Cherry Shrimp?

[Knox213]

Ok guys.

Recently In the "LiveStock" Forums and "Wanted" Forums.

I've seen a few topics with people wanting "Cherry Shrimps"

I cant find them in my Local fish store. Or anywhere else.


If i do buy some. I plan on breeding them in my Betta Tank. ( when i get it )

and keep a few Apple Snails ( The kind Kennys Selling )

would this work?

or back fire utterly?

I Want some advice on Cherry shrimp aswel..

Like Male / Female Ratios

How to care for them

PH levels

the useal

 

[Rafael Dilone]

They are very high in demand in my LFS. They only bring shipments of them every few months in and usually all sell within 2-3 days and are rather expensive at 5 dollars each in my opinion. As for breeding them here is a bit of info on them breeding.

1. Tank size should be at least 10 gallons to support up to 100-150 shrimp (based on weekly 30% water changes).
2. Temp should be between 75-78F.
3. Moderate water hardness seems to work the best for robust breeding and coloration.
4. I highly recommend the addition of live plants to maintain good water quality.
5. Sponge filters are the best since they do not pose a danger to baby shrimp.
6. PH of 7.6 has worked well for me.
7. Keep up with water changes! Cherry shrimp are highly prone to nitrate poisoning and they need good water to maintain good health and molting. I do weekly 30% water changes. I use plain tap water (moderate hardness, PH 7.6) and I treat it with declorinator (Amquel).
8. I use full spectrum lighting...10 hours a day on a timer.
9. I DO NOT dose liquid iodine as the shrimp will get all they need from a proper diet.
10. I feed them HBH Vegetable Wafers and HBC Crab & Lobster Bites exclusively. Any invertebrate food will suffice as long as it does not contain any large amounts of copper (READ those labels!). I will occasionally drop in a piece of boiled vegetable (squash or spinach). I feed my shrimp once a day in small amounts.
11. I also recommend you maintain genetic diversity after a few generations of breeding. You can easily do this by introducing new cherry shrimp from other sources. This helps reduce the occurance of inbred deformities or weak shrimp. I have traded shrimp with other hobbist a few times

I have read that they sadly only have a lifespan of about 2 years. But if you breed them you will be left with more so that is great

 

[ghhghh]

I wrote an article about this in the invertabrates section
of the forum. They are the easiest fish I have ever bred.

 

[Knox213]

Im going to breedthem

and sell them on the forums.

But i need to find some in my LFS

 

[Mikaila31]

depends where you live. In my local aquarium club they go for a little less than a $1 each, if you get a couple dozen it gets cheaper. One LFS sells them for $8 , total rip off, I've sold to them and they only pay 75 cents for each shrimp.

I ship them in the summer. Usually I include 2 free with my plant auctions on ebay. I don't even list them in the auction. Just to give the buyer a surprise. Usually make sure they are male and female. I haven't had any issues sending them priority with all the plants and snails. If they start breeding like crazy again I will probably include them in the auction next summer. I'm really more keen on plants though. My tanks are as densely planted as I can get them. Out of everything in my tanks, I get the most money back from plants.

 

[Knox213]

Dont you make More Money off cherry shrimps more then Plants?

 

[Mikaila31]

nope plants go for more than shrimp especially locally. The twin cities has one of the largest aquarium groups around though. Lots of breeders of lots of fish and shrimp, lots of fish rooms and fish sheds run by members. Supply drops price. A number of members, especially the betta breeds, see them as good live foods . They do make good live foods though, easy to breed and quickly multiply.

You could probably make the same off of shrimp. My cherry shrimp breed, but not super fast as they are in with fish. I'm lazy though and plants are easier for me. I sold $60 worth of plants at the last auction. Spent $30 there mostly on new plants. IDK when I stopped keeping fish and started keeping plants . Half my fish are just there to take up space.

 

[aly_starh]

Bettas are known to eat Baby Cherry Shrimp, so if you want to 'breed' them as such its recommended they go into a Shrimp only tank.

Unless you have lots of plants in the betta tank, like 60-70%

 

[Knox213]

i know..

i have a breeding trap to put them in..


and they are party for my betta anyway..

Im not bothered if they all get eaten. I Just want to sell what i have left over

 

[ian]

they have loads in our Maidenhead at the moment, 6 for £10. I have bought 6 cos i lost my ghost shrimp the other day. If i get any Knox in the near future (1 female is preggers), i'll send you some.

 

[Knox213]

ahh Souns mate

how much would P&P Be etc?