Shrimp and invert tank advice

Hi,

I have a brand new 10g tank and would like to stock it with some shrimp and other inverts. I have a big 90g tank, so I am familiar with keeping freshwater fish, but have no experience with any shrimp, inverts, or plants. I have a lot of questions, but I think it's best to start with stocking questions and then go from there. I have done lots of research on my own but need some clarification and advice on some things.

1. I'd like to keep multiple types of shrimp if possible, but it seems like Neo's and caridina have very different water parameters and wouldn't work well together. Upon some research, it seems like Neo's and cardinal/sulawesi shrimp have pretty similar water parameters. I have heard though, that cardinal shrimp are difficult to care for and not good for beginners. Are these shrimp going to be too difficult to keep or will it be doable with some planning and care? Also, is this combination of shrimp even possible?

Also, what other combinations might work? Ideally I'd like the shrimp to have colour instead of being clear like amano. I know it's recommended to only keep one type but I'd like to keep multiple if it is possible without crossbreeding.

2. I believe that the shrimp will reproduce and increase in population, but will they ever overpopulate? How might I be able to control this other than removing some?

3. I also love dwarf crayfish/CPO's and would like to add them too, but I've heard conflicting information. Some people say that they will eat shrimp every once in a while, some people say they won't touch them. Which is correct? Would it be a good or bad idea to add them? I wouldn't be opposed to losing a few shrimp here and there as long as it's not a significant amount.

4. Could I also add snails? Can you recommend some types? I'm open to mostly anything as long as they won't overpopulate and stay peaceful/

5. Can I also add Thai micro spider crabs in this tank?

If you have any other advice to add please let me know! Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Usually I get replies pretty quick here lol, if anyone has answers to only one or two questions I am happy to hear! Maybe this is posted to the wrong sub forum?

 

1. I'd like to keep multiple types of shrimp if possible, but it seems like Neo's and caridina have very different water parameters and wouldn't work well together. Upon some research, it seems like Neo's and cardinal/sulawesi shrimp have pretty similar water parameters. I have heard though, that cardinal shrimp are difficult to care for and not good for beginners. Are these shrimp going to be too difficult to keep or will it be doable with some planning and care?

I can only speak for the shrimp species I've kept, but cherry shrimp (a neo) seem pretty hardy. I've kept and seen them kept in planted tanks where they do well and breed like crazy.

Other shrimps I've kept are ghost shrimp, bamboo shrimp, and Amano shrimp. All of these have been pretty hardy as well. Amano shrimp have been near bulletproof once they settle in.

Also, is this combination of shrimp even possible?

Also, what other combinations might work? Ideally I'd like the shrimp to have colour instead of being clear like amano. I know it's recommended to only keep one type but I'd like to keep multiple if it is possible without crossbreeding.

I don't know about the combos you're shooting for, but I've kept Amano and bamboo shrimp together without any problems.

2. I believe that the shrimp will reproduce and increase in population, but will they ever overpopulate? How might I be able to control this other than removing some?

Cherry shrimp reproduced like crazy for me, and ghost shrimp reproduced slowly. My Amano and bamboo shrimp never reproduced. Although, I have seen clouds of teeny tiny free-swimming shrimp like things in my tanks before that I think may have been shrimp larva, but these never survived long.

My brother had a tank just for cherry shrimp. The population increased to a point and just stayed there...reached a sort of equilibrium. Interestingly, over time, the individual shrimps in this tank grew up to be smaller and smaller, perhaps due to limited food.

3. I also love dwarf crayfish/CPO's and would like to add them too, but I've heard conflicting information. Some people say that they will eat shrimp every once in a while, some people say they won't touch them. Which is correct? Would it be a good or bad idea to add them? I wouldn't be opposed to losing a few shrimp here and there as long as it's not a significant amount.

I've had CPOs, but not with shrimp.

4. Could I also add snails? Can you recommend some types? I'm open to mostly anything as long as they won't overpopulate and stay peaceful/

In my tanks with shrimp, I've had "pest" snails. Specifically, I've had ramshorn, mini ramshorn, MTS, pond, and bladder snails. All of these were/are peaceful with my shrimp. Overpopulation of snails can happen, but it's not been a problem for me. I think it may be due to limited food availability.

5. Can I also add Thai micro spider crabs in this tank?

No idea.

 

Thanks for sharing. I am considering amano's since they are supposed to be hardy and easy to keep. I think bamboo shrimp will be too small for my 10g but otherwise I would've loved to get them.

I have also heard that the shrimp stop breeding eventually. Very interesting but sounds like it'll be easy to keep population under control.

I'd still like to try keeping some CPO's. I'll try to put them in with some cheap neo's first to see what happens.

I'll also look into the snails you have mentioned. As long as they don't overpopulate then I'll be happy.

Thanks for your response and sharing your experience!

 

Last night soon after you posted that, I wrote to you and took my time, guess I wrote too much. Added a photo and they told me it was too long and it didn't post. I was tired and went to bed! Lots of people have a lot of good advice on shrimp.

I have 5 mixed colors of neocaridinas in a tank and want them to cross breed just to see what fun colors I get! Once you start seeing browns and clears, the next generation can come out with things you didn't have in your tank! I keep amanos in all my tanks as well. My community tank has red and red rilis, sort of a mistake by me but I don't care, I like red in that one.
I have another 10 gallon I started with 1 male and 2 female yellows. So far I haven't seen babies but they could be there. I had a berried female and now I don't. All good unless my cories ate the eggs.

I heard only today on a You Tube video that snails eat shrimp poop. I don't know if that's true, it surprised me, but I have a ton of pest snails in my "yellow" tank. Picked 50 out 2 weeks ago and at least that many today, could do it again tomorrow if I felt like it. Ugh.

Don't know how many will eventually fill my 10 gallon shrimp tank. I started with 17 in July and I'm sure there are 150-200 in there including tiny ones. I find those in my sponge filters when i swish them out, and when I suction the substrate, have to catch them in the buckets and put back. So very incredibly small, sometimes can't tell what color they are yet. So any number I throw out is a guess. They totally cover the back algae wall, they're on every plant and in the wood, everywhere I look. Beautiful gems! If they continue, I may take some to my LFS and see if they'll buy me more food.

 

Well the first thing to do is set up your tank. Shrimp like a well established tank. Usually 3-6months old. So set up your tank take some filter media from your 90 to jump start it. I’m guessing no plants in the 90. If so you will need to buy some plants. Mosses are great hornwort,westeria are both great floating plants. These are all great for shrimp. Shrimplets can hide in the moss and later climb through the others. Any other plants can be added. A peice of driftwood with some anubias is nice. You can add any pest snails but assassin’s. Nerites are also fine. Let the tank grow some algae and bio-film. Just start with one type. I suggest cherry shrimp. Took me about 20 to get them breeding and about 6 months to get a colony of about 400+ in a 5 gal tank. I’ve since thrown all the browns and clears into my other tanks. Some get eaten but if you just keep adding them many will survive. I’ve got shrimp in all but one tank. What type of fish in your 90?

Take your time to know how to keep your shrimp before you move to anything else. Most of these crustations come from very different places and may not be compatible.

 

Last night soon after you posted that, I wrote to you and took my time, guess I wrote too much. Added a photo and they told me it was too long and it didn't post. I was tired and went to bed! Lots of people have a lot of good advice on shrimp.

I have 5 mixed colors of neocaridinas in a tank and want them to cross breed just to see what fun colors I get! Once you start seeing browns and clears, the next generation can come out with things you didn't have in your tank! I keep amanos in all my tanks as well. My community tank has red and red rilis, sort of a mistake by me but I don't care, I like red in that one.
I have another 10 gallon I started with 1 male and 2 female yellows. So far I haven't seen babies but they could be there. I had a berried female and now I don't. All good unless my cories ate the eggs.

I heard only today on a You Tube video that snails eat shrimp poop. I don't know if that's true, it surprised me, but I have a ton of pest snails in my "yellow" tank. Picked 50 out 2 weeks ago and at least that many today, could do it again tomorrow if I felt like it. Ugh.

Don't know how many will eventually fill my 10 gallon shrimp tank. I started with 17 in July and I'm sure there are 150-200 in there including tiny ones. I find those in my sponge filters when i swish them out, and when I suction the substrate, have to catch them in the buckets and put back. So very incredibly small, sometimes can't tell what color they are yet. So any number I throw out is a guess. They totally cover the back algae wall, they're on every plant and in the wood, everywhere I look. Beautiful gems! If they continue, I may take some to my LFS and see if they'll buy me more food.

That sounds like a really fun project! I think it would be really cool to try that and see what comes out of it. I’m going to just stick with one type for now but I’m going to give that a shot one day!

That’s very interesting about the snails. I honestly don’t know much about them but that certainly sounds like a positive. What kind of snails do you have? Just so I know what to avoid so I don’t have an overpopulation lol.

Thank you for taking your time to help me out! Very appreciated!

Well the first thing to do is set up your tank. Shrimp like a well established tank. Usually 3-6months old. So set up your tank take some filter media from your 90 to jump start it. I’m guessing no plants in the 90. If so you will need to buy some plants. Mosses are great hornwort,westeria are both great floating plants. These are all great for shrimp. Shrimplets can hide in the moss and later climb through the others. Any other plants can be added. A peice of driftwood with some anubias is nice. You can add any pest snails but assassin’s. Nerites are also fine. Let the tank grow some algae and bio-film. Just start with one type. I suggest cherry shrimp. Took me about 20 to get them breeding and about 6 months to get a colony of about 400+ in a 5 gal tank. I’ve since thrown all the browns and clears into my other tanks. Some get eaten but if you just keep adding them many will survive. I’ve got shrimp in all but one tank. What type of fish in your 90?

Take your time to know how to keep your shrimp before you move to anything else. Most of these crustations come from very different places and may not be compatible.

So for cycling the tank, do I need to wait the 3-6 months or can I use Seachem prime and stability? I ask because that’s what I did with my 90g fish and had no issues. I know that some people debate what the best method is but it worked for me in my 90 fish only tank. Obviously I’d need to wait for algae to grow first since that’s what they eat.

I’ll stick to one type for now, probably cherry shrimp. Do I need RO/DI or will my tap water work fine?

I am planning on adding plants too. At what point in the process can I do that? Should it be almost right away? Or after the shrimp?

My 90g is my first and only tank, got it in the spring this year and have a bit of everything lol. I’ve got
2 EB Acara
6 Opaline gourami
8 Rosy barbs
6 pictus catfish
2 BN pleco
And about 10 bloodfin tetra. I had more but they seem to by slowly decreasing. No plants either in this tank.

Thanks for your help!

 

Plants can go in right away. With using the media from the 90 it will instant cycle. It’s not the cycle that I’m worried about it’s the algae and bio-film. Shrimp live on this. If you had plants in the 90 I’d tell you to move so into the 10. They would have had algae and bio-film on them. New bought store plants won’t have much if any on them so it will need to grow.

As to your water I’ve found cherry shrimp are very adaptable. Are you using tap water for your 90g? If so it should be fine for the shrimp.

Even that 90g may be able to hold shrimp. My discus tanks hold many shrimp. I never see them till the lights go out. And even though they were all cherrys in the beginning the discus tanks have black,green,gray and brown in them. All my sumps have gray ones but the overflows generally have reds. It’s like they change color to the surrounding. And it’s amazing we’re you find them.

 

Plants can go in right away. With using the media from the 90 it will instant cycle. It’s not the cycle that I’m worried about it’s the algae and bio-film. Shrimp live on this. If you had plants in the 90 I’d tell you to move so into the 10. They would have had algae and bio-film on them. New bought store plants won’t have much if any on them so it will need to grow.

As to your water I’ve found cherry shrimp are very adaptable. Are you using tap water for your 90g? If so it should be fine for the shrimp.

Even that 90g may be able to hold shrimp. My discus tanks hold many shrimp. I never see them till the lights go out. And even though they were all cherrys in the beginning the discus tanks have black,green,gray and brown in them. All my sumps have gray ones but the overflows generally have reds. It’s like they change color to the surrounding. And it’s amazing we’re you find them.

Makes sense, I figured I’d need to let some algae grow so they could scavenge. Would it help if I put some of the smaller rocks from my 90g into the 10? They’ll have algae on it so I would assume so. Also would it help to fill it up with water from that tank for the first time? After that will be using tap water yes. I do have RO+remineralized water in my drinking tap but it wouldn’t be super convenient.

Honestly I would love to have some in that tank, but I’ve been told that it’s unlikely they would survive, plus they like to have plants. I might move some over once the population grows in my 10 but I’ll decide when the time comes. There is lots of hiding spots but I’m almost certain that my pictus cats will eat them. I’ll never know until I try though.

Thanks!

 

Yes you will have to try. You would add your culled shrimp. Your second generation will have brown,gray and clear. These need to be culled. If you don’t the next gen will have even more of those colors till they all go back to wild. Now when you cull these your next gen will be mostly red and the red will get brighter and cover more of the body even the legs.

Yes the rocks will help. Again do you use ro water for the 90g? Have you ever tested the tap water?

 

Yes you will have to try. You would add your culled shrimp. Your second generation will have brown,gray and clear. These need to be culled. If you don’t the next gen will have even more of those colors till they all go back to wild. Now when you cull these your next gen will be mostly red and the red will get brighter and cover more of the body even the legs.

Yes the rocks will help. Again do you use ro water for the 90g? Have you ever tested the tap water?

Yes that’s a good idea actually. I’ll add the culled ones into that one and see what happens. Can’t hurt so might as well give it a shot!

I use my tap water for the 90g. I don’t use the RO drinking tap water because it would take a long time to fill back the 90. I have test strips so I don’t really trust them lol but I know that the water in my city is very hard. Sounds like it would be fine for neo’s. My LFS keeps the shrimp in my city tap water and they seem to be doing fine.

 

That’s all you need to do. Cherry’s are very adaptable. Thing is when you get them take time to acclimate them to your tank. I add a small amount of water every 10 min till. Double the water in the bag. Usually takes an hour or more. Many drip acclimate for 1-3 hrs. I’ve always lost a few when added to the tank within the first few days. I added 7 3 times within about 2 ,months to finally start the colony. Once they start they just keep breeding. My only set back was adding moss balls to the tank. They are so dense that many bad things can be living in them. Mine came with about 10 baby shrimp which I thought was great. But they also had planeria worms which kill shrimp. With other things going on in my tanks I let the shrimp tank go for awhile before I realized I’d lost most of tne shrimp. Planeria can wipe out a tank.

 

That’s all you need to do. Cherry’s are very adaptable. Thing is when you get them take time to acclimate them to your tank. I add a small amount of water every 10 min till. Double the water in the bag. Usually takes an hour or more. Many drip acclimate for 1-3 hrs. I’ve always lost a few when added to the tank within the first few days. I added 7 3 times within about 2 ,months to finally start the colony. Once they start they just keep breeding. My only set back was adding moss balls to the tank. They are so dense that many bad things can be living in them. Mine came with about 10 baby shrimp which I thought was great. But they also had planeria worms which kill shrimp. With other things going on in my tanks I let the shrimp tank go for awhile before I realized I’d lost most of tne shrimp. Planeria can wipe out a tank.

Really?! I didn’t know that those things could come in moss balls. I don’t have any experience with plants but should I worry about this with just moss balls or any plants? Also what would I do if I ended up getting planeria?

Everything I hear says drip acclimate. Sounds like losing a few is just part of the process. Sounds easy enough once they repopulate themselves though.

 

Yes once they start breeding they go crazy. I had a 5g with well over 400 in it.
Planeria away is what I used. It does kill snails so I removed all I wanted to keep. About 2 weeks after first treatment do another. Hopefully you never get them. Moss ball are different from most of your mosses. Java,Christmas moss and suswasertang are better to use.

 

Yes once they start breeding they go crazy. I had a 5g with well over 400 in it.
Planeria away is what I used. It does kill snails so I removed all I wanted to keep. About 2 weeks after first treatment do another. Hopefully you never get them. Moss ball are different from most of your mosses. Java,Christmas moss and suswasertang are better to use.

That’s good to hear, definitely will try to avoid moss balls and go with another alternative if possible. I’m really excited to get started! Got most of the things I need and will get set up soon.

I’ve heard that you should have a small piece of
Driftwood with shrimp but I’m worried that some might affect water parameters like the ph. Is there a certain type that I should get or should I not worry about parameters being affected too much?

 

I’ve got different type of driftwood in my shrimp tanks and never had a problem.

 

I’ve got different type of driftwood in my shrimp tanks and never had a problem.View attachment 869382View attachment 869383View attachment 869384

Awesome, that’s good to hear! I’m excited to get started. Thanks for your help!

 

I've been off work for the holidays, and following this forum from my phone is often problematic, so today's the first time I've been on since before Christmas, but Neocaridina (Red Cherry Shrimp) Basics should answer many of your questions.