How Can I Encourage My Cherry Shrimp To Breed

[Royster]

Ive had my tank going now for a few months, about 4-6 weeks ago I put in 5 more ( bring stock levels to only 8) cherry shrimp and everyone seems happy enough.

A few girls have large tails but I haven't seen any eggs in them.

My tank is a P@H 'my first tank' with the filter rammed with media to slow the flow and help bacteria, a heater set to 23*, sand substrate, a flow stones for hiding, moss, common straight vallis.

Water tests are
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20

They are feed blood worm once a week, fry food, algae wafers and they seem to be eating well.

I was thinking could the filter be too strong still and it's effecting the shrimpets or should I just wait longer ?

 

[Juggler75]

Only things I can think of to help:

1. Do a few 10% daily water changes with cooler water (Seems to stimulate mine to shed and emit the breeding hormorne - sends males wild). If you regularly change the water then try a larger water change.

2. Cover the intake of the filter with a pop soc or a cut up tight and secure with an elastic band. (its the only thing I've found that stops the shrimplets being sucked up also needed a thin piece of sponge inserted into the gap caused by the flow adjuster)

Hope this helps

PS have any of your shrimp got saddles? I have a few males with 'long tails' so use the saddle method to 100% id the sex.

 

[Royster]

Thanks for the reply, I'll start daily water changes and try the sock.

Forgive me but 'saddles'?

 

[Juggler75]

Saddle the area where unfertised eggs are stored before mating. Once fertilised they drop to under the belly. Link shows how the area resembles a saddle on a horse. http/www.google.co.uk/m/search?site=images&source=mog&hl=en&gl=uk&q=cherry%20shrimp%20saddle&sa=N

 

[Royster]

Yeah I've had that but I put it down to the beginning of the moulting process.

 

[Royster]

Oh my.... What an update..... Popped in to look at the tank today and noticed these white 1mm long 'things' floating around the glass on the sides and front, after looking closely I think I have babies....



I think I'm a daddy !

 

[greenjar]

Oh my.... What an update..... Popped in to look at the tank today and noticed these white 1mm long 'things' floating around the glass on the sides and front, after looking closely I think I have babies....

Sounds a little strange, I would'nt expect babies to be floating around. It's been a while since your opening post, so any updates? Were they babies?

 

[Royster]

sorry for my late reply.

i'm not 100% sure what the little things are "swimming" around on the glass, there is 100s of them swimming around which makes me think maybe they aren't shrimplets ?

but i will have babies.

here's the tank ( the brown film at the bottom isn't poor maintainance but i have done this to help feed everyone )

and here is the proud mother and her egg's ?
so how long is it before they hatch, before they are big enough to see as baby shrimp and is there a shrimp per egg or 100's ?

and here is the next mother !!

 

[mtbdean]

Shrimp fry are born and by the time you can see them, they will look like shrimp. Like the others said, cool water changes and some Almond Leaves. Now i have loads!

 

[greenjar]

One Shrimp per egg. around 2-3 weeks to hatch. I never see my newborns, Only when they are around 5-7mm do I really start seeing them out and about (I would estimate this is around 3 months old, but cant really be sure) One thing is for sure though - Soon you will have loads!!!