Shrimp Questions

[fish.com1]

Hi all,

I'm new to keeping shrimp.Just got a few questions.

In another post someone mentiones to cover up the slits in the filter to stop baby shrimp getting sucked into it with netting. How will this work? Won't the shrimp just be trapped in the netting?And are shrimp good at escaping? Because the lid on my tank has hand sized holes at two sides so you can remove it easily. Do they ever try to escape? How many cherry shrimp would be ok (including babies) in one tank?

 

[Truck]

i have 2 holes in the back of my tank. no escapees yet

 

[fish.com1]

Thanks thats good to know.

By the way the question above i meant how many cherry shrimp would be ok in a 9 gallon tank including space for babies.In addition to the above i habe a few more questions (so many!)

1. What happens to the exoskeleton once its been shed. Do you have to remove it? How often do they shed it?

2. How often should ido a water change in a 9 gallon tank? (thinking once a week like fish).

3.Do cherry shrimp mind plant food?

This question depends on the first in my post - How many cherry shrimp shrimp are ok in a 9 gallon... Depending on this answer how much food should i feed them a day?

also do you nedd to do anything if they breed?

And still the question in first post - about the filter slits.

 

[ollyhtafc]

Thanks thats good to know.

By the way the question above i meant how many cherry shrimp would be ok in a 9 gallon tank including space for babies.In addition to the above i habe a few more questions (so many!)

1. What happens to the exoskeleton once its been shed. Do you have to remove it? How often do they shed it?

2. How often should ido a water change in a 9 gallon tank? (thinking once a week like fish).

3.Do cherry shrimp mind plant food?

This question depends on the first in my post - How many cherry shrimp shrimp are ok in a 9 gallon... Depending on this answer how much food should i feed them a day?

also do you nedd to do anything if they breed?

And still the question in first post - about the filter slits.

In a 9 gallon you can have tons. However many you add they will breed and breed and breed anyway. But it's safe to start with about 10. Within a month you'll have 50.
I've never actually seen any of my cherry shrimp exoskeletons, only ghosts, so i couldn't answer.
If you change the water weekly about %20 you won't go wrong. They produce very little waste but better safe than sorry.
Cherry shrimp will die if exposed to copper! Some plant food contains it some doesn't.

They will breed...don't worry about that! hah.
In my old 10 gallon the baby shrimp used to live in the filter sponge (as i found out every time i cleaned it!). If you have plants the young will do fine hanging onto them i think.

 

[Mystil]

I have got the say that I am still waiting for my cherries to breed. I have ghosts that have taken months to decide if they like my tank enough to grace their young with it.

I think patience is the key.

 

[fish.com1]

What about the filter? If i just cover the slits with very fine netting should it be ok?

 

[TylerFerretLord]

They might still get stuck to it. If it's a HOB filter you can just stick a filter sponge right over the intake without any loss of flow and that will keep the shrimp from getting stuck. Just make sure to clean it out often.

 

[fish.com1]

Sorry whats a HOB filter? My filters an internal filter.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

HOB is an acronym for hang-on-back.

If you have an internal I would just put some pantyhose/stockings over the holes. Internals usually have bigger intakes than HOBs and thus the strength of the flow into the filter is spread out more. Hopefully they won't get stuck.

 

[pippoodle]

I have found that tetra- plantamin plant food is safe for shrimps i emailed tetra before i used it and they confirmed this
As for filters i used an elite stingray filter for my shrimp tank and the sahrimplets never got sucked up inside it they are perfect filters and come in 3 sizes really easy to use and you can get them off ebay for under £15 with postage (some sellers are cheaper)

good luck with your shrimpies

Sarah xxx