Which Algae Eating Shrimp

[Christi_22]

Hi

I have a 30 gallon tank, with 2 Gold Gourami's, 6 Ottos, 2 Pygmy Corys, 1 BN Pleco, 1 Odessa Barb, 3 Guppies, & 8 Cardinals.

The tank is planted, but not extensively, I will be adding more plants soon. Filtration is External Eheim 2324.

I would like to add some shrimp. (I have 3 Amano's in a separate tank with my Betta, and I think they are brilliant).

I would like to know if any one could recommend shrimp for the 30g. Ideally a good clean up crew. Should I stick with Amano's, or can anyone suggest any alternatives? and how many?

Many thanks
C

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I would stick with amanos, I don't think the other dwarf species would last long with some of those fish(and the amanos may get picked on as well).

Also, trumpet snails are great in a planted tank. They bring the waste under the substrate where the plant roots can get at it, and they also much on algae.

 

[kevinthecow]

Amano's are the largest, aren't they? (excluding bamboos.)
I second amanos!

 

[milkton]

amano's!

 

[Christi_22]

amano's!

Amano's it is then. I was also thinking of getting MTS's as my substrate is sand. Just need to find some lol

Thanks guys

 

[Ash18]

I was looking at this site the other day and they have cool clean up crew packages



http/www.aquaticlifedirect.co.uk/TankCleaners/Freshwater

 

[GSD]

I agree with the others, armanos are by far the best of the shrimp, and due to their larger size would stand more of a chance against those type of fish, as cherrys etc are alot smaller.

 

[Christi_22]

Thanks Guys,

I checked out the CUC packages (on above link). Quite pricey I thought (but most things are in fish keeping) lol Cheaper then buying individually though.

The deluxe pack contained 4 common pleco's, I think they would very soon out grow my 130L tank.

I do really love the Amano Shrimp. shame the Larvae cannot survive in fresh water. They keep my Betta tank free of Hair Algae (as I did have a problem at the finish of the cycle).

Are there any big algae eating shrimp that can breed in fresh water?

I suppose not, as no one has suggested one so far.

 

[Ash18]

Thanks Guys,

I checked out the CUC packages (on above link). Quite pricey I thought (but most things are in fish keeping) lol Cheaper then buying individually though.

The deluxe pack contained 4 common pleco's, I think they would very soon out grow my 130L tank.

I do really love the Amano Shrimp. shame the Larvae cannot survive in fresh water. They keep my Betta tank free of Hair Algae (as I did have a problem at the finish of the cycle).

Are there any big algae eating shrimp that can breed in fresh water?

I suppose not, as no one has suggested one so far.

Red cherry shrimp reproduce in fresh water well but as people have said they are quite small, mybe if you made more hiding places you could have some cherry shrimp

 

[Christi_22]

Thanks Guys,

I checked out the CUC packages (on above link). Quite pricey I thought (but most things are in fish keeping) lol Cheaper then buying individually though.

The deluxe pack contained 4 common pleco's, I think they would very soon out grow my 130L tank.

I do really love the Amano Shrimp. shame the Larvae cannot survive in fresh water. They keep my Betta tank free of Hair Algae (as I did have a problem at the finish of the cycle).

Are there any big algae eating shrimp that can breed in fresh water?

I suppose not, as no one has suggested one so far.

Red cherry shrimp reproduce in fresh water well but as people have said they are quite small, mybe if you made more hiding places you could have some cherry shrimp

Maybe...... I will look into that, wouldn't want them to be picked off by my Gourami's Thanks Ash

 

[Ash18]

no problem. and at the rate they breed it wont matter if a few get munched hehe

 

[saltynay]

The shrimplets will definately get eaten and more then likely the red cherries will be afraid and hide in the caves the majority of the time unless you have a particularly large colony so that they are very confident also think you would need a small and complex cave system with plenty of plant cover. If its a dwarf gourami they should be fine unless the shrimp are molting but with the small complex caves that should save them.

 

[Christi_22]

Hi

Well, I do plan on adding more and more plants, and would definitely like to make sure that the Shrimp feel safe with plenty of hiding places. My Gourami's are Golds and Honey Sunset, and I do have Odessa Barb also. so complex mini cave systems are go!! (any ideas how to achieve that) All my other caves are utilised by Hector the BN Pleco lol

 

[saltynay]

For the caves I would use assorted flower pots going down to really small you can cut them with pretty much any saw I use a tenon saw to start the cut then a straightback woodsaw to finish the cut off do it slow and steady so it doesn't chip. #Build a pyramid out of the pots overlapping and stacking them and then put the largest flower pot over the top attach with some silicone or aquarium putty or super glue and secure every so often with fishing line . Cherries only need a hole large enough to put your thumb in and if it goes 3-4 inches depth the fish should never be able to reach them if they don't want them to. You could also use slate or driftwood or plastic tubes - anything thats aquarium safe, I wouldn't buy the premade cafes for shrimp personally think they are ugly and a rip off when you can build one yourself so easily.

 

[Christi_22]

For the caves I would use assorted flower pots going down to really small you can cut them with pretty much any saw I use a tenon saw to start the cut then a straightback woodsaw to finish the cut off do it slow and steady so it doesn't chip. #Build a pyramid out of the pots overlapping and stacking them and then put the largest flower pot over the top attach with some silicone or aquarium putty or super glue and secure every so often with fishing line . Cherries only need a hole large enough to put your thumb in and if it goes 3-4 inches depth the fish should never be able to reach them if they don't want them to. You could also use slate or driftwood or plastic tubes - anything thats aquarium safe, I wouldn't buy the premade cafes for shrimp personally think they are ugly and a rip off when you can build one yourself so easily.

Thanks Saltanay

Looks like I have a bit of DIY to do!!