by Dave McKane Submitted for BAP on 8/18/2022
Tank Set-up:
5 Gallon tank, Heater set at 79°F, pH-7.0, TDS 0224, sponge filter, driftwood with Anubias plant, and some guppy grass.
The above parameters are what worked for me. They in no way, are rigid parameters.
The coloration of the shrimp varies from very dark blue to medium blue, to a lighter, almost translucent blue. All fry exhibits the blue color right away, not like the Red Rili fry that are clear at first.
I purchased seven (half grown) shrimp on 4-13-21. It wasn’t long before I lost three leaving four. After a couple weeks I felt like they were size enough to start breeding, but I couldn’t identify one that looked like a female. The females are always larger than the males. I contacted my supplier, and received 5 more. I lost another 2 or 3, but finally, I had a female holding eggs. Everything went well and they hatched. The fry are very tiny but sturdy. I invariably suck up fry while siphoning the tank, but it doesn’t seem to faze them. The first fry arrived on 5-24-22. I now have multiple generations, too many to count in a five-gallon, bare bottom tank, with just one female spawning!
As for tank mates, they have some roomies. There are 4 Nothobranchius guentheri fry. There was 5, but I had to move the fattest one because he was feasting on the newest shrimp fry. I witnessed him square up on one and take a pot shot at it. It was then that I noticed that there wasn’t any newly hatched shrimp, like usual.
I feed them mini algae wafers, and Kobalt crab and lobster mini’s, every other day. They grow a little slower than My Red Rili shrimp. I don’t see near as many exoskeletons with these guys. Because they are eating constantly, they can overeat and die. The recommendation is to feed them 2-3 times per week. The newly hatched shrimp start feeding immediately on biofilm that accumulates naturally on surfaces, especially wood.
I clean up after them about every other day. They do leave a fair amount of detritus. I use a rigid tube that will fit into an airline and sweep the bottom. If you sweep towards their antennae, they will take off. If from behind, they will get sucked up.
Give them a shot. They are interesting to watch. They can also count towards your BAP points.