Why Red Cherry Shrimp all stick together?

I have 23 Red Cherry Shrimp and I counted 12 of them all attached to the heater all right next to each other at the same time. Why do they all sit together and attach to the backside of the heater?

 

Both behaviors are for protection.
By herding, each individual is less likely to be picked off by a predator.
By staying on the backside of the heater, they are less likely to be seen.

 

So this is okay right? nothing I need to worry about?

 

Correct, no need to worry.

 

Maybe they feel threatened by something though? Do you have live plants for them to graze on and hide in? Any aggressive fish?

 

^ I agree, sounds like something spooked them, I have 50+ cherries in my nano tank and I've never observed that behavior. Maybe not enough hiding spots, they love love love java moss.

 

I have panda and sterbaI cories with them. I have two big bridge pieces(one new) java moss, madgascar lace ca,t and amazon swords. Look at my youtube channelExoticAquatics 25.

 

Then I dunno, I'm stumped lol. Maybe you have algae growing there that you can't see?

 

The lace cat may be the issue.

 

Dino - I think he means madagascar lace plant .

Yes, stumped also. They usually love moss and pick over everything, and cories are placid. Maybe there is just an algae goldmine there... or are temps a bit low?

 

Maybe they just fancy the heater.

 

Actually I discovered shrimp are comfortable in colder temps. When I went through the power outage the temp in their tank dropped to 60 and they were carrying on as usual. Didn't lose even 1.....so I don't think the temp would be the issue, maybe like someone said above....there is a spot of algae growing there that they are nomnoming on, or they just "fancy the heater" lol either way I wouldn't be alarmed. They are strange little creatures.

 

Good morning,

I have moved your thread from Freshwater Beginners to Freshwater Invertebrates/Cherry Shrimp section of the forum.

Thanks!

Ken

 

Yes these shrimp are bugging me I want them to get eggs and breed but they still don't have eggs but that might take a little more time considering they were pretty stressed at the store. The were all clear and now they have their red but very annoying.

 

Do you have a mix of males and females? Males usually stay clear-ish. Babies are very hard to see so you may have some and not know it. How long have you had them?

 

Maybe a week or two. I haven't seen any females with eggs. I'm pretty sure I have males and females because some are really dark and others more clear.

 

What is a good temp for them? I'm thinking about getting some and need to get a heater.

 

RCS are very adaptable. Personally, I haven't had a problem with them in room temperature water and heated water. I know of someone who had them outside in a tub with the surface water frozen over and they were still alive. Though I wouldn't recommend going THAT extreme.

 

Ah well, if you've only had them a week - there is your answer I think. they prob found a good bit of algae (they eat brown diatoms too) and once its gone they'll probably fan out and scavenge elsewhere.

Like all things they take time to settle in... they certainly are unlikely to breed in the first few weeks! Eggs take time to develop in the ovary (you'll see a green/yellow saddle beneath the shell on her back), then they need to mate, and eggs take several weeks to develop. Babies are very hard to spot too and prefer to hide - so it will be a few weeks after they've hatched before you see them out and about grazing.

Just give them some time, and check out profiles on planet inverts () - really excellent shrimp profiles with more info and pics of saddle and eggs so you know what to look for.