coffeebean

do they breed before they are full grown?

cg scoober

Yes cherry shrimp breed like crazy and can make your tank colorful

coffeebean

i am impatiently waiting!!

cg49me

I just noticed one of mine has eggs today. About a month or so ago, another one had babies, and all of those are now 0.5" long.

Not to mention one of my ghosties has been carrying for over a week now...

djbrist

Hi, one of my RCS has a green saddle developing, does this mean she has breed already, or are the eggs fertilized after they emerge? I kinda thought they were fertilized externally, but not even sure if I have a male?

Thanks, Dave

Dorantic

The saddle means that they are prepared to have eggs, and fertilization takes place while the eggs are in the saddle. Once the eggs are fertilized she holds the eggs until the baby shrimp are born.

The color of the saddle doesn't mean anything. I read somewhere that the green saddle is something that the wild shrimp have, so it wasn't necessarily bred out of the RCS'.

djbrist

TY Dorantic, I see her now with a clutch of eggs under her... I suppose it won't be long.

cg49me

Saddle means they're ready to have eggs? Holy ...

Three of my cherry shrimp now have eggs, and a TON of them have saddles...

Ricardo_NY1

RCS's reach sexual maturity before reaching their full grown size, so I'd say yes to the question. A larger female of course can carry more eggs.