The Best £12 I Have Spent So Far...

[fishstick]

I saw in my lfs some "japonica algae-eating shrimps" and got 6 for £12. They settled into my 90g and got to work on the green hairy algae which was covering every plant with a 1/2" blanket of trapped food and poo. Overnight the tank was transformed, the plants fresh,clean and green. The shrimps are fascinating to watch; they have 4 hands which pick at the algae and they move up the leaves like a lawnmower. They are also a beautiful translucent green. Already they have run out of algae so I have provided a piece of courgette.. they love that too. I think now that 3 would have been enough as my algae production is not enough for 6.

 

[Qays]

wow! Sounds great! i want these! my lfs doesnt sell shrimp anymore, they kept escaping their tank

 

[millym]

hi
we've had amano shrimps for over 3 years in our main tank & we love them they are fascinating to watch. sadly we lost a couple recently ( i guess it must have been the end of their natural lifespan as they died from no apparent cause?old age) we've got a couple of small ones in our fry tank just waiting till theyre big enough to be moved in with the big boys.
shrimps as well as great at eating algae also love catfish & algae tablets(also peas, cucumber & romaine lettuce) if ive put some tabs in the tank for our corys/loaches you'll often see the shrimps grabbing a bit & swimming off with it clutched tightly to a quiet corner to enjoy!

 

[Qays]

hi
we've had amano shrimps for over 3 years in our main tank & we love them they are fascinating to watch. sadly we lost a couple recently ( i guess it must have been the end of their natural lifespan as they died from no apparent cause?old age) we've got a couple of small ones in our fry tank just waiting till theyre big enough to be moved in with the big boys.
shrimps as well as great at eating algae also love catfish & algae tablets(also peas, cucumber & romaine lettuce) if ive put some tabs in the tank for our corys/loaches you'll often see the shrimps grabbing a bit & swimming off with it clutched tightly to a quiet corner to enjoy!

Your making me jelous! They sound great.

 

[Bloo]

I saw in my lfs some "japonica algae-eating shrimps" and got 6 for £12. They settled into my 90g and got to work on the green hairy algae which was covering every plant with a 1/2" blanket of trapped food and poo. Overnight the tank was transformed, the plants fresh,clean and green. The shrimps are fascinating to watch; they have 4 hands which pick at the algae and they move up the leaves like a lawnmower. They are also a beautiful translucent green. Already they have run out of algae so I have provided a piece of courgette.. they love that too. I think now that 3 would have been enough as my algae production is not enough for 6.

I couldn't agree with you more. These guys are amazing and I've been singing lyrics about them in this thread.
Mine were £2.5 each and I have 9 of them. Best algae eaters by far that's for sure.

Unfortuntately they are only suited to certain non-predatory-shrimp-snacking type tanks - so not suitable or an option for everyone.

 

[Arfie]

Great little characters mine nick food too and they've cleared up the black hair algae I had. Their lifespan is roughly 3 years milly so yours were OK

My tip is get loads of them, they become more active when there's more of them, another tip is to provide loads of nooks and crannies for them to hide in, if you do they don't seem to feel the need to hide and you'll see them even more But beware they are masters of escaping, so get a tight fitting lid with no big holes in and be carefull when taking decor/plants out of the tank, thats how one of mine got away and down the plughole

At £2 each that's a bargain, I pay nearly double that

Arfie

 

[Bloo]

you'll often see the shrimps grabbing a bit & swimming off with it clutched tightly to a quiet corner to enjoy!

You're so right ! It's hillarious to see them "treasure" their little prize snack for hours. I mean there's only so much of an algae wafer a shrimp can eat, but boy do they hang onto it "just for a rainy day"

 

[Neal]

I'll make you more jealous, Amano shrimp are awesome, I think they are really fascinating to watch, and another great thing is they never stop scavenging! I so wish I bought 10 instead of 4 now. They seem to enjoy the coconut cave I made today, i'm watching one now eating off it.

Neal

 

[dgwebster]

I was looking at shrmp myself today and are still thinking of picking up a few as scavangers for the tank, but at the same time they creep me out a bi. that and I've got two 2"x1" holes in my lid, right at the edge of the glass back...

 

[CBTF]

Ghost shrimp never seem to live long.

Ive had my amano shrimp for 2 years or something now, he's great. He swims around the top during feeding time (freaks the fish out) and grabs big flakes and quickly retreats to eat his catch in peace. He gets excited quite often, running back and forth the tank.

Great little buggers.

 

[mitchie]

What types of algae do they eat? Ive currently got problems with bearded algae, hair algae, and greenspot algae. I know they can't eat the gsa, but what about the other two?

 

[dwarfgourami]

What types of algae do they eat? Ive currently got problems with bearded algae, hair algae, and greenspot algae. I know they can't eat the gsa, but what about the other two?

They've done a great job on my hair algae; transformed the tank in less than a week. And I love watching the way they run out and grab a big piece of food right in front of the platies. The platies are twice their size and dare not take it off them. One of my amanos is currently carrying roe; don't expect anything to come of it, as it seldom does, but nice to watch.

 

[Arfie]

Mitch, my first 4 didn't touch beard algae in fact it started growing after they were added, but when I added another 4, the new ones started eating it and the old ones have joined them

Mine pick algae pellets up and run off with them, I even saw one nick food from under the lips of my RTBS

I may well go and buy some more for my angel tank later today

DwarfGourami, the roe will not develop unfortunately as they need saltwater

Arfie

 

[ringham]

I think that these sound great. I have never had any befor (i don't have any now), but i'm not sure wether they would go in either of my tanks. My tank stats are in my profile, would they work?

 

[Bloo]

Nope Ringham I'm afraid not a remote chance. They'll become instant snacks