Whats This Shrimp?

Mystil · Oct 7, 2008

Hello Guys
Bought these shrimp as black diamond shrimp a while ago and took pictures but they were still settling in so did not have their usual colours.....

Theses are them now.....

The female (she has had eggs...they turn green eventually

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and the male? this one is alot smaller and has never had eggs.

Sorry cannot enhance them to get a better look at...i havent a clue how.

any ideas?

three-fingers · Oct 7, 2008

Best I can do is that they are shrimp in the genus Macrobrachium.

Were these in the same tank as your lonely rainbow shrimp when you get them?

As when I got my second batch of rainbow shrimp, there was a rogue Macrobrachium shrimp in there too, so I took him to see what it grows into. Though I know that may be a bit risky, considering how big and fish-hungry some members of that genus get, if mine gets too big/predatory for my shrimp tank I'm moving him into my main tank, if he causes damage there he's going back to my lfs. I just figured it's better I got him knowing the little risk rather than someone else ending up losing fish.

Mine looks the same as the one in your last pic. Could even be two different species but I dunno, maybe someone know more about identifying shrimp from this genus?

edit: Looks a lot like the peaceful Macrobrachium lanchesteri to me right now

.

Mystil · Oct 7, 2008

three-fingers said:
Were these in the same tank as your lonely rainbow shrimp when you get them?

As when I got my second batch of rainbow shrimp, there was a rogue Macrobrachium shrimp in there too, so I took him to see what it grows into.

Yeap these I bought at the same time as Mr lonely! very expensive they were too!
I did not realise that this species could be fish killers. The LPS did not say a word.

Once the female did get hold of one of my sick guppies (dieds of some knot known problem) and tried to eat it while it was still alive :sick:

and i had to "rescue it" however they have never gone for health fish yet that I have seen. My blue ram chases them sometime when they get in his line of vision.

If i found them going for my health fish then they would have to be rehomed.

three-fingers · Oct 7, 2008

If they turn out to be Macrobrachium lanchesteri we'll be safe

.

To tell the truth I was actually kinda hoping for something bigger, so that it would stand a chance in my main tank. I had a bamboo shrimp in there but it just got harassed. Bigger Macrobrachium tend to be able to stand up for themselves.

I got mine with my rainbow shrimp for 78p each :shifty: