So I want to build a ten gallon tank with cherry shrimp and Thai micro crabs. Let's begin this journey...
New shrimp and crab tank.
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OP
OP
This is where we start. This was actually my first tank. It's a 10. It's on a table by my work station. The idea back when was to just have a small desk tank as a distraction during work. This was before I knew anything about fish keeping. I was actually going put 4 goldfish in there. But then I learned what a bad idea that was. I eventually got a platy and a honey gourami. I didn't really know what I was doing. But then I learned along the way. The platy actually was a pretty terrible bully to the honey gourami. So when I got my 29 gallon, the honey immediately went in there where he lives to this day. I kept the platy in here. Eventually he started showing signs of stress. I realized that it was because he was alone. So I rehomed him to a nice family who had a large platy tank. Last I heard, he gets along really well with his new shoal.
I had an idea that I wanted a puffer tank. So I thought I should start a snail colony. I also had some hornwort I kept on hand in here. I never did make that puffer tank. I still maintained this one. I throw food in for the snails and do water changes. Now I want something nicer.
elephantnose3334
Fish Addict
How big will the tank be (length x width x height)? What hardscape are you planning to add into your tank?
OP
OP
I'm going to break this tank down completely. I don't really use hornwort anymore. I like anacharis better. It does the samethings as hornwort without all the shedding. I offered the snails to local groups as feeders but didn't get any takers. So the snails are going to go to snail heaven (or snail hell, it's not my place to say).
I was thinking that if I mixed the hornwort shed into the sand it might make for good fertilizer. Then I thought that I never did a dirted tank before so I want to try that.
First things first. You might have noticed a little bit of an incline in the water line on that tank. The floor is uneven there. I'm told the table once held a much larger tank, so I'm not worried about the table holding this up. First thing I'm going to do after breaking it down is putting a piece of plywood under the tank and then some shims to level it out.
I was thinking that if I mixed the hornwort shed into the sand it might make for good fertilizer. Then I thought that I never did a dirted tank before so I want to try that.
First things first. You might have noticed a little bit of an incline in the water line on that tank. The floor is uneven there. I'm told the table once held a much larger tank, so I'm not worried about the table holding this up. First thing I'm going to do after breaking it down is putting a piece of plywood under the tank and then some shims to level it out.
OP
OP
It's a standard ten gallon. Knowing that the shrimps and crabs like to have places to hide, I bought some slate rock to construct into a corner cave. I'm also going to add some driftwood caves. Maybe some pvc pipe fittings. We'll see.
As far as plants go, definitely java moss. I think I want guppy grass. I saw it in a display tank at a store and liked how it looked. Plus it will be functional. More shelter for the inhabitants and it's fast growing so that will help water quality. I have a spare crypt I can plant in here. I always wanted to try a banana plant so maybe one of those. Maybe some staurgyne repens as accenting plants. But if I can get it to carpet, that would be great too. Salvinia minima is my mvp, so I'll probably add that too. And some Indian almond leaves. For tannins and my amano shrimp love the bio film those develope.
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OP
OP
Crazy as this sound, the best growth I ever got from java moss was under the janky lights on the hood from a Tetra ten gallon starter kit. So I think I'm going to get another one of those. Filtration will just be a simple sponge filter. Low flow with will suit the shrimps and crabs. Plus more biofilm for them.
I have been lurking them for a while. And the only factor getting me back. Is how difficult they are to reproduce in captivity... It's known that unlike many crabs they don't need brackish water for the larvae to survive...
But nobody wrapped around what is needed for them to make it. lolll... And survival rate is so low, it's considered nil.
And I don't think I want to get in these kind of frustrations....
My studies brought them up as a good potential snail controllers, As a level higher on the opportunistic side. They will eat small eggs and all mini crustacean they can catch including cherry shrimps.
My possible supplies are doubtful, but they got me really interested.
But nobody wrapped around what is needed for them to make it. lolll... And survival rate is so low, it's considered nil.
And I don't think I want to get in these kind of frustrations....
My studies brought them up as a good potential snail controllers, As a level higher on the opportunistic side. They will eat small eggs and all mini crustacean they can catch including cherry shrimps.
My possible supplies are doubtful, but they got me really interested.
OP
OP
I'm a little concerned with getting a hold of them as well. But even if I don't get the crabs, I can still have the cherry shrimps.
OP
OP
I bought a piece of plywood the other day and cut it to size. I also got some shims for leveling it out. I spray painted it all yesterday with some black Plasti Dip.
I might head to a local Petco for some Fluval Stratum tonight or tomorrow.
I would have interest in the micro crabs as well... I wonder it they would crawl out of an open tank... my shrimp 10 gallons are all open top, with immersive plants... the shrimp seem to stay, and have been reproducing well, maybe I'll try a small colony in my blue shrimp tank, which has the most plant growth???
I've ordered from these guys many times... and they are out of stock right now, but have a pretty good write up on the micro crabs...
www.aqua-imports.com
after reading that, they seem to like softer water than the shrimp would???
Thai Micro Spider Crab (Limnopilos naiyanetri)
The Thai Micro Spider Crab (Limnopilos naiyanetri) is a small and highly specialized freshwater crustacean found throughout shallow waters and partially flooded rice fields in Central and Eastern Thailand. In the wild, it tends to inhabit warm, slightly acidic, slow-moving (or still) water...
www.aqua-imports.com
after reading that, they seem to like softer water than the shrimp would???
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