Do Shrimp Need A Cycled Tank?

[MermaidMel]

I am collecting some baby shrimp and they can't go in the big tank and need a tank of their own for 2-3 months whilst they grow... how should I set it up?

 

[Esfa]

yep, they are really sensitive.

Clone a tank using the filter media from one of your other tanks? Or have you closed ll the ones with filters down already?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I agree with Esfa, shrimp do need a cycled tank, a lot of shrimp are actually very sensitive to water quality, like for example amano shrimp. You should clone the filter media from one of your established tanks into the filter of your shrimp tank to cycle it instantly .

 

[rdd1952]

They do require a cycled tank as mentioned but shrimp generally add very little to the bio-load so depending on how many have, there won't create very much ammonia or subsequent nitrite.

 

[MermaidMel]

They do require a cycled tank as mentioned but shrimp generally add very little to the bio-load so depending on how many have, there won't create very much ammonia or subsequent nitrite.

They are only babies about half a cm long so I can easily use media from an established tank, but what size tank will be ok for just them?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How many of them do you have?

 

[MermaidMel]

How many of them do you have?

I am collecting 10 but giving 5 to someone else, I need to post them, will they be ok or should I wait til they are older?
I figure giving them some established gravel and decorations plus some live plants?

 

[tetra king]

How many of them do you have?

I am collecting 10 but giving 5 to someone else, I need to post them, will they be ok or should I wait til they are older?
I figure giving them some established gravel and decorations plus some live plants?

you do need to do a cycle because shrimps are really fragle fish u need to be carefull.

thanks

tetra king

 

[rdd1952]

Ten shrimp at 1/2 CM each won't produce enough ammonia to matter much. I honestly don't know if you would even notice an ammonia reading in an uncycled tank. If you can use media from another tank though, that will eliminate that problem. As for shipping them, I don't know how well they will travel. You would definitely need to ship them overnight. Depending on the type shrimp they are, the shipping charges are going to be much more expensive than the shrimp themselves. You really have to ask yourself if it's worth the cost especially if they have access to buy them near where they live.

 

[MermaidMel]

they are cherry shrimp

 

[rdd1952]

If they are available in the other area, then shipping them would cost more than it's worth (probably $30 to $40 for overnight). The shrimp would have cost $5 to $8 each to make it worthwhile. And even at that, you run the risk of losing some in the shipping process.

 

[MermaidMel]

If they are available in the other area, then shipping them would cost more than it's worth (probably $30 to $40 for overnight). The shrimp would have cost $5 to $8 each to make it worthwhile. And even at that, you run the risk of losing some in the shipping process.

I'm in the UK, shrimp are £1 each - to ship is £4.75 plus heatpack

 

[rdd1952]

Is that overnight shipping? You definitely don't want to ship general mail as it may take a couple days to get there. Here in the states, you can't ship anything overnight for less that about $20 for across town or up to about $50 for across country and those numbers aren't counting heat/ice packs.

 

[Esfa]

Yup, thats 1st class nextday delivery.

 

[rdd1952]

That's extremely cheap then. Shipping fish here can easily cost over $50. The numbers I listed in my previous post were for a 1lb package which is only about a pint of water as it weights a little over 8lb per gallon.