Macrobrachium lanchesteri help

[fisherw]

I have a batch of Macrobrachium lanchesteri. I am fairly confident of this after locating this:

http://www.shrimpnow.com/forums/show...ighlight=macro

(assuming the information there is correct).

The two gravid females I have transferred from the community tank to the shrimp tank (with the cherry shrimps and living together peacefully in case anyone is concerned) have their eggs hatching and I have a bunch of tiny white larvae floating in the tank. The eggs have been hatching for about 2 to 3 days now with the females still having eggs in their swimmerets.

I think that while new ones are hatching, some may be dying as I see carcasses floating around.

Do the moderators or any forummers have any experience with breeding this specie or Macrobrachiums in general? Do they need brackish water? What do I do regarding feeding or are there enough floating bits for them to filter? What else should I do?

No big deal if I don’t succeed in keeping the larvae alive but it would be fun if I can get some to survive and grow so appreciate any pointers especially from any with past success.

[Quixotic]

Hmm... not sure which information you are referring to, but these are rather generic and seems to be applicable to most Macrobrachium spp.

Anyway, it is said that the feeder/ghost shrimp sold in our LFS are actually M. lanchesteri. If they are indeed M. lanchesteri...

Here is some interesting information,
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/AC740T/AC740T09.htm

It mentions that developmental stages of this prawn can thrive in fully fresh-water habitats, so it shouldn't be a problem. See the other links I posted as they mentioned artemia as food source for the larvaes.

There seems to be some contradiction with regards to the food they eat though. It is suggested that they are algal feeders, but a lot of aquarists reported that they are carnivores and will eat small fish. Otherwise, the information above looks to be good value.

Here is an account of breeding and pictures of the larvae,
http://pfranzek.whv-web.de/wirbellos...tuser=0&page=1

Information from www.wirbellose.de,
http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools

[fisherw]

Many thanks, Quixotic. I did indeed buy the shrimps from a lfs selling them as feeder shrimps, a bag (counted them on reaching home, of 22) for $1. I enjoyed them a lot more than my cherries. The M lanchesteri are so much bigger therefore easier to see, did not need to hide in the community tank and a lot more $ for $. Lots of character, fliting around like helicopters and acting like king of the hill. They look exactly like the photos in the link I provided so, if the information there is correct, it should be M lanchesteri

Will look through the links you provided. To answer your question: any information to keep the larvae alive. Will see if the answer is in the links you provided. Again, thanks.

[fisherw]

Quixotic,

Just went through the links you provided. I have seen the first. Noted that it lives in fresh water which is useful (hopeful?).

The second on the other hand is new to me and very useful. Conclusion is that the chances of success is very low but going to give it a shot. If the difference in species is down to something like the different length of the rostrum, then how can a layman be sure of the exact species. Your statement "If they are indeed M. lanchesteri..." suddenly seems very relevant. However, I suspect the method would not differ much between the different species; in any case, the methods are "experimental" for a start.

What seems puzzling, even laughable, is the concern that the larvae dies from hitting the wall if the light is turned off. What comes to mind is an "American Funniest Home Video" clip of someone running into a glass door. I don't see the larvae swimming fast enough to concuss itself or have sufficient mass to do so.

Big question: How do you get the page translated? Appreciate detailed instructions if you don't mind.

Thanks.

[Quixotic]

If the difference in species is down to something like the different length of the rostrum, then how can a layman be sure of the exact species.

Not just the different length of the rostrum, the mouth parts etc are also used to differentiate the species. A lot of the small shrimps need to be under the microscope to really determine the exact species.

I have read that in the case of Macrobrachium, claws can be used to differentiate them as well. If these are feeder shrimps, then it is highly likely they are M. lanchesteri although I have heard that M. rosenbergii can be found as contaminants.

What seems puzzling, even laughable, is the concern that the larvae dies from hitting the wall if the light is turned off.

I don't know if this is something that is lost in translation or what, but don't larvaes do swim around in jerking motions? Perhaps there is some concern on that. I really don't know enough to know if they do die from hitting the wall, as much as it does sound odd.

To me, I am not sure if this is something that one should be overly concerned with. Water quality and feeding seems to be more of concern.

I either use Babelfish, http://babelfish.altavista.com or Google language tools, http://www.google.com.sg/language_tools?hl=en to translate the pages.

[fisherw]

Yes. They do sometimes jerk especially when startled like when I rap on the glass or if something is close to it, another shrimp or something I hold close to it.

I just have to rely on colouration which unfortunately is far from perfect as another, M lamarrei, is a possible candidate as is the M rosenbergii (which I understand is what you catch at those pay prawn fishing spots; huge and with huge claws) and only when it gets to the adult stage.

Did you translate line by line? Whenever I tried on a page basis, it is rather unintelligible, probably because of sentence structure.

[Quixotic]

Depends on websites, some of them work with altavista while some work with google language tool only. If one doesn't work, try the other. www.wirbellose.de doesn't work with altavista, so I used google language tool.

And sometimes, the translated sentences don't come out right.