Looking For Snail and Shrimp Recommendations

[PlasticGalaxy]

Looking for some cool snails and shrimp for my 170L and 54L tanks. Any ideas?

The 170L is a 3.6ft Juwel Panoramic tank with Argos play sand as a substrate, lots of pebbles, driftwood, plants and rocks. The plants in there are amazon sword, elodea densa and vallisneria, and I use an airstone, spray bar and Aquamanta EFX 400 external filter.

Stock is as follows:

12 c. aeneus (bronze + albino)
8 rummynose tetras
6 black neon tetras
3 pearl gourami (1 more planned)
3 neon tetras (~10 more planned)
3 kuhli loaches (5-6 more planned)
2 giant African fan shrimp
2 upside down catfish (2 more planned)
1 red-tail black shark
1 sailfin pleco (6" long currently)
+ Malaysian trumpet snails

The 54L is a 2ft Tetra starterline tank currently with 7 guppies (hoping to get 6 more soon). Has aquarium sand as substrate, decorated with a piece of tigerwood root and some medium sized rocks. Plants are elodea densa, java moss and amazon frogbit. Running with an Aquamanta EFX 200 external filter. Already has a few hitchhiking Malaysian trumpet snails.

Parameters for both tanks are 0.00ppm ammonia, 0.00ppm nitrite, 7.6pH. Unsure of nitrate parameters and water hardness but water is generally considered very hard in my area.

Was considering nerite and rabbit snails for both/either of the tanks, and possibly cherry shrimp for the 170L.
Also hoping to get some otocinclus in the autumn so I'm not planning on having shrimp in the 54L.

Fine with ramshorn snails, nerites and rabbit snails. Good with MTS as well, but I've already got lots of those lol.

Any recommendations, tips or suggestions would be helpful! I'm considering pretty much any and all shrimp since I really love them lol.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Are you looking into fancy shrimp? If so, my main concern is the Gouramis. Gourami’s have an acquired taste for shrimp, especially the fry.

If you plan to get more plants later on, I would wait until you do so. That way they have plenty of opportunities to hide!

You could always look into some bigger shrimp, such a Amano or ghost.

——

You should be able to get 1-5 nerites and rabbit snails for each tank.

Some members have indicated that their Nerites produce lots of waste, but I have no experienced this.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Are you looking into fancy shrimp? If so, my main concern is the Gouramis. Gourami’s have an acquired taste for shrimp, especially the fry.

Really any shrimp are fine. I'm looking through neocaridina species in my free time to see what I like, and so far I'm very interested in cherry shrimp. But yeah, I've read that gourami can get a little hungry and have a little nibble on smaller shrimp... That's why I'm a little concerned for my vampire shrimp breeding. Not that I have high expectations for that really.

If you plan to get more plants later on, I would wait until you do so. That way they have plenty of opportunities to hide!

Definitely. I'd like a sort of "carpet" of something. I might do java moss since it's got a very wild, bushy look that I like.

You could always look into some bigger shrimp, such a Amano or ghost.

I'd love to for their size, but I'm a little visually impaired so it'd be hard for me to spot them! If vampire shrimp weren't so expensive I would probably just have a whole colony of them. But alas, lol.

You should be able to get 1-5 nerites and rabbit snails for each tank.

Some members have indicated that their Nerites produce lots of waste, but I have no experienced this.

I was definitely looking for a larger number. They're surprisingly cheap and there's a lot of listings on eBay. Any thoughts on getting them from there?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Really any shrimp are fine. I'm looking through neocaridina species in my free time to see what I like, and so far I'm very interested in cherry shrimp. But yeah, I've read that gourami can get a little hungry and have a little nibble on smaller shrimp... That's why I'm a little concerned for my vampire shrimp breeding. Not that I have high expectations for that really.

If you plan on getting neocaridina shrimps(“fancy shrimp”), this will definitely help:

Definitely. I'd like a sort of "carpet" of something. I might do java moss since it's got a very wild, bushy look that I like.

A big clump of Java Moss will be suitable for now. Mine spent tons of time in the Java Moss, when I had the big clump in my 29g.

I'd love to for their size, but I'm a little visually impaired so it'd be hard for me to spot them! If vampire shrimp weren't so expensive I would probably just have a whole colony of them. But alas, lol.

Amano shrimp are definitely easier to see, but if you have trouble seeing, I would definitely go with cherry shrimp.

I was definitely looking for a larger number. They're surprisingly cheap and there's a lot of listings on eBay. Any thoughts on getting them from there?

I would go for it. Cheap and easy. Usually the seller adds a “+1” or “+2”, just in case a few die, so you are getting 1-2 for free!

I would never order fish off of eBay (just my personal preference), but I would have no trouble with ordering snails.

I would contact the seller ahead of time, and ask what the procedure of shipping is. (If he provides a tracking number, if he ships with a heating pack, etc.)

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

If you plan on getting neocaridina shrimps(“fancy shrimp”), this will definitely help:

Methinks there should be a link there?

A big clump of Java Moss will be suitable for now. Mine spent tons of time in the Java Moss, when I had the big clump in my 29g.

Wondering if I should get more java moss or move the clump from my 54L to the 170L. The trouble with moving the plants in the 170L is... The shrimp... ? Oh God they scare me! I love them but they scare me!!

Amano shrimp are definitely easier to see, but if you have trouble seeing, I would definitely go with cherry shrimp.

When I go to a shop with amano shrimp in next, I'll see what distance I can see them from and then make my choice!

I would go for it. Cheap and easy. Usually the seller adds a “+1” or “+2”, just in case a few die, so you are getting 1-2 for free!

I would never order fish off of eBay (just my personal preference), but I would have no trouble with ordering snails.

I would contact the seller ahead of time, and ask what the procedure of shipping is. (If he provides a tracking number, if he ships with a heating pack, etc.)

Will definitely do that. I wouldn't really order fish on eBay either, but since snails tend to be hardier I think I'm alright with those. We'll see based on my experience if I do get any.

 

[Essjay]

I've bought most of my nerites from eBay. Unlike fish, they do travel well in the post. They are usually posted in a rigid plastic tub with wet filter wool. If at all possible, get different species so they can't breed and lay eggs.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

I've bought most of my nerites from eBay. Unlike fish, they do travel well in the post. They are usually posted in a rigid plastic tub with wet filter wool. If at all possible, get different species so they can't breed and lay eggs.

Are nerites or rabbit snails marketable at all? Just wondering because I'm cheeky.

 

[Essjay]

If you mean can you sell their offspring, I don't know much about rabbit snails as I've never kept them, but nerites are just about impossible to breed so there won't be any offspring.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

If you mean can you sell their offspring, I don't know much about rabbit snails as I've never kept them, but nerites are just about impossible to breed so there won't be any offspring.

Alright, that's good with the nerites then. I'll see about rabbit snails. Thank you!

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Methinks there should be a link there?

No, I was quoting your other section, about the Java Moss. The Java Moss will provide cover for the adults and the fry.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

No, I was quoting your other section, about the Java Moss. The Java Moss will provide cover for the adults and the fry.

Aaah, I see I see! Yeah, The cherry shrimp I saw in my LFS were on some java moss I think. May have been Christmas moss, not sure - didn't get a good look at it.