Tiny Amano Shrimp in Tank...don't know how it got there

Hello,

I am having a kind of "oh, my goodness" moment. I have always read that Amano Shrimp will not breed in fresh water. And perhaps there is another explanation.

Today I found an itsy bitsy Amano in my tank. I was looking for stray panda cory fry and this Amano caught my eye. He/she is only about, maybe 1/2 cm in length. This picture is pretty close up. For reference that bba to the right, front is almost unnoticeable to the naked eye.

About 2 months ago I lost three of my adult Amanos in a nitrite spike :-( . I had two more adults and then I bought 5 more really small Amanos. 2 didn't make it. The other 3 have grown to about an inch in length and are apparently thriving. That is literally all that has been added.

Is it possible that I carried an egg into my tank on the body of one of the little guys and that it has hatched? Is it possible that my Amanos have mated?

At any rate...it is pretty cool!

 

Looks like a tiny Cherry shrimp. Amanos dont breed in fresh water.

 

This is what I always read. Where would that have come from? I only have Amano Shrimp. Never had another species. Also, definitely no red in it but maybe that is age?

 

Have you gotten any new plants recently?

 

Have you gotten any new plants recently?

No. All the plants in my tank came over from 20 gal long that I had up and running for 3 years. The only thing I added were the five new amanos about two months ago. About a month before that I added 15 ember tetras (which apparently is why I got a nitrite spike). Read I should have added them more slowly.

 

Hmmm maybe it snuck in with the Embers?

 

Perhaps. I don't put any of the LFS water in. I do a slow drip acclimation then net them in after a couple of hours when the water is almost exclusively tank water. Would it still be so small?

I may never know...but like I said, still really cool!

 

Yeah mine were super tiny for a long time.

 

Yeah mine were super tiny for a long time.

Awesome! Thanks for all your insight!

 

Okay, now I am even more surprised. I just saw another tiny shrimp - even smaller than the one I posted about - perhaps 1/2 or even 1/3 the size. I am beginning to think that the new Amano shrimp I added perhaps are not truly Amano?

They are still small (maybe 3/4 inch). Could they be mating already? Also, what shrimp would look like Amano, yet not really be Amano?

I am not really too worried, I just don't want a bunch of shrimp crowding up my tank if they are going to be constantly having young ones. This is the reason I choose Amano - knowing that they would not breed in freshwater.

I never saw any eggs anywhere, so I don't know what is happening. But there a lot of hiding places so that is not a surprise. And no, I am not crazy. I even had my husband check each of these out and he has certified me as perfectly normal. HAHAHA

Attaching a picture, but it is super hard to see it.

 

They could be ghost shrimp also. They look very similar to amanos. They do breed in Freshwater.

 

My best guess is you were sold some off color neocaridina shrimp instead of amanos. It's not uncommon for some colors, especially red, to produce offspring that look very similar to amanos, but of course don't get as large.

I don't have any pictures handy, but I have some myself in my cull shrimp tanks.

 

My best guess is you were sold some off color neocaridina shrimp instead of amanos. It's not uncommon for some colors, especially red, to produce offspring that look very similar to amanos, but of course don't get as large.

I don't have any pictures handy, but I have some myself in my cull shrimp tanks.

I have some Cherries that look like Amanos too. There are 2 that are clear in color.

 

I also agree that's a neocaridina shrimp, and that's what you were sold. I have culled red cherries that look almost see-through. They can be brown, beige, clear, spotted, rili, so many different colors sometimes, and when I first started seeing them I was as surprised as you. Your LFS sold you the wrong shrimp, but they're no less wonderful for your tank. And if you have several and they grow to breed, they can produce some surprising colors! I have 3rd generation culls that are so interesting, it's fun to own them. I think that was a couple fun surprises and if the ones you got did breed, there are more you haven't seen yet!

 

My best guess is you were sold some off color neocaridina shrimp instead of amanos. It's not uncommon for some colors, especially red, to produce offspring that look very similar to amanos, but of course don't get as large.

I don't have any pictures handy, but I have some myself in my cull shrimp tanks.

That is what I have resolved myself to. I just hope they don't overtake my tank. Kind of likes just having 5 or so in my tank. Thank you.

I also agree that's a neocaridina shrimp, and that's what you were sold. I have culled red cherries that look almost see-through. They can be brown, beige, clear, spotted, rili, so many different colors sometimes, and when I first started seeing them I was as surprised as you. Your LFS sold you the wrong shrimp, but they're no less wonderful for your tank. And if you have several and they grow to breed, they can produce some surprising colors! I have 3rd generation culls that are so interesting, it's fun to own them. I think that was a couple fun surprises and if the ones you got did breed, there are more you haven't seen yet!

Yes, I am seeing more and more. By the end of today, I know I have seen at least 4 different little guys running around. They are so tiny. If I didn't have panda cory fry in my tank that I look for often I would never have seen them until they got much bigger. I am hoping they do not "explode" in my tank or I will have to find a place that will take them. I am guessing that maybe my panda corys will take care of some of the eggs (????) and keep them at bay. There are so many hiding places - who knows how many I actually have. I wasn't planning on being a "shrimp mama".
Thank you for your insight.

That is what I have resolved myself to. I just hope they don't overtake my tank. Kind of likes just having 5 or so in my tank. Thank you.

Yes, I am seeing more and more. By the end of today, I know I have seen at least 4 different little guys running around. They are so tiny. If I didn't have panda cory fry in my tank that I look for often I would never have seen them until they got much bigger. I am hoping they do not "explode" in my tank or I will have to find a place that will take them. I am guessing that maybe my panda corys will take care of some of the eggs (????) and keep them at bay. There are so many hiding places - who knows how many I actually have. I wasn't planning on being a "shrimp mama".
Thank you for your insight.

Well, just been reading up on reproduction of shrimp. So, I guess my panda corys won't eat the eggs since they eggs are not released until the are fully developed babies. What are your thoughts on how many of these guys are suitable for my tank?

50 gal (48x18x14)
Growing my cory population to about 25 then will have to start finding homes for them (currently at that level with all my frys and juveniles).
8 otos
3 amanos
15 ember tetras
1 assassin snail
many bladder and mini-ramshorn snails that feed my assassin (constantly culling them).

Thanks.

 

That is what I have resolved myself to. I just hope they don't overtake my tank. Kind of likes just having 5 or so in my tank. Thank you.

Yes, I am seeing more and more. By the end of today, I know I have seen at least 4 different little guys running around. They are so tiny. If I didn't have panda cory fry in my tank that I look for often I would never have seen them until they got much bigger. I am hoping they do not "explode" in my tank or I will have to find a place that will take them. I am guessing that maybe my panda corys will take care of some of the eggs (????) and keep them at bay. There are so many hiding places - who knows how many I actually have. I wasn't planning on being a "shrimp mama".
Thank you for your insight.

Well, just been reading up on reproduction of shrimp. So, I guess my panda corys won't eat the eggs since they eggs are not released until the are fully developed babies. What are your thoughts on how many of these guys are suitable for my tank?

50 gal (48x18x14)
Growing my cory population to about 25 then will have to start finding homes for them (currently at that level with all my frys and juveniles).
8 otos
3 amanos
15 ember tetras
1 assassin snail
many bladder and mini-ramshorn snails that feed my assassin (constantly culling them).

Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about the shrimp "overtaking" your tank, unless you just don't like them. They spend a fair amount of time hiding anyway, and also have a very small bioload, so that's not really an issue.

If you want a number that your 50 gallon tank can safely hold, I don't know what that would be, but probably somewhere in the thousands. I've sold 100 from a 10 gallon tank and not noticed much of a difference.

 

I wouldn't worry about the shrimp "overtaking" your tank, unless you just don't like them. They spend a fair amount of time hiding anyway, and also have a very small bioload, so that's not really an issue.

If you want a number that your 50 gallon tank can safely hold, I don't know what that would be, but probably somewhere in the thousands. I've sold 100 from a 10 gallon tank and not noticed much of a difference.

Thanks, ProudPapa! I will just let this go and see what happens. I don't mind them. I just don't want to see the balance of my tank upset b/c I have unexpected visitors. I guess if these little ones survived this long, they are welcome to stay. I appreciate your insight. Have a wonderful week.

 

Thanks, ProudPapa! I will just let this go and see what happens. I don't mind them. I just don't want to see the balance of my tank upset b/c I have unexpected visitors. I guess if these little ones survived this long, they are welcome to stay. I appreciate your insight. Have a wonderful week.

Hello again. This is one of the new shrimp I put in. I am pretty sure it is an amano. Am I correct? If it is, then I think I can tell the difference between the two.

 

That is what I have resolved myself to. I just hope they don't overtake my tank. Kind of likes just having 5 or so in my tank. Thank you.

Yes, I am seeing more and more. By the end of today, I know I have seen at least 4 different little guys running around. They are so tiny. If I didn't have panda cory fry in my tank that I look for often I would never have seen them until they got much bigger. I am hoping they do not "explode" in my tank or I will have to find a place that will take them. I am guessing that maybe my panda corys will take care of some of the eggs (????) and keep them at bay. There are so many hiding places - who knows how many I actually have. I wasn't planning on being a "shrimp mama".
Thank you for your insight.

Well, just been reading up on reproduction of shrimp. So, I guess my panda corys won't eat the eggs since they eggs are not released until the are fully developed babies. What are your thoughts on how many of these guys are suitable for my tank?

50 gal (48x18x14)
Growing my cory population to about 25 then will have to start finding homes for them (currently at that level with all my frys and juveniles).
8 otos
3 amanos
15 ember tetras
1 assassin snail
many bladder and mini-ramshorn snails that feed my assassin (constantly culling them).

Thanks.

I can understand being worried about them taking over your tank. I have cherry shrimp and i have had to start giving them away they are reproducing so much!

I am also concerned about the dna mix and have been thinking of buying one or two next time i am at the pet store.

They are super fun to have and are so good at keeping the tanks clean. If only they weren't so prolific!

 

I can understand being worried about them taking over your tank. I have cherry shrimp and i have had to start giving them away they are reproducing so much!

I am also concerned about the dna mix and have been thinking of buying one or two next time i am at the pet store.

They are super fun to have and are so good at keeping the tanks clean. If only they weren't so prolific!

Yes. I do have a good contact for giving them away so I am thankful of that.

 

I know this is an older thread but the picture you posted definately isn’t an amano, looks to be a wild type neocaridina or a babulti shrimp . Either way they are cool little fellas !

 

I know this is an older thread but the picture you posted definately isn’t an amano, looks to be a wild type neocaridina. Love these little guys !!

Yes...now I have at least 50 of these little guys running my tank. Going to have to find a place to rehome some as they continue to procreate in my tank.

 

Heheheh I have about the same amount from 5! They are so entertaining to watch

 

Heheheh I have about the same amount from 5! They are so entertaining to watch

That was my original number too!