Bro can share the water parameters & temperature? Able to take a full tank shot? Thanks.
I've got 7 cardinals and 5 yellow cheeks about 6 months ago.
Currently, there are about 25 cardinals and 3 yellow cheeks, which means that there are some births and some deaths, so here are some of the things i learn, which i hope will come useful to others interested in these beautiful shrimps.
They are housed in a 1 feet nano tank, with coral chips as base (covered with gravels). This help stabilize the PH.
I started the tank with an established nano hang on waterfall filter (It was used for my very successful cherry shrimp tank). The water falling from the filter creates lots of bubbles and break the water surface, and i think that helps oxygenate the tank.
The tank is placed near the window, with morning sun. This turns all the large rocks and coral in my tank green. (Covered with algae, but not the bushy or hairy type).
I find that algae grow better on course surface rocks.
I do not perform regular water change regularly, but I do top up the water once in a while.
The initial shrimps that were very shy. They went hiding in the crevices of the rocks and corals. Once the algae starts showing on the rocks, they come out more often to graze on the algae. I heard that these shrimps likes their own personal spaces, so I make sure that there are enough crevices for all of them.
The shrimps are also fed daily with a rotation of hikari algae wafers, mosura, and some generic shrimp food pellets. Some days they are not fed, so they just pick on the rocks.
They start moulting regularly. This is also when the mating starts. The male shrimps gets crazy and start mating with any females that are newly moulted.
Females became berried, and little shrimplets came after.
I covered my nano filter with a filter sponge, so that no shrimplets get sucked up the filter.
The new batches of shrimplets are now young adults, and are not shy at all. Like their parents, they love grazing on the rocks.
I last counted 5 berried females. Hope to see some 3rd generations shrimps soon.
The tank is very established, with it's own ecosystem of small ramhorns snails and water fleas, which helps finish any food that doesn't get eaten. I also have a crew of nerites snails to help keep the algae in check.
I also learn a trick to determine the sex of the shrimps:
When the lights are off at night, the shrimps becomes transparent. When you suddenly switch on the tank light, you can see which shrimps have a saddle on it's back, and which shrimps are carrying eggs. Those are the females.
That's all folks.
Last edited by sthh; 7th Jul 2009 at 09:39.
Bro can share the water parameters & temperature? Able to take a full tank shot? Thanks.
Bro, mind sharing how long have you keep them for?
Have kept them for 6months. The ammonia, nitrate and nitrite measurements are zero. Didn't check for temperature, but that shouldn't matter in hot and sunny Singapore, esp since the tank is placed near the window.
Didn't have the test kit for PH and others, but hopefully the coral chips have done their job.
nice rocks...algae looks great on the rocks
wow you are one harcore sulawesi shrimp keeper 2 thumbs up man what with all the info regarding them and the hassle at keeping em, yours are breeding well in a sun lit tank with just coral chips & hang on filter... nice!!!
...I'm da in da deep blue ...
Wow Kudos!
I'm also trying to breed these beauties!
hi sthh
noted that you don't check the temperature. do you mean you don't run a chiller or a fan too? being near the window, i am guessing the temperature could reach 30-31C without any cooling machines...
hmm.. did i read somewhere previously that these shrimps prefer cool waters, or that isn't true.....
Nope, i never check the temperature. However, I did paste a reflective wallpaper at the back of the tank. That kinda reduce the temperature.
These shrimps are native to Indonesia, so i don't think they like cool water. Actually, I read that most keepers in the western countries need heater for them.
Yea these shrimp prefer slightly warmer temperatures, by that I mean around 27-29degrees
What's the best GH for these shrimp? Any idea?
sthh,
Most of the Cardinals color is kind of thin, are the original breeding stocking this type of color?
silane
You got no fish in the tank?
Any danger of mosquito breeding?
congrats on the shrimplets. originally from 7 to 25. you got sulawesi craze.join the club.
This picture was taken when i just switched on the light and saw them congregating. Most of the shrimps are still juveniles, which explains why some of them are smaller.
But i do notice 2 types of colours. Bright Red and dark purplish red after their colour darkens.
I am not too worried about mosquitoes breeding. i look at it everyday, and will surely notice them.
Just saw some very tiny shrimplets. Seems like the 3rd generation has finally arrived. This is so exciting
Keep up the good work pal and thanks for the write up.
I myself had a hard time trying to maintain the population.
Kudos to your nice work there.
Wow! Very nice collection of sulawesi shrimps you have!
May I ask where did you get them? Thinking of keeping a few after seeing your post
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