What Do Shrimps Do?

[gowing238]

Hi there all,

I was at my local lfs on the weekend and i noticed a pot of shrimps in one of the tanks. I always thought they lived in saltwater! (DOH!). I was just wondering what they actually do if you put them in a community tank. Are they beneficiall in any way or do some people just like looking at them like i like looking at my fish?! Would they affect my bio load if i put one in my community tank?

All opinions will be greatfully recieved,

Cheers!

 

[dwarfgourami]

They are great fun to look at more personality than most my fish tbh.

They eat certain types of algae- notably that akward thread algae that most fish won't touch (but are less good at cleaning the glass).

They scavenge and help to keep the substrate clean (though obviously they do poo, so the mess doesn't disappear completely).

Their bioload is low.

They are happier in a group, so get 3 or 4 if you want to see them.

They are escape artists, so you do need a lid on the tank.

 

[gowing238]

They are great fun to look at more personality than most my fish tbh.

They eat certain types of algae- notably that akward thread algae that most fish won't touch (but are less good at cleaning the glass).

They scavenge and help to keep the substrate clean (though obviously they do poo, so the mess doesn't disappear completely).

Their bioload is low.

They are happier in a group, so get 3 or 4 if you want to see them.

They are escape artists, so you do need a lid on the tank.

Cheers for that, much appreciated. Next time im there i think i will pick a few up

 

[digdog]

the ones i buy are salt water but are called river shrimps for some reason. i buy them for my puffers to eat. are these the ones your looking at?

 

[Meds081603]

the ones i buy are salt water but are called river shrimps for some reason. i buy them for my puffers to eat. are these the ones your looking at?

This brings up a good point. There are just as many varities of shrimp as fish and each has their own requirments just like fish. I'd research them well before purchasing them. My guess is they would be ghost shrimp as just about any store has them.

 

[Straydum]

my guess is ghost shrimps too. i would like to have some in my tank but i cant due to reasons which includes my bichir

 

[dwarfgourami]

amanos are the ones seen around here

 

[treelo]

amanos are the ones seen around here

amanos = ghost shrimp


ive got 3 in one of my tanks and they are great to watch

 

[TylerFerretLord]

amanos are the ones seen around here

amanos = ghost shrimp


ive got 3 in one of my tanks and they are great to watch

Incorrect.

Ghost shrimp= Palaemonetes paludosus
Amano shrimp= Caridina multidentata (formerly C. japonica)

 

[gowing238]

There were two types of shrimp i saw. They where both in the same freshwater tank but different pots. one was ghost but the other where a red colour cant remember the name. Any ideas

 

[Rex740]

Cherry shrimp?

To Treelo: Amano shrimp are nothing like ghost shrimp.