A question for the shrimp keepers 🦐 Neocaridina (blue) not as blue as before?

[CPDtank96]

Hey guys! Me again with more questions!

SO I have a VERY small colony of Neocaridina in my planted nano tank there are currently only 3 of them as I bought 5 and 2 were deformed!!! So they were not added to my tank they were returned to the pet shop which was very sad. ANYWAY there are two red and one blue in the tank atm.

i have read that they do much better in larger groups and I want what is best for them so how many would be good for a 38L? I don’t want them to be uncomfortable in too small a group but also want them to have enough food and space etc. They’re kept with CPSs and they’re not interested in them in the slightest which is great.

the shrimp are actually really brave they’re not afraid to get out in the open and they happily eat from the substrate and plants. I feed my CPSs cyclops and it’s refrigerated so I’m assuming the shrimps eat leftovers from that and anything they find on my wood and plants.

my question for you is - my two red shrimp are looking super coloured up reallt bright lovely red and I have seen a moult from one of them which I’m really happy about. However, the blue one seems to have lost some colour which I am concerned about..... aside from that it’s a very active shrimp eating plenty moving around and out and about seems happy enough. I’ve attached photos. Don’t know if I’m being a bit over analytical and worrying about nothing or if I have done something to cause this? Maybe it’s a lower grade than the others but any advice you have please send my way! Have also attached water tests from yesterday for you and some photos. My ph is between 7 and 8 and the water is hard where I am but if you need specific reading I can do a liquid test

also if you have any shrimp tips please please send them my way as would love to do the best for them

if you need any more info let me know and hopefully you can give me some answers or advice thank you so mucb

 

[PheonixKingZ]

How long has the blue shrimp been in the tank? What are you feeding them?

It's very possible it has bad genes due to being inbred. (That's not your fault though, because that most likely happened at the LFS/breeder)

 

[Ch4rlie]

Shrimps looking healthy as far as can see from your photos, colours are actually graded in some LFS and online stores. going from AAA+ down to A grade, obviously the higher the grade the more expensive said shrimps are.

Have seen specialist shrimps online going for sale for hundreds for EACH single shrimp

But your blue shrimp is looking fine, perhaps a slightly lower grade but pretty standard from most LFS, nothing too much to worry about.

Only thing I'll mention about having both red and blue Neocaridinas is that they will mix breed and you may end up with brownish shrimplets. Some people don't mind that but just letting you know that this could happen.

As for shrimp numbers, well they are not like certain fish species where they NEED large numbers but imho at least 6-8 makes for a more interesting tank as shrimps tend to hide a lot sometimes so that way having higher numbers means you'll nearly always see one or two going about their shrimp business.
But I don't think there is a minimum or a maximum number rule of thumb really. Shrimps will readily breed and are prolific in good tank and water conditions and tend to max out at some point due to tank size and/or amount of food available.

Only thing I did do from time to time having RCS is to add a couple of nice bright red coloured RCS from LFS to add to tank, maybe 2 - 4, to help keep them from crossbreeding and keeping their lovely red colourations as high as possible.

When I had shrimps, they like to feed on just about anything but mine particularly loved mulberry leaves and aramanth leaves.
Sticking in the tank a IAL or two helps as well.



The food that you feed the CPDs is fine for shrimps as they are small granules and shrimp will take a whole granule and run away with it to eat at their leisure hidden in their favourite spots away from the others, always funny watching them do this

The more live plants you have, the happier the shrimps will be, having a couple of plants like java moss and marimo moss balls are a couple of examples of what shrimps like and also like floating plants, funny to see them hanging upside down on roots of floating plants.

 

[hansgruber7]

I wouldn't worry about it. Looks healthy. Beautiful tank. I also have a CPD and shrimp tank though mine is 20G. I think you can safely add several more shrimp. The only think I would suggest is maybe buy some high quality shrimp pellets to feed them. It might help with the color. But that can just happen when they molt. No big deal.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I'm sure I recall reading somewhere that shrimp will lose their colour, over successive moults, in an attempt to blend in with a pale substrate.
I've had a red cherry moult and came out as dark as started, so if this was true, it'd take a while.

 

[CPDtank96]

How long has the blue shrimp been in the tank? What are you feeding them?

It's very possible it has bad genes due to being inbred. (That's not your fault though, because that most likely happened at the LFS/breeder)

Hey thanks for replying! I’ve had the shrimp for around 2 weeks now! I haven’t fed them yet I added an algae wafer and they were not bothered the greedy CPDs and snails had a go on it before it was removed. What would you suggest I feed them?

ah right that could be it ! I didn’t pay much for them at all they were really cheap and not graded at all.

I’ve attached a photo of them on the 06/10 and there was a moult I found on the 12/10

 

[CPDtank96]

Shrimps looking healthy as far as can see from your photos, colours are actually graded in some LFS and online stores. going from AAA+ down to A grade, obviously the higher the grade the more expensive said shrimps are.

Have seen specialist shrimps online going for sale for hundreds for EACH single shrimp

But your blue shrimp is looking fine, perhaps a slightly lower grade but pretty standard from most LFS, nothing too much to worry about.

Only thing I'll mention about having both red and blue Neocaridinas is that they will mix breed and you may end up with brownish shrimplets. Some people don't mind that but just letting you know that this could happen.

As for shrimp numbers, well they are not like certain fish species where they NEED large numbers but imho at least 6-8 makes for a more interesting tank as shrimps tend to hide a lot sometimes so that way having higher numbers means you'll nearly always see one or two going about their shrimp business.
But I don't think there is a minimum or a maximum number rule of thumb really. Shrimps will readily breed and are prolific in good tank and water conditions and tend to max out at some point due to tank size and/or amount of food available.

Only thing I did do from time to time having RCS is to add a couple of nice bright red coloured RCS from LFS to add to tank, maybe 2 - 4, to help keep them from crossbreeding and keeping their lovely red colourations as high as possible.

When I had shrimps, they like to feed on just about anything but mine particularly loved mulberry leaves and aramanth leaves.
Sticking in the tank a IAL or two helps as well.

View attachment 145521

The food that you feed the CPDs is fine for shrimps as they are small granules and shrimp will take a whole granule and run away with it to eat at their leisure hidden in their favourite spots away from the others, always funny watching them do this

The more live plants you have, the happier the shrimps will be, having a couple of plants like java moss and marimo moss balls are a couple of examples of what shrimps like and also like floating plants, funny to see them hanging upside down on roots of floating plants.

Thanks so much for your detailed reply!!!

wow those are some expensive shrimp!!!!!!!! Mine were much less than that totally ungraded just a batch of standard colourful shrimp

haha as if they become brown that’s hilarious! I’m totally cool with the brown shrimp that’s fine with me ! Thanks for the heads up though I would have been reallt confused

right okie dokie so could add a few more but it isn’t a necessary requirement for their well-being more so for me when I have my nose smushed against the glass hoping to see a shrimp

oh awesome I’ll invest in some mulberry leaves then if they’ll like those!! I’ll get them a cheeky moss ball as well why not! Plenty of plants for them but I love the plants i always need an excuse for more

I’m glad they’ll est the food I feed the fish that’s good news as was worried they would need more protein so I’m glad they can eat that bless them ! So hope I get to see one run off with some food that would make my day

 

[CPDtank96]

I'm sure I recall reading somewhere that shrimp will lose their colour, over successive moults, in an attempt to blend in with a pale substrate.
I've had a red cherry moult and came out as dark as started, so if this was true, it'd take a while.

Woah!!! No way!!!! My substrate is really light so you might’ve cracked it?! Obviously will take a while for it to happen but thanks for letting me know that that’s really interesting ! Nature is wild

 

[CPDtank96]

I wouldn't worry about it. Looks healthy. Beautiful tank. I also have a CPD and shrimp tank though mine is 20G. I think you can safely add several more shrimp. The only think I would suggest is maybe buy some high quality shrimp pellets to feed them. It might help with the color. But that can just happen when they molt. No big deal.

Thanks for the advice! I’ll invest in some food for them to add variety - are there any specific foods you would recommend ???

 

[Essjay]

I've recently bought some Dennerle Shrimp King food which my red cherries seem to enjoy, but at a recommended feeding rate of 5 mm of a stick per 20 shrimps, that might be a bit tricky with 3 The cpds would probably eat some though.

My shrimps are in a 25-ish litre tank with just a nerite snail for company and there are about 3 dozen big enough to count so you can have quite a few more in your tank. But if you have at least 1 male and 1 female in your three you should have babies before long which will boost your numbers. Just check the old water when you do a water change - there were 11 babies in my bucket last week.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Mine will go nuts for a Tetra Pleco Spirulina algae wafer and they certainly do appreciate the Dennerle shrimp pellets.
I got the 5 in 1 sample pack and, if I'm honest, each type appeared equally welcome so I went for the Complete.
If I had lots of little ones, I'd use more of the soy-based Snow drops, as these dissolve and create a wider cloud of food...and the fish aren't all that keen.

 

[CPDtank96]

I've recently bought some Dennerle Shrimp King food which my red cherries seem to enjoy, but at a recommended feeding rate of 5 mm of a stick per 20 shrimps, that might be a bit tricky with 3 The cpds would probably eat some though.

My shrimps are in a 25-ish litre tank with just a nerite snail for company and there are about 3 dozen big enough to count so you can have quite a few more in your tank. But if you have at least 1 male and 1 female in your three you should have babies before long which will boost your numbers. Just check the old water when you do a water change - there were 11 babies in my bucket last week.

Oh goodness yes might be a bit tricky with only 3 still worth a shot if I remove it and don’t leave it in there I guess??

oh thanks for the colony advice!!! Maybe ill
Leave it see if I get any babies and then if no joy might add a couple more perhaps then but I’m glad I can just do it at my leisure and they won’t be sad either way!

OMG NO WAY !!!! I’ll keep my eyes open for shrimplets in the bucket then don’t want to be throwing them out

 

[CPDtank96]

Mine will go nuts for a Tetra Pleco Spirulina algae wafer and they certainly do appreciate the Dennerle shrimp pellets.
I got the 5 in 1 sample pack and, if I'm honest, each type appeared equally welcome so I went for the Complete.
If I had lots of little ones, I'd use more of the soy-based Snow drops, as these dissolve and create a wider cloud of food...and the fish aren't all that keen.

Thanks for the recommendation I’ll definitely give it a go - a varied diet is good I assume for inverts???

 

[Ch4rlie]

a varied diet is good I assume for inverts???

Yep, this is true for just about any living being truth be told.

 

[hansgruber7]

I got some great shrimp pellets from Aquarium Co Op that my shrimp in all four tanks seem to love.