New fish bowl project for shrimp (maybe betta)

How long does it take aqua huna to ship them?

They're the ones who shipped the rasboras, so not long at all. few days I think. Based off my posts here, the rasboras came in about 2-3 days.

 

you can probably order the shrimp in a few days then. Which ones did you decide on, if you've decided yet?

 

you can probably order the shrimp in a few days then. Which ones did you decide on, if you've decided yet?

Debating still between the Blue Rili and getting a multicolored pack. I read reviews on the multicolored pack and people mentioned they've got over 100 now still multicolored and no brown ones and while there's still a chance of that happening, they might look nicer in the bowl than just the blue rili shrimp which are blue and clear in the center.

 

Yeah, I think that you should go with the multi coloured pack, since there's more to look at. But that's totally your decision.

 

Agree with PlantedCommunityTank132 , multi color pack is more amazing than the Blue Rili

 

welp, did the water test today and 0.25 ammonia (my tap has this so probably a false reading), 0 nitrite, 5-10 nitrate. so I guess I'm ordering a multi-pack of shrimp

 

welp, did the water test today and 0.25 ammonia (my tap has this so probably a false reading), 0 nitrite, 5-10 nitrate. so I guess I'm ordering a multi-pack of shrimp

Sounds exciting

 

Added some more dwarf hair grass to fill out the front more. I am seeing some yellowing on the hydrocotyle so I added liquid fertilizer yesterday. I’m also seeing melting and some yellowing on the crypts but I’m seeing new growth on them too so I don’t think they’re lost just yet. New leaves on the anubias too. Moss had some brown when I got it so I’m just keeping an eye on it. It’s doing better than the Java moss anyway. Just waiting for the shrimp that haven’t shipped yet. And plucking out baby bladder snails bit by bit. I’ve got some ramshorns in my betta tank that I might consider moving over.

they’re hitchhikers that I just kept because why not? I like them better than bladder snails and his tank gets diatom algae a lot. I think the light is too powerful despite being one that came with the tank. but the betta doesn’t mind and I don’t either.

 

The bowl looks so cool. Did you paint the back black? I like rams horn snails more as well. They just look so much better.

 

The bowl looks so cool. Did you paint the back black? I like rams horn snails more as well. They just look so much better.

I have not painted it, though still debating. I don't think the shrimp will mind either way (painted or not) so I may just leave it as it is. I am wondering about other things though.

My betta (as I've mentioned) is having eye issues and I'm wondering if I should get a larger second bowl to put him in instead of the 5-gallon tank he's in now. He's doing okay where he's at but he's having issues seeing food and is resting a lot more than he used to. Given the lump he has as well though, he might just be on his way out but I'll wait on that, I think. If I see he's getting really bad I might tear this bowl down and set it up simpler to put him in it instead so he's not having issues with corners and things.

For now, though, it'll be a shrimp house. I'm sure they'll enjoy it. I'm seeing fuzzy algae on the wood so they've got stuff to eat all over. Just need to keep an eye on the plants now.

 

Wait. So, do you have two bowls or is your betta in this bowl?

 

Besides betta, do you have other aquatic pets in your 5-gallon tank? If your tank's ammonia under a concentration of 0.01-0.02ppm, that's safe for your betta. If not, a second bowl is a good choice for it.
And you can set the lighting time to boost your dwarf hair grass's new leaves, take more info from the article about lighting for plants growth.
By the way, keep the bowl as it is without paint, it's a cool ecosystem now.

 

I agree it looks cool without the paint, very natural.

 

Wait. So, do you have two bowls or is your betta in this bowl?

I have one bowl. The betta has his own 5-gallon square tank. I’ll post pics of his below.

Besides betta, do you have other aquatic pets in your 5-gallon tank? If your tank's ammonia under a concentration of 0.01-0.02ppm, that's safe for your betta. If not, a second bowl is a good choice for it.
And you can set the lighting time to boost your dwarf hair grass's new leaves, take more info from the article about lighting for plants growth.
By the way, keep the bowl as it is without paint, it's a cool ecosystem now.

The betta is by himself in a square tank with some ramshorns that hitchhiked on some plants. My tanks all have 0.25ppm ammonia that is a false reading because of my tap’s 0.25 ammonia. The light for the bowl come on at 10am and are turned off at about 5pm but it’s in my room which has its lights on until about 10:30pm. And I probably won’t paint it given there will just be shrimp in it for now.

I’m just going to keep an eye on my betta for the moment. He hangs out in the back of his tank a lot resting on the rocks and plants. He does come out and flares but is just having a harder time seeing his food lately. Here’s his tank right now. It’s been redone as it used to have a side filter compartment but I have having issues with getting into it so I took it out, got a mini HOB filter MD Fishtanks used and gave the betta more room. Second pic his is tank before and you might be able to see the tumor he has too.

 

Just found this thread and just got caught up. I may have missed it but what kind of light are you using?

I have a 3 gallon acrylic bowl that's sitting empty and now . . . .

 

Oh, that makes sense now. He looks so cool even though he has the tumor. I don't know how you can aquascape such cool tanks.

 

Just found this thread and just got caught up. I may have missed it but what kind of light are you using?

I have a 3 gallon acrylic bowl that's sitting empty and now . . . .

It's just a light I got off amazon that plugs into a USB port. Both it and my sponge filter are connected to my computer (though I should find a way to keep the sponge running at night but haven't yet).
Led Aquarium Light - Innovate Flexible LED lamp Freshwater Aquarium - Fish Tank Light - Pico&Nano Soft Plus

Oh, that makes sense now. He looks so cool even though he has the tumor. I don't know how you can aquascape such cool tanks.

Thanks! The tumor wasn't even there when I got him then steadily got bigger and not its.... deflated? Idk, but it doesn't bug him. Can't really do anything about it. I've got more concerns with his eyesight because of his scales covering it. I figure if I start seeing bigger issues I'll get him a bowl and do a simple scape in it so he's not bumping into corners or getting stuck anywhere. He's happy where he is right now though.

And his tank is honestly a mess to me, lol. I just sort of threw everything in when I rescaped it using MD Fishtank's substrate layering idea. Much like MD though, I get easily bored and need a new project and end up redoing tanks every few months or so. Like I found a nice wood piece at my store that would work great in the tall 15 gallon I have (which is currently scaped with one large wood piece and a bunch of smaller loose pieces) and I want to switch the wood out in there and maybe escape the long 29 gallon. Not doing it anytime soon with my trips coming up but got the wood anyway so someone else wouldn't take it and have a whole bag of seiryu stone I want to use too.

 

Sounds cool. I kinda like redoing tanks as well, but since I don't have a job yet, I'm not sure if my wallet would appreciate me redoing tanks all the time.

 

Sounds cool. I kinda like redoing tanks as well, but since I don't have a job yet, I'm not sure if my wallet would appreciate me redoing tanks all the time.

oh trust me, my wallet does not approve, but I enjoy it. the biggest cost is the hardscape and the plants given a bag of stone is about $30 and so is one large spiderwood or one large mopani piece from Petmsart/Petco. Shipping stuff is even more expensive because shipping heavy items is costly. Idk how costly things are in Canada but I find I spend the most on plants, I think.

 

I usually buy my stuff from my LFS. But that sadly means that I don't have the best selection.

 

It's just a light I got off amazon that plugs into a USB port. Both it and my sponge filter are connected to my computer (though I should find a way to keep the sponge running at night but haven't yet).
Led Aquarium Light - Innovate Flexible LED lamp Freshwater Aquarium - Fish Tank Light - Pico&Nano Soft Plus

This may do the trick. It's got enough power to actually have multiple USBs plugged in at once. A lot have extra ports but will only power/charge 1 thing at a time:
Amazon.com

 

Shrimp have arrived just in time! There was some miscommunication with the post office (thought I had to pick them up because of an email but didn't) and while I ordered 10 shrimp, I only got 8 and one dead one. The dead one was half eaten as well, soooo.... but 8 is fine and I've already contacted the company for refunds of those two. Now acclimating them and plopping them in!

I also did a water change and quick cleaning of the bowl today. Levels were fine but those pesky bladder snails have been making a mess so I cleaned that up and removed the dead leaves on the crypts (just melt! they're gaining new leaves and growing okay). The s. repens are growing as well and I threw some extra dwarf water lettuce from my betta tank in to see how they fair since there may have been an excess of nutrients but we'll see. If they start dying (or the other plants do) I'll throw them in a different tank.

I'm house-sitting this week though, so the shrimp came just before I leave. They'll have plenty to eat given the tank has just been sitting in wait. So, it's just a matter of getting them in and seeing how things go! Hopefully better than last time with just shrimp in here (and the few cheeky bladder snails still lingering).

 

They look so cool. Is your sister looking after your tanks while you’re gone?

 

They look so cool. Is your sister looking after your tanks while you’re gone?

Yes. She won't really mess with this one (they should be fine) other than seeing if the dwarf water lettuce needs to be moved to another tank. All other tanks she's going to top up with dechlorinated water on Friday or Saturday next week and add liquid fertilizer. She'll be feeding the fish (which she's done before) but mostly taking care of my dog. Told her to text me or message me online if anything changes or fish start acting weird/dying. Should be fine though. I did water changes on the dirtier tanks today and topped up the others. Shrimp in the bowl are cleaning away so should be fine.

 

Doesn't sound like its too much of a challenge. Last year my family and I went to Germany to visit our relatives, and we had some house sitters while we were gone. I made a video explaining everything and how to clean the glass and filters, but when we came back, the tanks were super full with algae and some of the tanks had a huge snail infestation. Thats when I realized that the small things do change a lot. In this case, clean the glass a bit more, or not feeding my fish way too much.

 

So, mid house-sitting update. I’m not home until Sunday so my sister is caring for all the tanks and this bowl. She informed me today that one of the shrimp has passed. He was upside down moving his legs a little and jerking a little. I had my sister remove him right away once he passed (which he did within 15 minutes of the video she sent me of the behavior) and do a water test. Surprisingly, ammonia and nitrite were 0. Nothing is wrong with the tank. I thought maybe they ran out of stuff to eat and sis put 1/4 of an algae wafer in for them that she will remove if it’s uneaten. No water change was done because the levels were fine. I suspect just a bad shrimp though I can’t be sure, especially since there’s nothing going wrong with the tank. Plants are thriving and the other shrimp are fine and molting.

 

Maybe the shrimp was dying of old age. I’m not sure if that could be the case tho, since you bought it from a store

 

Maybe the shrimp was dying of old age. I’m not sure if that could be the case tho, since you bought it from a store

They're very small too, even the females, so I think they're young, not older. I'm assuming either a molting issue or the shrimp just wasn't healthy.

 

They're very small too, even the females, so I think they're young, not older. I'm assuming either a molting issue or the shrimp just wasn't healthy.

I guess that's what happened

 

So, mid house-sitting update. I’m not home until Sunday so my sister is caring for all the tanks and this bowl. She informed me today that one of the shrimp has passed. He was upside down moving his legs a little and jerking a little. I had my sister remove him right away once he passed (which he did within 15 minutes of the video she sent me of the behavior) and do a water test. Surprisingly, ammonia and nitrite were 0. Nothing is wrong with the tank. I thought maybe they ran out of stuff to eat and sis put 1/4 of an algae wafer in for them that she will remove if it’s uneaten. No water change was done because the levels were fine. I suspect just a bad shrimp though I can’t be sure, especially since there’s nothing going wrong with the tank. Plants are thriving and the other shrimp are fine and molting.

I had almost 30 adult shrimp, and tons of fry a few months ago. Now I have 4 left. Water chemistry was fine, they had food. I did tons of 10% water changes, everything. Nothing worked.
I would say that shrimp keeping works for some people, and doesn’t for others.

 

I had almost 30 adult shrimp, and tons of fry a few months ago. Now I have 4 left. Water chemistry was fine, they had food. I did tons of 10% water changes, everything. Nothing worked.
I would say that shrimp keeping works for some people, and doesn’t for others.

I'm so sorry to hear that, but I don't think that you should give up just because these didnt work. Maybe they had something

 

So, I am back home and the bowl is going surprisingly well! The dwarf water lettuce I put in multiplied and the only plant death I had was the buce. Though this happened in all my tanks so I don’t know what’s going on there. I added some red cherry shrimp from my sister’s tank in the hopes that some more females would help add to numbers. The mostly white shrimp with a brown head spot is actually a second red rili shrimp. And I only lost a blue one.

I cleaned a bit on the bottom and all the shrimp came out so everyone else is good. The plants are growing and doing well too. No water change has been done though I might do a small partial one tomorrow since the water is a little tinted but seems things are going well.

 

The bowl looks so cool. I wish I had such Aquascaping skills.

 

Lost one of the red cherry I put in yesterday. He was acting odd yesterday evening (long after I did the partial water change) and was sitting on a plant not really doing anything for a long while. But was dead this morning. Parameters are still fine. 0 ammonia and nitrite, 5 nitrate. Everyone else is doing okay. The only strange thing I noticed was these white patches on the glass and the roots of the water lettuce. I posted in another area of this forum to try and see if anyone knew what it was. Mystery white clusters on plants and glass | Freshwater Algae Identification Forum | 520560

 

did you acclimate the shrimp properly?

 

did you acclimate the shrimp properly?

Water quality and temp are exactly the same between the two tanks. I did some drip acclimating anyway for 5-10 minutes and plopped them in. All the others are fine and the one that died yesterday was put in during the morning and was fine until the evening when he started acting weird. Then was dead this morning.

 

Water quality and temp are exactly the same between the two tanks. I did some drip acclimating anyway for 5-10 minutes and plopped them in. All the others are fine and the one that died yesterday was put in during the morning and was fine until the evening when he started acting weird. Then was dead this morning.

weird

 

Tank is going well! No water changes done, no shrimp dead, I’m catching any bladder snails I see and have added ramshorns instead. The anubias are growing very well and the ferns all have little baby ferns growing on the tips of their leaves. The crypts are doing alright and the dwarf hair grass got a short trim. The only troublesome thing I’m seeing is the s. repens. They’re lost all their lower leaves. Not sure what to do about this. I’ve got s. repens in my 10 gallon tank that have the same issue. They’re getting new leaves on top but have no lower leaves. Chucked a pic of the cute little ramshorns in there too~

 

So, I am back home and the bowl is going surprisingly well! The dwarf water lettuce I put in multiplied and the only plant death I had was the buce. Though this happened in all my tanks so I don’t know what’s going on there. I added some red cherry shrimp from my sister’s tank in the hopes that some more females would help add to numbers. The mostly white shrimp with a brown head spot is actually a second red rili shrimp. And I only lost a blue one.

I cleaned a bit on the bottom and all the shrimp came out so everyone else is good. The plants are growing and doing well too. No water change has been done though I might do a small partial one tomorrow since the water is a little tinted but seems things are going well.

WOW. That is AMAZING! Your plans sound exactly like mine for the new shrimp tank I want. You even have the same epiphyte plants I want.
This thread might help with the snails: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/resources/tips-on-removing-pest-snails.260/

 

This awesome. I'm happy that this bowl works out better than the other one