Possibly Buying Cherry Shrimp In The Near Future. I Was Wondering...

Hello!
I recently found out that I had overstocked my 5 gallon tank. It is cycled and currently has a filter and heater running. I have gravel and 2 artificial plants, and a java fern coming in tomorrow. I plan on returning my fish and possibly buying some new cherry shrimp. I am a beginner and this is my first tank. It is obviously too small to home a larger amount of fish, so I plan on either buying cherry shrimp, or just a betta and a nerite snail(s).
I was wondering if my tank would be suitable for a colony of cherry shrimp. Also, how many shrimp are in a colony??? Sorry for all the questions, I've just started managing my aquarium, and I've already messed up!

 

Sure, welcome! Anyway, I recommend getting about 6(Or 4 if you have pairs) shrimp, and they will breed into a big colony of hundreds. If your tank is completly cycled, it should be fine

 

Sure, welcome! Anyway, I recommend getting about 6(Or 4 if you have pairs) shrimp, and they will breed into a big colony of hundreds. If your tank is completly cycled, it should be fine

How much are they usually?

 

I'd recommend starting out with around 6 to 10 adult shrimp so you increase the likelihood of starting out with both genders. The good thing with shrimp is that the colony will grow according to the tank and resources available. When estsblished, it seems that they colony is normally around 25-100 per gallon - depending on how much you feed and amount of grazing areas - but is fine due to such a small - virtually non-existent - bioload!

 

Depends on if you purchase online - shipping is excluded - and quality of the shrimp (higher grade shrimp cost more). But usually run around $3 or less, if you shop around you can easily snag deals for a dollar or less per shrimp.

 

A 5 gallon is great for a shrimp colony, just make sure its a species-only tank, but you need to make sure to research them a lot before buying them. A colony is a group, so I'm pretty sure 2+ shrimp can make up a colony. But you should try starting up with 5-10, making sure there are males and females so they breed. Also, you should try a planted tank with a good gravel(I use fluval plant and shrimp stratum) and any plants you like, but you should definitely try java moss since its hardy and easy to grow. With enough research put into cherry shrimp and planted tanks, you could easily have a thriving colony of cherry shrimp!

 

Depends on if you purchase online - shipping is excluded - and quality of the shrimp (higher grade shrimp cost more). But usually run around $3 or less, if you shop around you can easily snag deals for a dollar or less per shrimp.

Thanks! Since they do breed at a very fast rate, what's the maximum capacity my tank can hold?

 

my lFS sells them at $5 a shrimp for all kinds of simple shrimps which is ridiculous. Don't pay more than $3 a shrimp.

 

A 5 gallon is great for a shrimp colony, just make sure its a species-only tank, but you need to make sure to research them a lot before buying them. A colony is a group, so I'm pretty sure 2+ shrimp can make up a colony. But you should try starting up with 5-10, making sure there are males and females so they breed. Also, you should try a planted tank with a good gravel(I use fluval plant and shrimp stratum) and any plants you like, but you should definitely try java moss since its hardy and easy to grow. With enough research put into cherry shrimp and planted tanks, you could easily have a thriving colony of cherry shrimp!

I just bought my tank and set it up last week. I have some regular gravel I got from PetSmart. Would that be okay for the shrimp, or would the shrimp stratum you mentioned be necessary?

 

I just bought my tank and set it up last week. I have some regular gravel I got from PetSmart. Would that be okay for the shrimp, or would the shrimp stratum you mentioned be necessary?

I personally don't use that stuff, and just use sand - which my shrimp love more as they chew and then spit out the individual grains of sand.... Shrimp will be fine without 'fancy substrate' IMO.

 

I personally don't use that stuff, and just use sand - which my shrimp love more as they chew and then spit out the individual grains of sand.... Shrimp will be fine without 'fancy substrate' IMO.

Okay, that sounds good. So I'd be okay having a cycled tank, sand, a java fern, and 2 artificial plants? (This won't be for a long time, I just plan on transitioning my current fish tank into a shrimp tank with the things I have. I just need to get some sand.)

 

Cycle your tank first and help get biofilm established. While you’re waiting, research ideal tank conditions for shrimp (pH, temp, GH/KH). Get some plants or moss established as well.

 

Okay, that sounds good. So I'd be okay having a cycled tank, sand, a java fern, and 2 artificial plants? (This won't be for a long time, I just plan on transitioning my current fish tank into a shrimp tank with the things I have. I just need to get some sand.)

I recommend some moss as well, which have loads of surface area to keep the shrimp happy when grazing.

 

I recommend some moss as well, which have loads of surface area to keep the shrimp happy when grazing.

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, I'm fairly new to all of this. Will moss grow on the sand?

 

You tie it down to something. Driftwood, cholla, rock, etc. You can even use them to make “trees” when attached to something like manzanita.

 

You tie it down to something. Driftwood, cholla, rock, etc. You can even use them to make “trees” when attached to something like manzanita.

I've heard of "moss seeds". Will I be able to put those over my gravel?

 

I've heard of "moss seeds". Will I be able to put those over my gravel?

The easiest moss to get is a section of java moss

 

Hi, You should start off with at least 6 cherry shrimp and they will do best with an established tank. Have it all set up and cycled. They are a hardy shrimp but they won't tolerate any big drastic changes in water parameters. You'll want to acclimate them for this reason too. If you purchase adult shrimp the females are usually brighter in color, wider through the middle and under their belly, and have a longer tail. Males are usually lighter in color and thinner. But with all that said, I've been breeding shrimp for a few years now and I have some beautiful bright males now and sometimes my females aren't always bigger.

I wouldn't even bother with the artificial plants. If you can, like suggested above get some Java Moss. Baby shrimp will hide and feel safe in it. Adults too. Biofilm and microorganisms will build grow on it along with other plants and driftwood too. It's a great natural food for shrimp. An anubias plant is easy to take care off too. Java Ferns are another easy plant.

 

Hi, You should start off with at least 6 cherry shrimp and they will do best with an established tank. Have it all set up and cycled. They are a hardy shrimp but they won't tolerate any big drastic changes in water parameters. You'll want to acclimate them for this reason too. If you purchase adult shrimp the females are usually brighter in color, wider through the middle and under their belly, and have a longer tail. Males are usually lighter in color and thinner. But with all that said, I've been breeding shrimp for a few years now and I have some beautiful bright males now and sometimes my females aren't always bigger.

I wouldn't even bother with the artificial plants. If you can, like suggested above get some Java Moss. Baby shrimp will hide and feel safe in it. Adults too. Biofilm and microorganisms will build grow on it along with other plants and driftwood too. It's a great natural food for shrimp. An anubias plant is easy to take care off too. Java Ferns are another easy plant.

Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to keep this in mind! How would I acclimate the shrimp? Like fish? Could you please give me some pointers?

 

You are welcome. How do you acclimate your fish?

 

You are welcome. How do you acclimate your fish?

I usually put the bag in for 15 min, snip it open after, pour in a small amount of water every 4 min til it gets full, then get them out with a net and place them in the tank

 

I would get a food safe container/bowl something that is new that's safe for fish/shrimp. (a container that you might have on hand that you only use for fish) Empty the bag and shrimp in that and gradually add drips/tablespoon of tank water at a time until you mostly have new tank water in the container/bowl. The new shrimp will be gradually getting used to their new environment/water and temperature. Take your time with this. Shrimp won't tolerate fast changes in temp, ph, ammonia....

You can drip acclimate them too with a piece of airline tubing. Put one end of the tube in the container and the other end of the tubing in the tank. You'll probably want to kink it so it doesn't drip too fast.

Not sure what water conditioner you use but Prime is used by so many of us. If not, you can read all about this product online.

Ooops, didn't finish above. Net them out very carefully when done acclimating them and release them into their new tank.

 

Ooops, didn't finish above. Net them out very carefully when done acclimating them and release them into their new tank.

Okay, I'll be sure to try that

 

sounds good. You don't want to stress them.

 

sounds good. You don't want to stress them.

I currently have a cycled tank with a heater and filter. I plan on using this same tank (new water of course) for the shrimp. I plan to change the substrate as well, I'm getting sand. If I empty the tank out, wash it with cold water, and put in water (conditioned using API Tap Water Conditioner and cycled using a Nitrifying Bacteria Starter), let the filter and heater sit for a day, and buy shrimp the next day, will that be alright?

I currently have a cycled tank with a heater and filter. I plan on using this same tank (new water of course) for the shrimp. I plan to change the substrate as well, I'm getting sand. If I empty the tank out, wash it with cold water, and put in water (conditioned using API Tap Water Conditioner and cycled using a Nitrifying Bacteria Starter), let the filter and heater sit for a day, and buy shrimp the next day, will that be alright?

I also will clean the filter. It is a 5 gallon tank

 

If you do not clean the filter you should be ok. The filter houses most of the bb

 

I'm confused,.. first you said you have a cycled tank than you're talking about using a bacteria starter kit. I am not familiar with how that bacteria starter product works so I can't help you there. Is your tank empty or do you have fish in it now?

If you have a cycled tank, media with bb (beneficial bacteria) sponges and bio rings and the tank is well established you should be fine adding shrimp after acclimating them. Get the tank ready first with changing out your substrate.

I only use Prime as my water conditioner for my tanks. If your tank is cycled you don't want it to sit for a day or two or you'll lose any bb.

 

I'm confused,.. first you said you have a cycled tank than you're talking about using a bacteria starter kit. I am not familiar with how that bacteria starter product works so I can't help you there. Is your tank empty or do you have fish in it now?

If you have a cycled tank, media with bb (beneficial bacteria) sponges and bio rings and the tank is well established you should be fine adding shrimp after acclimating them. Get the tank ready first with changing out your substrate.

I only use Prime as my water conditioner for my tanks. If your tank is cycled you don't want it to sit for a day or two or you'll lose any bb.

Sorry for the confusion! I've been jumping around on different threads telling the same thing. I bought a tank last week, put in a TopFin solution that claimed to immediately start the cycling process and then put in a dwarf gourami, 2 endler guppies, and a ghost shrimp. A few days later I come to this site to ask if I'm overstocked because I had a feeling I might be, and I am. I plan on returning the fish, changing the substrate, and adding a Java fern for the shrimp I plan to get this weekend.

I'm confused,.. first you said you have a cycled tank than you're talking about using a bacteria starter kit. I am not familiar with how that bacteria starter product works so I can't help you there. Is your tank empty or do you have fish in it now?

If you have a cycled tank, media with bb (beneficial bacteria) sponges and bio rings and the tank is well established you should be fine adding shrimp after acclimating them. Get the tank ready first with changing out your substrate.

I only use Prime as my water conditioner for my tanks. If your tank is cycled you don't want it to sit for a day or two or you'll lose any bb.

I'm confused,.. first you said you have a cycled tank than you're talking about using a bacteria starter kit. I am not familiar with how that bacteria starter product works so I can't help you there. Is your tank empty or do you have fish in it now?

If you have a cycled tank, media with bb (beneficial bacteria) sponges and bio rings and the tank is well established you should be fine adding shrimp after acclimating them. Get the tank ready first with changing out your substrate.

I only use Prime as my water conditioner for my tanks. If your tank is cycled you don't want it to sit for a day or two or you'll lose any bb.

And the bacteria supplement DID work!

 

Ok, Thanks. And Yes, definitely overstocked. Good you are resolving that situation. You're saying it's cycled now? Do you have the API freshwater master test kit? You know for sure it's cycled? Again, I am not familiar with that product you mentioned above. I'm just not wanting to have any new shrimp die if you don't have a cycled tank. If you say it's cycled do as I had suggested above. You should be good to go.

Shrimp won't tolerate drastic changes in water parameters so be careful. I've heard stories where people have lost their shrimp because of stressing them out. A good temp for your cherry shrimp would be 72ish a degree or two higher is good too.

I also would suggest doing weekly small water changes. On a 5 gallon maybe do 15 to 20% to start off with and see how it goes. Keep an eye on water parameters. When adding back the water after a water change do it slowing so you don't shock your shrimp. Match the temp in the faucet to the temp that's in the tank as close as possible. Good luck.

 

I also would suggest doing weekly small water changes. On a 5 gallon maybe do 15 to 20% to start off with and see how it goes. Keep an eye on water parameters. When adding back the water after a water change do it slowing so you don't shock your shrimp. Match the temp in the faucet to the temp that's in the tank as close as possible. Good luck.

Thanks very much! I got my water tested at my local pet store, results were great. Question: if I replace my substrate, won't the BB go away with the substrate I take out?

 

You can't take their words by them just saying the results were great. Sorry! Did you see the results? You need to know the exact numbers so you can take any action needed if need be. More than likely they used strips which aren't very reliable. The drops are more accurate. I highly recommend you purchase that API freshwater master test kit.

Most of your BB is in your filter. Very little in your substrate. If you were to take it out of a tank and not use it anymore you might get a little bump in your cycle which than you'd want to test water parameters. But you are doing something else with new creatures going into the tank. Starting new.

 

It is highly unlikely that your tank is cycled, if you only set it up last week. You want to see ammonia go down, get converted to nitrites, and ultimately, to nitrates. The process generally takes 4-6 weeks. Sometimes longer, rarely shorter. Get yourself a liquid test kit - API makes a good one. You also want a GH/KH kit.

Add any plants, driftwood, leaf litter, moss etc. that you want in there. While you’re waiting, read up on parameters required for the type of shrimp you want to acquire. Neocaridinas are fairly forgiving, but they do need certain conditions to thrive, reproduce, and molt properly (improper molting can kill them). Another reason to wait is that shrimp graze on biofilm that develops in your tank, and that takes time. They tend to do best in established tanks.

 

I currently have a cycled tank with a heater and filter. I plan on using this same tank (new water of course) for the shrimp. I plan to change the substrate as well, I'm getting sand. If I empty the tank out, wash it with cold water, and put in water (conditioned using API Tap Water Conditioner and cycled using a Nitrifying Bacteria Starter), let the filter and heater sit for a day, and buy shrimp the next day, will that be alright?


I also will clean the filter. It is a 5 gallon tank

I would only ''clean'' the filter once a month, do this by using old tank water and rinsing the floss and sponge in a bucket (preferably not doing them both at once but a week apart) then putting back in. This will prevent any beneficial bacteria being lost but also no waste sitting in your water. Also to note never fill your tank with chlorinated water while the filter is in, if the filter comes in contact with any chlorine or if its left out of water the bacteria will start to die off.

 

Petco has them about 2.49 a peice. You could also mix in some amanos

 

10 shrimp per gallon if you have no other animals is a common guideline. You'll want to start with about 10 to give them breeding room

 

The bio load of RCS is very small. If you only have shrimp in the tank a ten gallon tank will easily hold over 100 shrimp. Also, in my opinion buy at least 10 or maybe more. Aquatic arts sells a breeder pack of 15 which in my opinion is a good number. You will more then likely have a hand full of deaths but once they start to breed you have more shrimp then ya can count.
Also, Remember to ensure that your water is stable and your tank is well established.