Setting up opae ula as birthday gift

[kurty]

Hello,

I need some help here.

I'm thinking of setting a opae ula system for my wife as her birthday is around the corner.

What should I do for this system?

Basically it will be in a glass container
That kept our wedding flowers.

I intend to place a lava rock in and a tree branch.
Add some clear white sand as the Base.
Get a few moss ball.

As for the opae ula, I saw each was going for $5.
No filter system etc as it will be placed in our bedroom.

[Starlett]

Hi I'm not an expert in upae ulas, but I know the basics.
Firstly, you need brackish water, do make sure you have it.
Secondly, I don't think wood is suitable. Dead coral fans are most commonly used and lava rocks.
Sand is fine.
before you add the live stocks, if you are setting up the tank yourself, you need to wash the deco and substrate well enough not to leave any trace of toxic.
Try adding 1 shrimp first before you introduce the whole gang.
Good luck!

[LeAnne]

If you are inexperience please get the one already setup or pass them your tank and get them to setup for you, the water needs to have beneficial bacterial already in the water and like fresh water shrimp, they are senstive to checmicals.

FYI they are endangered so please give them a chance to survive.

[Griffith DreamWalker]

I would advise you to either get a bigger tank and cycle it properly or pass them up. Please read up on the Hawaiian Red Shrimp (Opae Ula) before even getting one. These are brackish water critters that are enedemic to Hawaii. Better known as super shrimp due to their hardiness, they're poached and then tortured by being dumped into 'ecospheres' that claim to produce algae, shrimp eat algae, produce waste, algae grow etc. THIS iS A LIE. Opae Ula can live for 20 years despite their size. In that hell, they live for 2-3 years for majority, growing smaller at every molt as they consume themselves before dying. All Opae Ula found in fish shops are all wild caught and poached (by aforementioned poachers) from protected places and then sold to the unassuming hobbyist who thinks that these are 'captive-bred' shrimps. That's just basic information, yeah?

Please, if you're inexperienced with brackish water shrimps, invertebrates or the aquatic hobby itself, pass these endangered shrimps up and go for something else. They're already, endangered, poached, not to mention that 90% of their habitats gone from humans 'developing' the land. These beauties do not need you adding to the pressure.

PS: Never keep fish/shrimp/anything in 5G tanks or smaller unless you're experienced and willing to risk crashing. Smaller tanks have very unstable water parameters, even more so when uncycled.

[Laika]

Hi, have you decided to setup an opae ula shrimp tank yet? If you give these guys a good start they will be a very rewarding pet to keep.
If you would like to know anything in particular about setting up a tank for these shrimp just ask

I have a nice 20 gallon tank to home my opae ula, have another 2 tanks cycling. Going to have a go at selective breeding.

[kurty]

Sorry for the late reply, already done the setup last week. Lucky with the help of an experienced opae seller.

Set up was easy as I mostly purchase from him.20151013_183153.jpg20151013_183116.jpg

[Laika]

That looks nice, be sure to uncap the lid once a week or so to bring some oxygen into the container.

[kurty]

Yeah, will do that. So far wife didn't complain nor compliment it. I guess her interest for shrimps is ready ad hoc..

For sure, opae are not that active. Probably the reason why they can live up to 20 years.
Nonetheless, it's definitely a good additional to the bedroom.

I feed them once a month and place the bottle near a window for some free algae

[Laika]

Yeah, will do that. So far wife didn't complain nor compliment it. I guess her interest for shrimps is ready ad hoc..

For sure, opae are not that active. Probably the reason why they can live up to 20 years.
Nonetheless, it's definitely a good additional to the bedroom.

I feed them once a month and place the bottle near a window for some free algae

I feed mine once a week but a very very small amount.

[Starlett]

I have a jar too, but much bigger. Since you have already settled for a small one, I advise you to uncap everyday or every other day, for couple of hours or so to keep them healthy. Actually the shrimps may be lacking of oxygen already, but due to their hardiness, they will not die so soon. Uncapping allows gas exchange.
While we enjoy watching them, we also would want the shrimps to be comfortable in their habitat.

[Laika]

it would be better if you left an inch or more of air between the water level and the lid to store more oxygen.