Seeking More Interesting Critters...

[eschaton]

In my two tanks, I have many non-fish. I currently have dwarf african frogs, red cherry shrimp, amano shrimp, a mystery snail, numerous "pest snails" (ramshorn & malyasian trumpet), nerites, and a freshwater clam. I've had a singapore wood shrimp and ghost shrimp in the past, and I'll probably get some again sometime soon.

Anyway, I'm basically a critter-lover far more than I am a fish-lover. I'm trying to put off going salt and having a reef tank as long as possible, though I think it's inevitable eventually given my interests.

I've been trying to think if there's anything else I could pick up, but I'm stumped.

Crabs: No truly freshwater ones which won't tear the crap out of everything in my tanks
Crays: Will tear the crap out of my plants, eat everything they can catch
Snails: Most other options will munch on plants.
Shrimp: Some more options here of course, but substantially different options?
Other freshwater inverts: Mostly near-planktonic.
Amphibians: Almost every aquatic one is too large and/or too coldwater.

Anyway, I'm all ears if anyone has any suggestions.

 

[juwelfan]

How about a Pink Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)?

 

[Squid]

How about a Pink Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)?

Hehe.. either your joking, or i'm googling this wrong. Ist that a 400 lb 8 foot swimming thing...

Squid

 

[three-fingers]

How about a Pink Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)?

I'd second that . But the frogs may eat them...

Anyway, how big is your tank and whats your water like?

 

[eschaton]

Right now I have two 20 galons, though I'm upgrading the tanks to a 40 gallon tall and a 10 gallon nano currently

My water tends to have low PH due to CO2 injection (6 to 6.5).

 

[three-fingers]

In that case, i would recommend adult triops(only the ones big enough so the adf wont eat them) and giant African filter shrimp(only in the 40 gal when the tank is mature). Theres loads of other shrimp you could add too to give variety including bee shrimp, CRS and tiger shrimp. They are basically like the cherry shrimp but in different colours. The wont breed with the cherry shrimp but they will all breed with each other .

 

[dizzied]

Just a note, virtually all inverts do much better in alkaline water than acidic, since acidic water can burn away their exoskeletons.

Crabs: There are some freshwater crabs found in the trade, but they're rare and expensive.
Crays: Not sure, do dwarf crayfish eat plants?
Snails: Brigs can't eat plants and come in an assortment of colors. MTS don't eat plants either, and Red Ramshorn usually avoids plants if they're well-fed.
Shrimps: There's a lot of freshwater shrimps. You'll just have to keep an eye out to make sure they don't crossbreed.

 

[Gankutsuou]

Freshwater? go with camaroon or Vampire shrimp. I love them

 

[three-fingers]

Just a note, virtually all inverts do much better in alkaline water than acidic, since acidic water can burn away their exoskeletons.

Pretty much true, but it doesn't really make that much of a difference. If your water is acidic around 6.5, then most commonly available shrimp will do better in it, because nitrogenous waste has worse effects when the water is alkaline.
With most shrimp, keeping them in alkaline water is more difficult and makes no odds since they shed faster then the skeleton corrodes.
Although I'm not sure about other inverts, i know that snails shells do corrode in acidic water and this actually makes a difference because snails don't shed. It doesn't happen fast though, so you can just moniter the shells and if it gets bad, bring the pH up to neutral or re home them .

 

[dizzied]

Snails do take the most damage from acidic waters. Some shrimp are also more prone to diseases in acidic water, the same way black mollies are.

 

[eschaton]

My nerites and apple snail have a bit of shell erosion, but seem to be doing fine. The Mayalsian Trumpets seem to do fine, consididering they're growing and breeding.

Should I consider putting a chunk of Tufa rock in the water or something?

 

[dizzied]

If they're doing fine, you're okay.

 

[Galedav]

how bout you try some triops it would be fun!

 

[fatboy]

Crays: Not sure, do dwarf crayfish eat plants?

I was wondering about that too. If I remember correctly, the Mexican orange dwarf crayfish (cambarellus somethingorother) is known to be plant-safe, as well as fairly safe with other small creatures.

 

[eschaton]

Since this thread I picked up three "cajun dwarf crayfish." They're smaller than female Amanos, peaceful, and don't eat plants. Best of all they've been making babies out the whazoo.

A yery, very good pick on my part.