possibly today.

Anyone have any plants to look out for that are low light? I was thinking some cabomba if I can find some.

 

[GrayScale]

Day 2:

Was able to go to the lfs and stocking is as follows:

red cherry shrimp x 10
bumblebee goby x 2
crypt wendtii x 1
lava rock with anubias and moss attached x2
moss mats x2

 

[GrayScale]

Day 3:

transferred 2 little java ferns from my main tank.

RCS seem happy as they have already gained a lot of color.

Gobys have staked there territories a spend there time happily on opposite ends of the tank. Still working on feeding them properly since they don't seem to move to food as I have read. Managed to get a little to the earlier.

 

[Gvilleguy]

If you get a chance, please post some pics of the critters in the tank. Looks like a good setup to me.

 

[GrayScale]

I'm workin on it haha. The darn gobys are tiny and the shrimp are still a little young. And of course the gobies are inactive until I try to take a picture and then they start movin all over the place.

Lucky for me there is a convention this weekend 20 minutes from my house so I am hoping to find some celestial pearl danios, more plants (taller plants like vallis more crypts and healthier moss).

I downed the hours for the lights again to 6 hours.

 

[GrayScale]

Kind of a bad pic but my phones all I got right now. Both gobys are there and a shrimp feeding off whatever is on the filter. I'll try to take more of the shrimp and where they hang out later.

I think the gobys are 1m and 1f because they don't fight like 2m would over territory. The shrimp are still young and maybe I'm just bad at sexing but I'm pretty sure of the 10 I bought, only 1 is a male(I hope). Otherwise I'm just treading water(pun intended).

 

[Gvilleguy]

Cool - thanks. I like the look of the gobys!

 

[GrayScale]

A few more pictures i said I would provide.

It's so tiny!

I watched him molt just before taking the picture of him eating the shed skin.

close up of the coloration. All of them are this red and some even have the stripe down it's back.

enjoy! Will hopefully be getting more plants and some cpds at the auction/convention this weekend.

 

[waterdrop]

enjoying the pics

 

[Gvilleguy]

I'm very impressed with the bio-footprint of those cherry shrimp. Eating their own shed skins...

 

[GrayScale]

Went to the catfish convention and ran into the lady from the lfs i go to and she was running registration. She informed me that she just recieced 20 cpd! Will be going to pick up 10 or so tomorrow. Picked up a small peice of driftwood and a little more moss at the convention so a minor rescape is in store for tomorrow after I soak it. Will be attaching the moss to the driftwood and also placing the java ferns on it as well in hopes for faster growth.

 

[GrayScale]

Went to the lfs yesterday and picked up 8 cpd.

Current stock in my display:
celestial pearl danio x 8
bn pleco x 1

plants:
2 bunches of hygro
1 anubias attached to my driftwood
2 weighted moss mats

Current stocking in breeding tank:
red cherry shrimp x 10
bumblebee goby x 2

plants:
crytocoryne wendtii x 1
lava rock with moss and anubias attached x 2
dwarf hairgrass bunch x 1
java fern x 2 (now attached to the driftwood)

I'm in the process of attaching more moss to the drftwood and a peice of slate via hairnets. CPD are still a bit young. Unsure of how mature they must be to start breeding. I will be using the moss mats for them to scatter the eggs on then transferring the mats to my breeding tank so the fry don't get eaten. I will try to take pictures of them bur they are still so tiny and lively that it's going to be tricky!

 

[GrayScale]

I think after a 9 days this pretty lady has some eggs.

she is a very dark red and she's been fanning a lot with her back legs to her abdoman. She hasn't been using her back legs for swimming lately and just been walking around on her front legs.

Here is an updated pic after the bog wood and attaching some moss and java fern.

CPDs seem to have paired off as well and it appears I have more males than females since there colors have come out. Female has been chasing the most colorful male(imo) so hopefully next water change will develop some action.