Breeding shrimp?

Question

Hi,
I want to breed shrimp, so im wondering what the best set up is. I would like to keep it in only one 10 gallon tank if possible, with either a divider or a breeders net(or both) So what would be best as far as what kinds of plants, how heavily planted, how much to section off for the babies, temperature, substrate, filtration, etc.

im not looking for links, cause links dont usually tell all the substrate and stuff, im more looking for experiences, cause I was looking at links all last night

Answer 1

Here's some info on how to set up for breeding ghost shrimp. it's really quite easy.

http://www.fishforever.co.uk/ghostshrimp.html

MM

Answer 2

What type of shrimp are you planning to breed? Depending on what kind it can be easy as putting a male and a female in a tank with no predator fish and letting them go, or it can be as difficult as needing gradient tanks of varying salinity to actually get any of the larvae to reach adulthood (ie Amanos).

The only shrimp breeding experience I have is with Red Cherry (or Cherry Red) Shrimp. We have a breeding colony in a 20 gallon that has gravel substrate and is heavily planted. We have lots of mosses in there along with more traditional stem plants. Cherry reds are extremely easy to breed. You really only have to put a good starting number (say 10-20) in a tank and within a few months you'll have enough to be able to sell or give to your friends.

We keep the temperature of the tank around 78-80 and have some pantyhose over the filter intake. The babies (which hatch out as miniature, almost invisible, versions of the adults) do not need to be separated from the adults as they are a scavenging/algae eating species and do not cannibalize as far as we can tell. (We have seen them catch some brine shrimp, but that's not really all that difficult.)

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

First off, you will need a 20-30 gallon tank and 15-25 ghost shrimp. Just provide them with good food, frequent water changes, filtration, and love :D They should spawn after a while. When a female (which is larger than the male)drops her eggs, pick them up with a turkey baster and put them in the ten gallon. With good temps and food, you will have tons of baby shrimp :)

Java moss and practically any plants are good for shrimp. Mine like to climb plants.

A fine substrate is best.

Temp: 72-78 F
Use a sponge filter.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Shrimp don't typically eat their babies, so you won't need to section off.

10 gallon tank is fine. Shrimp appreciate mosses, a java moss mat is easily done, moss balls, etc. They tend to stop/slow down breeding on their own once tank capacity is filled.

Water cleanliness is much more rigid than with fish. Shrimp are very intolerant of nitrates. Make sure the tank is fully cycled before trying shrimp - if you have another tank already cycled, run the new filter on it for two weeks, let it get the beneficial bacterias in the filter media, then switch it over and start the shrimp tank.

They are also intolerant of Copper. Copper can be insidious - you need to even look at what you are using for dechlorination (hint: look for Prime here). You also need to look at food - if you plan to feed with sinking algae wafers, for example, some have copper traces (Hikari is supposed to be copper free).

Good frequent water changes, high water quality, copper free additives. Temps 78 or below. Low light plants are fine, such as the java moss.

Have fun! Shrimp are a blast to watch, and much more active and interesting than one would think before getting into them.