Shrimp/snail Colony

I am currently running a 16 gallon tank with a Fluval C3. I've always wanted an invert tank but have never actually gotten around to setting one up. I was thinking about breeding snails (pond snails, mystery, ramshorn, etc.) as well as cherry shrimp to raise as live food for my fish in the 55 and 20 tanks. My questions are:
1) How many shrimp should I start out with?
2) Can I add a small crayfish (specifically CPO) as well?
3) Anyone have experience with ThaI Micro crabs? I've heard they can coexist with shrimp?
-Thanks.

 

Well, you could do some CPO with the shrimp! The only thing is pond snails I have in my pond breed really fast (my pond is huge) but in a tank like yours all of the snails will overtake the tank, you can try it though. This is just my experience with pond snails.

 

I wouldn't introduce pond snails purposely. I think they're the worst "pest" species. Impossible to get rid of, they poop like crazy, and unlike trumpet snails who mostly stay hidden during the day the pond snails will be all over the place. Ugh.

Cherry shrimp seem a little expensive to use as feeders, in my opinion anyway... though I suppose if you started with 25-50 or so then once they start breeding the colony will grow quickly enough that you won't miss the ones you use for food.

 

Thanks for the responses MissRuthless FishObbessed !! What about adding micro-crabs? I found them awhile ago and they seem pretty interesting. Also, would there be an issue mixing species of snails such as trumpets, mystery/apple, and/or ramshorn?

 

You can mix whatever snails you want, but remember that they poop quite a bit and can be very difficult to control the population once they get going. I don't know anything about micro crabs, sorry.