Cute Little Things

Better is Betta · Nov 12, 2011

Hi everyone....just thought I'd share with you the little cute BE shrimps that I have and they share the tank with my betta females. I'm so proud of these little guys. They don't have a care in the world as they shuffle between my girls looking for food. When I first got them 3 months ago they were so colourless and small. Now they are growing very fast and their stripes are standing out :hyper:

they look just lovely. I thought the temperature would affect them sitting around 27-29c but it doesn't bother them at all. I can't wait for them to breed so I can put them in all my other tanks. :good:

Baccus · Nov 12, 2011

I am very fond of my BE shrimp as well, they aren't fased by the black neon tetras zooming past them, they couldn't care a less about the mob of strebia and they even happily cruise around near my female fighter. And even though they are quickly out growing my cherry shrimp they get along well with them. And eat...no food gets ignored or turned down. Truly a fascinating shrimp to have in a tank.

Better is Betta · Nov 12, 2011

Baccus said:
I am very fond of my BE shrimp as well, they aren't fased by the black neon tetras zooming past them, they couldn't care a less about the mob of strebia and they even happily cruise around near my female fighter. And even though they are quickly out growing my cherry shrimp they get along well with them. And eat...no food gets ignored or turned down. Truly a fascinating shrimp to have in a tank.

Thats great to hear Baccus mine are just the same. They stand their own and are not afraid of any size fish. I just love their attitude towards other tank mates, they are so easy going and sociable. I don't have to worry about uneaten food fowling up the tank, they move in straight away and clean everything up. Have yours shown any signs of berring......I so want these guys to breed.

Baccus · Nov 12, 2011

Not yet but I am suspicious about the fluro green dots I have seen under a couple of them when I shine a LED torch on them. Would be awesome to have the B.E's breed ! :hyper:

three-fingers · Nov 12, 2011

What are BE shrimps?

An Australian native?

Baccus · Nov 13, 2011

Yes B.E shrimp are a weird fresh water shrimp found in tropical Queensland, we don't know their true name (many Australian critters are still yet to be fully classified) and went with the name B.E shrimp in honour of the person who caught some and the person who prodded the first person into exploring with a net some of their local water ways. For all we know these shrimp may have a scientific name and possibly even a common name but I think for us these little guys will always be B.E shrimp

.

Better is Betta · Nov 13, 2011

Yes, hopefully there is a name for them but for now BE is what all of us are calling them. Since I have had mine I have discovered how hardy they are,(tolerate high temperatures) how well they interact with other tank mates, how well they clean up the left overs and how active they are. I checked the shrimps out just now in the dark with my led light torch and was amazed. Those little spots on the middle of their back and down near their tails do glow a fluro green.. :hyper:

. Why does this occur....who knows, just one of those little mysteries that is unique about them.

Baccus · Nov 13, 2011

Did their bodies also take on a bluish tinge up near their heads? Mine did, and if you look really closely with the LED torch on them the small amount of white near their eyes also throws off some greenish colour.

Fascintating little shrimp, and so aware of what is going on outside of the tank. I can be peering into the tank observing some of the other inhabitants and before I know it at least one of these guys has come over to hover infront of my face observing me :lol:

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Better is Betta · Nov 13, 2011

Baccus said:
Did their bodies also take on a bluish tinge up near their heads? Mine did, and if you look really closely with the LED torch on them the small amount of white near their eyes also throws off some greenish colour.

Fascintating little shrimp, and so aware of what is going on outside of the tank. I can be peering into the tank observing some of the other inhabitants and before I know it at least one of these guys has come over to hover infront of my face observing me .

Hahahah yes they are sticky beaks...not afraid of anything. They remind me of my cat, coming over to see what you are going to feed it. No I didn't see the bluish tinge near the head. I will check them again tonight and if they sit still long enough I may see what you have been observing. A couple of blood worms should bring them out and keep them still long enough so I can have a good look. I went and purchased a uv torch (which will take a while to get to me) that may help highlight that mysterious glow and what other little secrets they may be hiding. I just had a thought :hyper:

what if the females glow under the region where they carry their eggs and even their eggs glow for that matter......the mind boggles.

Baccus · Nov 14, 2011

It would be amazing :hyper:

if the eggs did glow but then knowing our luck the little freaks will only breed in brackish water. I am still inclined to think the glow is on the males and something to do with attracting the females. Unless these shrimp are like so many Aussie creatures (like Emus, Cassowaries, Scrub turkeys, Eclectus parrots and black button quail) where the males take care of the young while the girls get to have the good life.I still reckon these guys remind me of ET and when they are hovering infront of my face peering at me they remind me of those two aliens on Seasame St that would always be going "what? What? What?", man I hated those aliens as a kid but I am very fond of my little BE copy cats.