CRS - no signs of berried

**jetset** · 30th Mar 2009, 13:09

Here are pics of the algae that I have been battling with. I've separated them from the moss that they usually cling to. This is the amount that I can pull out everyday in about 10-15 mins.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...497#post446497

Anyone can help me identify them?

**Gexrian** · 30th Mar 2009, 16:29

You have very hairy moss?

**jetset** · 31st Mar 2009, 11:33

If only it can be market as Hairy moss, I could be on a roll here.

**Gexrian** · 2nd Jun 2009, 10:18

Back to the topic. No shrimp seen berried from last year till now which is about more that 7 months. Tank is in an air con room, water change 10% weekly, ph and amonia is ok. Any sifus here can advice on why?

Also is the KH or GH parameters crucial in getting berried CRS?

**kensk** · 4th Jun 2009, 11:57

Originally Posted by Gexrian

Back to the topic. No shrimp seen berried from last year till now which is about more that 7 months. Tank is in an air con room, water change 10% weekly, ph and amonia is ok. Any sifus here can advice on why?

Also is the KH or GH parameters crucial in getting berried CRS?

Maybe all the shrimps are male? Can share some pictures?

**Jimmy** · 4th Jun 2009, 12:04

How to see male or female CRS?

**hobbez** · 5th Jun 2009, 02:47

OK, I must be doing something right but my CRS shrimp are now starting to get berried on a regular basis and at last count, I have abt 20 baby shrimps. I still think the survival rate is low though, cos each time the females carry abt 20 eggs? But less than 10 survive... The 20 babies are from 3 different batches.

I use a pH neutral gravel and top layer is ADA Malaya. The only parameters I monitor are temperature and pH.

I have a chiller and I set the temp to 22-24 deg C and pH monitored using a Pinpoint in-tank meter. I keep my pH between 6.5-6.6.

The ADA tends to lower the pH to abt 6.3-6.4, so whenever it drops to below 6.5, I hang a bag of coral chips in there to bring pH up to 6.6, then take it out and let it slowly decrese to 6.5... Usually takes like 12-20 hrs to drop from 6.6 - 6.5 so its not a hassle. I just check before work and after work.

I do a 40% water change weekly, and add Mosura Mineral water and Mosura old sea mud according to instruction label, with each water change. I also add Mosura shrimp tonic everyday, and Mosura Bio Plus alternate days.

Mine is a 50L tank.

As for identifying male/female CRS, it can be quite hard. But typically females have a rounded bottom (where the legs are) - that's where they carry the eggs.

Most of my babies are SS, though there are 1 or 2 SSS. I also have 3 all white CRS babies....

Lastly, if anyone wants to buy some SS babies, PM me

They are quite good quality with solid colours... I will only sell those that are abt 1cm long. The smaller ones, I think let them grow a bit more first...

**silane** · 6th Jun 2009, 02:15

40% of WC is too much and that may explain why your baby survival rate is not high though you have used all the good additives.

**hobbez** · 7th Jun 2009, 18:04

OK, but even with that, I do get algae growth... With less %, say 20%, I may end up with algae bloom... Any ideas?

Also, my LFS is recommending peat granules to lower my tank's pH? Is it safe?

**mozaqua** · 7th Jun 2009, 18:11

That hair algae is a killer!
I really believe you need to get rid of the hair algae to near zero before the shrimp are happy.
Best way I have seen other than manually removing it is to lower the PH to 6.5-7.0 not higher than 7.2. Also hardness should not be too high. Once that is in check, make sure to replace most of the filter floss with fresh floss. This will help trap the small particles which cause the hair algae to bloom in the first place.

Also Nitrate is never Zero, but you can get it pretty close 1-15 is ok for most shrimp. 20 is too high, Nitrite(amonia) should always be undetectable.

Once all this is in check, through in some Ketpang leaf and the shrimp should get berried right away.

Regards