Shrimps, Do They Count?

[MHunt]

How do shrimps count towards the total stocking level of the tank. I know they will add some bio load, but do you count it the same as for fish, or do you count it separately. So for example with my current stocking level i could perhaps get 3 amano shrimp, or regardless of the number of fish i have i can put 6 shrimp in a 60 l tank?



I'm looking to get some for something different in the tank, but also something to tackle the hair algae i am currently encountering!

 

[dogfood]

I don't think there is a rule for shrimp. I made up my own rule 1" of shrimp = 1/2" of fish. I think shrimps eat and poop far less than fish per inch.

 

[noshybabs]

Thats not true at all, i had to recently move a shrimp into a tank on its own while i treated for Gill Flukes, and within 24 hours the botoon of the tank is FULL of shrimp scat! As far as i can tell they seem to be constantly pooping

 

[sussexgirl]

Thats not true at all, i had to recently move a shrimp into a tank on its own while i treated for Gill Flukes, and within 24 hours the botoon of the tank is FULL of shrimp scat! As far as i can tell they seem to be constantly pooping

I have 8 amano shrimp in my tank (did have 9 but one escaped and I found his pink little body on the carpet next to the tank). They do poop but it's not constantly. I would agree with what 'dogfood' said. I do take shrimp into account but do not count them in the same way as I would a fish. They have been fantastic for my hair algae but only since i increased their numbers, 2-3 were bearly making a difference. You need a good group to be effective, especially in a larger tank.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Would say that the poop that amano shrimp create is similar in quantity to that of what your average 1-2inch long fish would create (a White cloud mountain minnow i think would be similar to an amano shrimp bioload-wise).