New To The Hobby - Which Shrimp For Community Tank

[fishman3]

guys,

i really want some shrimp to put in my community tank (when its finished cycling yawn....) what kind, how many and how easy are they to keep.

i like the look of the crystal red shrimp but not sure these are for a newbie such as myself?

90 litre ar620 tank......btw

 

[saltynay]

What are the fish in the community? Crystal red shrimp are quite expensive and not very hardy due to all the inbreeding to make them look the way they do I would suggest you start off with something easier perhaps cherries or amano.

 

[fishman3]

What are the fish in the community? Crystal red shrimp are quite expensive and not very hardy due to all the inbreeding to make them look the way they do I would suggest you start off with something easier perhaps cherries or amano.

hahaha sorry not laughing at you laughing at the fact i still have no fish in there yet researching due to various mishaps in my fishless cycle attempts!!! getting there now though

the amano looks a little bland and i suppose i'm after something pretty? the cherries are an option though thanks.... are they easy to keep? what should i feed them?

 

[saltynay]

Amano's aren't bland once you get them but each to there own. Dwarf Shrimp seem fairly universal in there food requirements I currently have amano but will be adding some cherries in 5 days . I feed mine on shrimp wafers, Fish flakes that have fallen to the bottom and the occasional treat like a peeled cooked prawn, cucumber, cut up earthworm etc... They are omnivores so will eat both meat and veg so diet is fairly easy to keep varied.

 

[fishman3]

Amano's aren't bland once you get them but each to there own. Dwarf Shrimp seem fairly universal in there food requirements I currently have amano but will be adding some cherries in 5 days . I feed mine on shrimp wafers, Fish flakes that have fallen to the bottom and the occasional treat like a peeled cooked prawn, cucumber, cut up earthworm etc... They are omnivores so will eat both meat and veg so diet is fairly easy to keep varied.

cherries it is then! thanks saltynay you've been a real help!!!! now i'll go research them to death whilst my tank bubbles away haha

 

[saltynay]

Some starting points
http/www.ukshrimp.co.uk/
http/www.petshrimp.com/shrimpspecies.html

 

[TylerFerretLord]

There's a link to a guide to shrimp keeping in my sig.

 

[pippoodle]

I have found that as long as the tank is cycled and you have java moss and bogwood in the tank then most types of dwarf shrimp will thrive - depending on the fish you keep with them
Shrimp in a community tank need alot of cover so the shrimplets can survive without being munched by the fish

shrimps i keep in my community tanks - with no interference by me apart from feeding them is

cherry , crystal black , crystal red , various colours of tigers , green and amano

all apart from Amano shrimp can breed prolifically in freshwater tanks
amano shrimps need their larve to be transferred to salt water for them to survive to adulthood - you will see amanos with eggs but unfortunately the larve will all die off after a few days in the fresh water tank


with any of the shrimp i would start with a group of 10 - the more shrimp you have the more you will see them - they seem happier in larger groups and will come out and about more often

 

[natalie265]

I just added red cherries and amanos to my tank and i have to say that i'm enjoying the amanos far more than the cherries (although they ARE prettier). I think the amano's bigger size makes them more fun to watch (yesterday i watched one swim away with an algae wafer half his size). The cherries seem to stay hidden more and kind of just sit there, while the amanos are really active and interesting.

 

[fishman3]

I just added red cherries and amanos to my tank and i have to say that i'm enjoying the amanos far more than the cherries (although they ARE prettier). I think the amano's bigger size makes them more fun to watch (yesterday i watched one swim away with an algae wafer half his size). The cherries seem to stay hidden more and kind of just sit there, while the amanos are really active and interesting.

Thanks natalie this gives me something to think about now...... maybe an amano or two would be good after all!!!