Cherry Shrimp

[malakye]

Can someone tell me what is going on with my cherry shrimp? I recently got them and on the whole they seem to be doing great, there colouring is coming through great, they are growing, they are active and eating well. Only a couple have developed wierd colouring. Someone told me they were saddled but then someone else told me they were diseased. Can someone tell me either way? They share a tank with some molly fry and 2 baby bristlenose plecs who are all doing great and water stats are spot on but the ph level did drop recently although that is now back up to 7.4. Sorry if I sound like a prat but I have never kept these before and would hate to have something go wrong with the little guys. I have only ever kept amano before but the cherrys are so little and delicate in comparrison.

One of the weird coloured ones.

Couple of the other residents.

 

[iSnail]

If you are referring to the yellowish triangular patch around the back, then that's the developing eggs, i.e. saddle. The saddle will get bigger as the shrimp grows and soon she will moult and mate. Once mated the eggs will be dropped down and attached to her swimmerets where they stay until hatching.

 

[drewry]

same as that iSnail said ,thats the saddle so no need to worry perfectly normal

 

[malakye]

Thanks for that, I was sure it was the saddle but when I was told they were diseased (by someone who is supposed to know it all about shrimp) I started to panic. I love my little shrimp and would hate for there to be anything wrong with them. I just wanted to check as I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[iSnail]

You should look forward to seeing your shrimps carrying eggs now

 

[malakye]

Cool, will look forward to that. I have seen my amano with eggs but they never come to nothing due to fresh water so some baby shrimplets would be great.