Can you cycle a tank with ghost shrimp?

[Raechal]

I just got my 120 gallon and filled it with sand 2 days ago. I added water a day ago and treated it and everything. I am going to get some larger semi-aggressive cichlids so I can't just take the easy way out and cycle with danios. I also don't want to do a fishless cycle using ammonia because everywhere I've been I haven't been able to find any. I was wondering if I bought like 50 ghost shrimp, would that be enough to cycle my tank?

 

[jflowers]

Although shrimps tend to produce little waste, they still produce enough for cycling purposes and you will have a ready supply of live food once your cichlids go in

Jon

 

[Raechal]

Although shrimps tend to produce little waste, they still produce enough for cycling purposes and you will have a ready supply of live food once your cichlids go in

Jon

Oooh yay! That is what I hoped for. I didn't know if they would produce too little waste or if they would be okay. How many would you recommend for a 120 gallon to cycle with? They are 10 for a dollar so they aren't expensive.

 

[jflowers]

The amount of waste they produce is in direct proportion to the amount they are fed, so keep them well fed on flake and catfish pellets and I don't see why you would need more than 30. Saying that, if you are getting 10 for a dollar, they are probably feeders and may die off so you may want to get a few more, or top up thier numbers every few days.

Jon

 

[Raechal]

The amount of waste they produce is in direct proportion to the amount they are fed, so keep them well fed on flake and catfish pellets and I don't see why you would need more than 30. Saying that, if you are getting 10 for a dollar, they are probably feeders and may die off so you may want to get a few more, or top up thier numbers every few days.

Jon

They are meant to be feeders but my little brother bought 5 of them and he has had them for about 3 months now. They seem healthy. I will buy 20-30 and see how that does and if they all die, I'll get them from somewhere else I suppose. Thanks a lot for the info!

 

[mandi]

I'd always been told that shrimp are quite sensitive to fluxuations in water chemicals, and should only be added to a cycled, well-established tank.

 

[jflowers]

I'd always been told that shrimp are quite sensitive to fluxuations in water chemicals, and should only be added to a cycled, well-established tank.

True, but these are sold as live food, I get 25 for £1.25 and they are thrown into different conditions (I put some in FW, some in Brackish) and they live till they are eaten. With ornamental shrimps, I take much more care

Jon