to gravel or not to gravel

[babydragons]

So last weekend I purchased my very first pair of cherry shrimp. I have wanted them for a while and I checked with the guy at the pet store and said that they will do great in my tank. And he was completely right! I originally had 2 balloon mollies with their fry(12 fry) in the tank which I then moved the adults to my parents tank. Since the move, the cherry shrimps personalities have come out quite a bit. They rule the tank and go swimming around and clean the gravel and the tank ornament. I just love them and I want to get more so bad. Well heres the thing. I dont know if I should keep the gravel that they are on now or get the Fluvel Shrimp Substrate. I just updated the lights in the tank so I can get more plants. I only java moss and an anubias in there now as well as some unknown plant that came wrapped up in the java moss. The tank is on hold until I can decide about the substrate. Someone please help!!

[stormhawk]

If the shrimps are doing fine with the current setup, do not change anything. The special substrate is not needed if all you are keeping is Cherry Shrimp.

[babydragons]

Cool thanks!! As soon as the balloon molly fry get big enough to move they will be going to new homes and I can start get more shrimps!

[stormhawk]

That would be the best because Mollies can and will attack shrimps if given the chance. If you have a healthy number of adult shrimps of both sexes, you will soon find yourself overrun by their babies. They breed like rabbits when conditions are right.