When Do Cherry Shrimp Reach Sexual Maturity?

[3l3ctric]

I just bought 5 yellow shrimp (I used cherry in the title because I think they are more common around here, but the answer should be the same) last night and they seem super happy in my tank. Everything is going well - they were active and filtering through the gravel looking for food within minutes of being added to the tank. This morning they are tagging along on adventures with my very large amano shrimp. I'm *hoping* that I got mixed sexes, but they are still very small.

I'm just wondering, on average, how big do they get (or how old, if they grow at varying rates) before they are able to have babies. I've been told that the babies are like grains of sand - how old do they have to be before you can really spot them?

None of my shrimp are obviously carrying any eggs yet - but I'm really excited Photos eventually!

 

[Andy_G]

the babies aren't that small (relatively), but they hide away for a while once they are hatched, so they're hard to spot. my largest cherries are just over an inch, i don't suppose they'll grow any larger. They can get pregnant a few months 3ish after birth as far as i can tell.

Andy

 

[3l3ctric]

the babies aren't that small (relatively), but they hide away for a while once they are hatched, so they're hard to spot. my largest cherries are just over an inch, i don't suppose they'll grow any larger. They can get pregnant a few months 3ish after birth as far as i can tell.

Andy

Okay, that's about what I thought. I didn't think the babies would be as small as grains of sand, but the guy who sold me the shrimp said that. He's said a few things that didn't quite sound right, but I know that he keeps them and breeds them well so I'm not really sure what accounts for the differences in things he says vs. what I've read.