One Gallon Shimp Breeder Stocking

Hello, all! I have a spare one gallon tank that I will be using for breeding RCS to give the fry as food to my betta. It's unfiltered but has plants and is being cycled using old aquarium water. What's the least amount possible I could buy that would allow them to begin setting up a stable colony? RCS at LFS is $3 per, so I'd like to keep the stocking cost down. I am aware they will lose their red coloring, which I am fine with. I've had RCS before, but all three were eaten by my betta when I tried to get them to share a tank. Also, any tips on distinguishing between males and females at the store? I'm pretty sure y'all are gonna give me a 2:1 M-F ratio.

 

Hello, all! I have a spare one gallon tank that I will be using for breeding RCS to give the fry as food to my betta. It's unfiltered but has plants and is being cycled using old aquarium water. What's the least amount possible I could buy that would allow them to begin setting up a stable colony? RCS at LFS is $3 per, so I'd like to keep the stocking cost down. I am aware they will lose their red coloring, which I am fine with. I've had RCS before, but all three were eaten by my betta when I tried to get them to share a tank. Also, any tips on distinguishing between males and females at the store? I'm pretty sure y'all are gonna give me a 2:1 M-F ratio.

I'd say 4 min, ideally look into getting 6. I cheated when I got my first 5, as I purchases berried females which lead to having enough shrimplets that I was bound to have multiple males and females... so I reccomend getting some berried females to 'kick start' the colony.

I normally tell the difference with low grade shrimp by looking for the saddle as well as looking at the abdomen segments. On the male, its very streamlined, while on a female its very curvy. Another way is through colouration (females TEND to be richer in colour and larger size) and tail size (females tend to be thicker.



^^^ those shrimp with the yellow (can also be green) area in between the carapace and abdomen is 'saddled'. Google female vs male shrimp will lead to tonnes of results, once you see the difference its rather noticeable.

 

6, got it. Thank you so much!

 

Glad you're getting six, I'm assuming from above comment. They will feel safer than a smaller amount and safer means not stressed which could leave to illness.

I agree with the above comment too. Lower grade shrimp, you can usually tell the gender if Adults and hopefully teens. Much success in picking some out.

 

Hello, all! I have a spare one gallon tank that I will be using for breeding RCS to give the fry as food to my betta. It's unfiltered but has plants and is being cycled using old aquarium water. What's the least amount possible I could buy that would allow them to begin setting up a stable colony? RCS at LFS is $3 per, so I'd like to keep the stocking cost down. I am aware they will lose their red coloring, which I am fine with. I've had RCS before, but all three were eaten by my betta when I tried to get them to share a tank. Also, any tips on distinguishing between males and females at the store? I'm pretty sure y'all are gonna give me a 2:1 M-F ratio.

You could even go to a 3:1 F:M ratio.

 

Gallon containers are harder to keep stable parameters, and shrimp are super sensitive to parameter changes. I hope this experiment works out well for you.

 

Glad you're getting six, I'm assuming from above comment. They will feel safer than a smaller amount and safer means not stressed which could leave to illness.

I agree with the above comment too. Lower grade shrimp, you can usually tell the gender if Adults and hopefully teens. Much success in picking some out.

I have yet to get them. Question if I have to get them in multiple batches, as the store doesn't always have a lot at once. Is it okay if I put them in together from separate groups? Or do they have "clans?"

Thank you for the kind wishes

You could even go to a 3:1 F:M ratio.

I'll try my best. The store doesn't have them gender separated, so it's a role of the dice.

Gallon containers are harder to keep stable parameters, and shrimp are super sensitive to parameter changes. I hope this experiment works out well for you.

That's my only concern about this. Trust me, if I could, I'd have my large tank at least a ten gallon and this tank at least a five gallon. Being 15, it's not my house, so I have to abide by my parent's rules. I'm using water from my established tank to fill this one up and have live plants in there, so I'm hoping that bacteria will be built up and will be stable for them when they arrive. Thank you!

 

Getting them in batches is not a problem. They are peaceful and get along with everyone. Learn to identify males and females. Not difficult in adult shrimp. Test your parameters routinely. It can prevent a mass die-off.

Have you considered Opae-Ula? They need brackish water, but otherwise, they're pretty hardy, and can be kept in small tanks. Or so I hear (no personal experience).

 

1 gallon is a small tank to get your shrimps with stable parameters. I don't say it can't be done but it is difficult and shrimps are very sensitive to changing parameters.

 

Getting them in batches is not a problem. They are peaceful and get along with everyone. Learn to identify males and females. Not difficult in adult shrimp. Test your parameters routinely. It can prevent a mass die-off.

Have you considered Opae-Ula? They need brackish water, but otherwise, they're pretty hardy, and can be kept in small tanks. Or so I hear (no personal experience).

Looking at them, they seem like super cool dudes. I've having a hard time finding reliable information on them. I'm reading on petshrimp.com that they "Never need water changes! Live 20 years! can have 50 in a half gallon! Exact water measurements not needed!" Do you know of somehwere I could get more information? They do seem like super cool pets, though.

1 gallon is a small tank to get your shrimps with stable parameters. I don't say it can't be done but it is difficult and shrimps are very sensitive to changing parameters.

I'm willing to put in the work. I'd love to see RCS in a passive environment. I had them before in a three gallon with my betta, but were in survival only mode and not very interesting.

 

Getting them in batches is not a problem. They are peaceful and get along with everyone. Learn to identify males and females. Not difficult in adult shrimp. Test your parameters routinely. It can prevent a mass die-off.

Have you considered Opae-Ula? They need brackish water, but otherwise, they're pretty hardy, and can be kept in small tanks. Or so I hear (no personal experience).

Also, would my anacharis be damaged by the brackish water?

 

Hi, To answer your question from above. You can purchase your shrimp from different locations but their water parameters will be different so I would acclimate them separately before putting them into the gallon tank. Let each group be in a container with their original water they came from. Gradually add the tank water that they'll be going into in the container they are in until it's 100% tank water. After that, than it should be safe to add all the shrimp into their new home.

I realize your goal is to breed shrimp for your betta but I'd like for you to know, for a new shrimp breeder you might run into situations faster in that small 1 gallon container than say a 10 gallon tank that I recommend for new shrimp owners. Like others have said, shrimp are sensitive. They are hardy but if anything drastic changes in that 1 gallon tank it will be harder to control than say a 10g. tank. Shrimp can get sick, stressed faster. In a 1 gallon tank the water will heat up faster or get colder faster for one thing if your not using a heater. Heaters in a 1 gallon tank I'm not sure! I"d be worried if it should overheat and kill the shrimp. Ammonia can build up faster in a smaller tank than a bigger tank that has more water volume. Just different scenarios can happen.

 

Hi, To answer your question from above. You can purchase your shrimp from different locations but their water parameters will be different so I would acclimate them separately before putting them into the gallon tank. Let each group be in a container with their original water they came from. Gradually add the tank water that they'll be going into in the container they are in until it's 100% tank water. After that, than it should be safe to add all the shrimp into their new home.

I realize your goal is to breed shrimp for your betta but I'd like for you to know, for a new shrimp breeder you might run into situations faster in that small 1 gallon container than say a 10 gallon tank that I recommend for new shrimp owners. Like others have said, shrimp are sensitive. They are hardy but if anything drastic changes in that 1 gallon tank it will be harder to control than say a 10g. tank. Shrimp can get sick, stressed faster. In a 1 gallon tank the water will heat up faster or get colder faster for one thing if your not using a heater. Heaters in a 1 gallon tank I'm not sure! I"d be worried if it should overheat and kill the shrimp. Ammonia can build up faster in a smaller tank than a bigger tank that has more water volume. Just different scenarios can happen.

Hi, sunnycal! Thank you for your insight. I have this one gallon as a leftover from the "dark days" before I researched proper habitats for bettas, and even now I wish my tank was much larger for him. I'm aware of threats of a one gallon, but my heater has served me reliably and the temperature stays within the set range (it's a larger 25w with adjustable heat). If were to by maybe a 2.5 gallon, would that make a difference large enough to make the buying a new tank worth it? I'm 15 with 16 coming soon. My father isn't exactly a fan of me spending money on my aquarium obsession because he (and I do as well) wants me to have money for car insurance. I have money for both and have a job, but I need to prove to him it's worth the investment. Is there a drastic difference, a tank you recommend, and a filter that is safe for them? Preferably under $25

 

That could work. Check out online - with parents permission - for cheap second hand aquariums.

Likewise, I have used totes in the past for aquariums - still do for quarantine - which would work well as a cheap aquarium... all you would need is filter - which you probably have, potentually a new heater if the 25w is underpowered and a cheap LED to grow moss.. probably at most, a $20 investment.

 

That could work. Check out online - with parents permission - for cheap second hand aquariums.

Likewise, I have used totes in the past for aquariums - still do for quarantine - which would work well as a cheap aquarium... all you would need is filter - which you probably have, potentually a new heater if the 25w is underpowered and a cheap LED to grow moss.. probably at most, a $20 investment.

Good idea on second hand. I'll see if my parents are okay with that, they usually want me to get the stuff from amazon so I can return it if it's messed up. I have a tetra 3I sponge filter that is garbage but probably would do a light job well. I would just have to do some sort of pre-filter. I have anacharis in there now and just use a regular lamp which they seem to really like 25 w is rated for 5 gallon, I think

 

Hi, sunnycal! Thank you for your insight. I have this one gallon as a leftover from the "dark days" before I researched proper habitats for bettas, and even now I wish my tank was much larger for him. I'm aware of threats of a one gallon, but my heater has served me reliably and the temperature stays within the set range (it's a larger 25w with adjustable heat). If were to by maybe a 2.5 gallon, would that make a difference large enough to make the buying a new tank worth it? I'm 15 with 16 coming soon. My father isn't exactly a fan of me spending money on my aquarium obsession because he (and I do as well) wants me to have money for car insurance. I have money for both and have a job, but I need to prove to him it's worth the investment. Is there a drastic difference, a tank you recommend, and a filter that is safe for them? Preferably under $25

Hi, I think it's awesome to be interested in aquariums/fish keeping at your age. My daughter started getting interested at about 12 but unfortunately after her last betta died she decided not to keep fish any longer. Took too much time out of her busy schedule. I'm the one now with the tanks.

I would think that 1.5 gallons of extra water would make a difference in water parameters from a 1 gallon tank, but in your financial situation maybe see if you can put a little money off to the side when you can/if you can and save up for at least a 5 gallon tank. Petco has dollar per gallon sales on their tanks throughout the year. Maybe you can purchase a 10 gallon tank for $10.00 at their next sale.

I'm not sure if you and your dad use Amazon to ever purchase stuff online. You can check for filter sales there. Look on craigslist or your local paper for people selling aquariums. Definitely, don't go to a strangers home alone. Best to meet in a busy parking lot (day hours) somewhere like at a fast food restaurant or grocery store.

 

I used to have them in a planted 1.5g. It sat on a windowsill. No filtration. It was actually easier than keeping fish, honestly. The most I did was water top offs and the occasional water change. Now I have them in something a little larger (Do!Aqua bowl) and again, barely have to move a finger. Important thing is to feed sparingly. I drop in a pellet or two every month or so and sometimes even longer between feedings. Since your intention is to breed, perhaps some more effort into feeding and water changes can't hurt.

 

Not to discourage you, but there are live foods far easier than shrimp. Microworms and brine shrimp are faster and easier to culture. Shrimp in a 1 gallon might not even reproduce. But if they did, it takes 3-4 weeks for a female to drop about 20 shrimplets. If you manage to catch them (which is extremely hard) that's about 7 meals. If you were to even start out with even a 3 gallon you could keep many more adults, which means many more babies.

 

Hi, I think it's awesome to be interested in aquariums/fish keeping at your age. My daughter started getting interested at about 12 but unfortunately after her last betta died she decided not to keep fish any longer. Took too much time out of her busy schedule. I'm the one now with the tanks.

I would think that 1.5 gallons of extra water would make a difference in water parameters from a 1 gallon tank, but in your financial situation maybe see if you can put a little money off to the side when you can/if you can and save up for at least a 5 gallon tank. Petco has dollar per gallon sales on their tanks throughout the year. Maybe you can purchase a 10 gallon tank for $10.00 at their next sale.

I'm not sure if you and your dad use Amazon to ever purchase stuff online. You can check for filter sales there. Look on craigslist or your local paper for people selling aquariums. Definitely, don't go to a strangers home alone. Best to meet in a busy parking lot (day hours) somewhere like at a fast food restaurant or grocery store.

Yeah, I think a lot of people are surprised at how devoted I am to fishkeeping at my age, especially for being a male. I have a fascination with marine biology and chemistry and love the entire mechanics of having an ecosystem in my room. The whole process of fish poo to nirates to algae and bacteria for snail food just amazes me.

I'll have to ask, but I think the max size I could really go for is a three gallon. My betta is upstairs in a three gallon and has to be kept in a tray after a bit of drama about leaking through my LED lighting fixture that ended up damaging my dresser. I definitely would want my betta to have the larger tank, but I don't want to put too much more weight on the floor since my room isn't over a load-bearing wall.

My whole family is addicted to Amazon. We also use a website called NextDoor which is for stuff in our neighborhood, so I might check there. Our township police has a part of their parking lot dedicated to online transactions, which I find is a great, safe alternative.

Just a note regarding the water parameters, I am cycling it using Seachem fertilizers and old aquarium water from my established aquarium, so it should be pretty stable? I'm guessing as long as I check for dead bodies?

I used to have them in a planted 1.5g. It sat on a windowsill. No filtration. It was actually easier than keeping fish, honestly. The most I did was water top offs and the occasional water change. Now I have them in something a little larger (Do!Aqua bowl) and again, barely have to move a finger. Important thing is to feed sparingly. I drop in a pellet or two every month or so and sometimes even longer between feedings. Since your intention is to breed, perhaps some more effort into feeding and water changes can't hurt.

That'd be nice and is kinda what I'm hoping for. Did they breed?

Not to discourage you, but there are live foods far easier than shrimp. Microworms and brine shrimp are faster and easier to culture. Shrimp in a 1 gallon might not even reproduce. But if they did, it takes 3-4 weeks for a female to drop about 20 shrimplets. If you manage to catch them (which is extremely hard) that's about 7 meals. If you were to even start out with even a 3 gallon you could keep many more adults, which means many more babies.

I understand. I've always had a fascination with RCS and would like to keep them downstairs for their beauty and antics and take a few out occasionally for upstairs for a minI Hunger Games/treat for my betta. I don't plan on making them a staple food, but more as a treat to encourage my betta's wild side.

 

Yeah, I think a lot of people are surprised at how devoted I am to fishkeeping at my age, especially for being a male. I have a fascination with marine biology and chemistry and love the entire mechanics of having an ecosystem in my room. The whole process of fish poo to nirates to algae and bacteria for snail food just amazes me.

I'll have to ask, but I think the max size I could really go for is a three gallon. My betta is upstairs in a three gallon and has to be kept in a tray after a bit of drama about leaking through my LED lighting fixture that ended up damaging my dresser. I definitely would want my betta to have the larger tank, but I don't want to put too much more weight on the floor since my room isn't over a load-bearing wall.

My whole family is addicted to Amazon. We also use a website called NextDoor which is for stuff in our neighborhood, so I might check there. Our township police has a part of their parking lot dedicated to online transactions, which I find is a great, safe alternative.

Just a note regarding the water parameters, I am cycling it using Seachem fertilizers and old aquarium water from my established aquarium, so it should be pretty stable? I'm guessing as long as I check for dead bodies?



That'd be nice and is kinda what I'm hoping for. Did they breed?



I understand. I've always had a fascination with RCS and would like to keep them downstairs for their beauty and antics and take a few out occasionally for upstairs for a minI Hunger Games/treat for my betta. I don't plan on making them a staple food, but more as a treat to encourage my betta's wild side.

I'm almost certain they didn't. Feeding more often might have helped. I don't know.

In the bowl, I'm sure the betta would have eaten some, but all? I'm not sure.

I find baby shrimp in my canister filter and dump them in the nano tanks. The wild types are surprisingly difficult to find, so who knows. I think they look nice though.

 

That's great you and your family use Amazon and how nice to have a safe place such as your township police parking lot to make safe transactions.
It's wonderful to have a fascination with marine biology and chemistry. My daughter just turned 20 last month and she's working as a Vet Assistance in a Veterinarian Hospital and will work her way up to a Vet Technician. Her long term goal is to work with all the sea Mammals.
I'm not familiar with seachem fertilizer but I do know that using old tank water isn't going to do any good. You get your bb (beneficial bacteria) from your media that is stored in the filter box/canister. Your sponges and bio rings!
I hope it's okay to say this to you too, but I'm not a fan of using live shrimp as food. I have shrimp only tanks and I can't even bring myself to cull my poor quality ones. I've sold them in the past to my lfs. I don't think your shrimp will thrive much in a 1 gallon. They will just live but I understand your reason for keeping them in the 1 gallon and why.

 

I'm almost certain they didn't. Feeding more often might have helped. I don't know.

In the bowl, I'm sure the betta would have eaten some, but all? I'm not sure.

I find baby shrimp in my canister filter and dump them in the nano tanks. The wild types are surprisingly difficult to find, so who knows. I think they look nice though.

It seems I'll have a lot of testing to do to see what variables can affect their breeding. Might make a good experiment for my honors biology end of the year project.

That's great you and your family use Amazon and how nice to have a safe place such as your township police parking lot to make safe transactions.
It's wonderful to have a fascination with marine biology and chemistry. My daughter just turned 20 last month and she's working as a Vet Assistance in a Veterinarian Hospital and will work her way up to a Vet Technician. Her long term goal is to work with all the sea Mammals.
I'm not familiar with seachem fertilizer but I do know that using old tank water isn't going to do any good. You get your bb (beneficial bacteria) from your media that is stored in the filter box/canister. Your sponges and bio rings!
I hope it's okay to say this to you too, but I'm not a fan of using live shrimp as food. I have shrimp only tanks and I can't even bring myself to cull my poor quality ones. I've sold them in the past to my lfs. I don't think your shrimp will thrive much in a 1 gallon. They will just live but I understand your reason for keeping them in the 1 gallon and why.

That's so cool! Best of luck to your daughter throughout her career.

As for the Seachem fertilizer and old water, I was talking to a zoologist who specializes in aquatic microorganisms and has his own online aquarium shop that told me using recycled water from an established aquarium would bring some of the bacteria in. He said that bacteria grows on all surfaces of the aquarium, but it much higher concentrations in the filter as a steady supply of food (dirty water) is pulled through. The seachem fertilizer adds nitrogen to water for the plants, algae, and bacteria to consume. My goal is to introduce small amounts of algae and bacteria to the aquarium and then build them up through the fertilizer. The theory seems pretty sound, but I'm open to critiquing.

I probably should avoid saying "food." They would be used as a treat, both mentally and "stomachly." I appreciate the mental stimulation my betta received from hunting previous shrimp (against my will). My main goal is to add an entertaining, mesmerizing element to our foyer by having shrimp comfortably housed and hopefully have a sustainable colony built. That's a great idea about selling them back to lfs as well, are you allowed to disclose what you get per individual?

Please trust me when I say I am doing everything I can to get a larger habitat for them. If I had the space and permission, in a heartbeat I would put my betta in a 20 gallon long that's densly planted and a second 20 gallon just for shrimp and maybe a few small, passive fish. I'm hoping that my betta lives long enough that when I get out of college and in my own apartment that I can put him in a nice, large aquarium to enjoy the later years of his life.

 

Thank you regarding my daughter. She's the best!

imo, using recycled water to help with a cycle is extremely minimalist. Have to respectfully disagree with the person. Bb is in your filter box as I mentioned above. Good bacteria does grow on surfaces and you'd probably find a tiny amount in substrate too but I wouldn't rely on that to give you a cycled tank with great water parameters.

Yes, microorganisms and biofilm will grow on such items such as moss, plants, driftwood, rocks. A great natural food for shrimp.

Last time I had sold any shrimp to my lfs I was getting 50% of what they were selling them for. It was an easy way to make a little bit of money.

I've heard of betta's living for 5 years. My daughter's betta's were I believe 3.5 and 4 years before passing away naturally. No disease seen and water parameters were as usual/great.

 

Thank you regarding my daughter. She's the best!

imo, using recycled water to help with a cycle is extremely minimalist. Have to respectfully disagree with the person. Bb is in your filter box as I mentioned above. Good bacteria does grow on surfaces and you'd probably find a tiny amount in substrate too but I wouldn't rely on that to give you a cycled tank with great water parameters.

Yes, microorganisms and biofilm will grow on such items such as moss, plants, driftwood, rocks. A great natural food for shrimp.

Last time I had sold any shrimp to my lfs I was getting 50% of what they were selling them for. It was an easy way to make a little bit of money.

I've heard of betta's living for 5 years. My daughter's betta's were I believe 3.5 and 4 years before passing away naturally. No disease seen and water parameters were as usual/great.

Alrighty, well my next idea which seems to be okay with the parentals is getting a second three gallon identical to the one I have now and putting it on the same dresser as my current one (it's a long dresser). My goal is put a lot of driftwood in so that they have plenty of surface area to walk on. I'll likely get a second Azoo Mignon Filter 60 filter and use Tetra Safe Start. My goal. It'll likely be a while before it can all come together, but I can get started on some of the stuff now.

 

Much success with your setup

 

Much success with your setup

Thank you very much.

 

Just for the record, a lot of private, small local stores sell 10 gallon tanks for dirt cheap. They maybe even get you something used? I have had good luck finding lights and smaller tanks that way.

 

Just for the record, a lot of private, small local stores sell 10 gallon tanks for dirt cheap. They maybe even get you something used? I have had good luck finding lights and smaller tanks that way.

I'd love to get a 10 gallon. Or even a 20 long. It's not really as much of a financial issue but an issue of abiding by the rules my parents put in place. I'm a sophomore in high school, so my parents don't want me to get anything too large that I can't get out of the house when I move out. While I find it rather disappointing, I understand their perspective. I'm going the best I can with what I can do

 

As someone else mentioned, tubs are a cheap alternative. Sterilite tubs are surprisingly clear when water is added. Not as clear as glass mind you but you can still watch the goings on. Or you can look at thrift stores for large glass containers/aquariums.

I'm stupid and have one different colored. Thinking the offspring or at least any wild colored offspring will wind up in the 10 gallon to do their thing there, at least they'd have some chance at survival.

 

As someone else mentioned, tubs are a cheap alternative. Sterilite tubs are surprisingly clear when water is added. Not as clear as glass mind you but you can still watch the goings on. Or you can look at thrift stores for large glass containers/aquariums.

I'm stupid and have one different colored. Thinking the offspring or at least any wild colored offspring will wind up in the 10 gallon to do their thing there, at least they'd have some chance at survival.

I wish I could. With my three gallon leaking (through the light fixture which I still don't see how physics allows it), my parents aren't eager on having a large amount of water anywhere in the house.