Shrimp in a home aquarium. Feeding aquarium shrimp, review of shrimp food

Every year, a new trend in aquarium farming is gaining momentum, related to the keeping and breeding of freshwater crustaceans in an aquarium. Dwarf freshwater shrimp, the length of which usually does not exceed 20-40 mm, are among the most popular ornamental invertebrates presented in the aquarium hobby. Their species diversity is hardly foreseeable in the near future. At least, new species are arriving in Europe with enviable regularity. Many surprises in this regard should be expected, in particular from the little-studied regions of Indonesia and mainland Southeast Asia.

Enthusiasm freshwater shrimp has become so widespread that it has attracted the attention of many well-known manufacturers of aquarium equipment who have launched production necessary equipment and food, especially for such lovers.

Living in natural reservoirs, most species of dwarf shrimp prefer clean waters with fast current and high concentration of oxygen dissolved in water. A continuous flow of water provides crustaceans with various microelements, essential minerals, food and, of course, oxygen.

red cherry

That's why constant movement They also need water in the aquarium; this ensures normal ventilation of the eggs, which significantly reduces the female’s energy consumption. In addition, under conditions of rationally organized flow in the aquarium (optimal speed, absence of dead zones), pathogenic organisms have less chance of gaining a foothold on the host, which reduces the risk of embryo death due to damage to eggs by fungi and bacteria.

An important feature of all shrimp is the ability to retain water in the gill space. Due to this, in nature, even with low air humidity, they are able to make forays onto land in search of another body of water, with more favorable conditions for life.

Since shrimp have a lot of natural enemies, such migrations usually occur at night. When night dew helps animals retain the moisture they need. Shrimp most often make such transitions in groups. They retain their tendency to travel even in an aquarium. True, not all species of decapods are fidgety. There are also relatively calm ones among them, not trying to leave their aquarium and in search of food, limiting themselves to trying to crawl into the filter.

Dwarf shrimp, suitable for the hobby aquarium, are now not uncommon on the market.
Below is a list of the most commonly kept species in aquariums.

Redfire, also called Red Cherry, are brightly colored and miniature. It is excellent for aquariums with small fish, since it does not pose a threat to them, moreover, it is undemanding in terms of keeping conditions and is very prolific.

White Pearl(White Pearl) and Blue Pearl(Blue Pearl) are just as early maturing and productive as the previous species - ideal for beginner aquarists.

Intensely striped bumblebee shrimp is mainly of imported origin, since its breeding is associated with some difficulties. This species of shrimp originates from the northern subtropical regions of China and thrives in unheated aquariums.

Bee Shrimp It is quite rare to find on sale. Since the bulk of these shrimp are exported to Japan.

Crystal Red, or the red bee shrimp, is the queen among dwarf shrimp. It has been known for a long time, but, unfortunately, only rarely gets into trading network, since mass breeding has so far been poorly developed.

Green dwarf shrimp originally from India. These intense green crustaceans are very thermophilic. They are unproductive and grow slowly, and therefore are quite rare and expensive.

Rednose shrimp is another species exported from India. Females constantly carry eggs, but the offspring, when kept in fresh water are not brought, since the larvae develop in the sea. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the body of the shrimp; it should be translucent, which is a sure sign of its health!

Shrimp Amano- the first commercial species imported into Germany. They owe their fame to Takashi Amano, who used these shrimp in his natural aquariums as destroyers of filamentous algae.

This group also includes a long list of shrimp of as yet unknown species, subspecies and color forms that appear in the retail trade from time to time.

Freshwater shrimp of unidentified species

The recommended volume of the shrimp tank is about 50 liters. In a larger aquarium, they will be practically invisible, since they like to move around all sorts of crevices and depressions in search of food, only occasionally coming into the field of view of the observer. And even if you constantly feed the shrimp in the same place, you still won’t be able to get them all together.

A large-volume aquarium is justified only for mass breeding. And for a dozen shrimp, any of the popular types, 15 liters is enough. Where they will be quite comfortable. And if suitable conditions are created, even in such a small volume, they will soon begin to multiply.

Shrimp in an aquarium They don’t swim a lot and only when they need it. Representatives of some species can be seen swimming very rarely, such species include the orange shrimp (Caridina propinqua).
There are shrimp that swim more readily, such species include the various color variations of Neocaridina heteropoda (red and yellow "cherries") and Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis, or "snowball", especially their juveniles.

red cherry

Shrimp in an aquarium Can be kept either separately or with fish. In the second case, you need to carefully select species composition fish, otherwise at one point the shrimp may turn into the most common food, so you should avoid proximity to such species of fish as tiger loaches and large apistograms (like cockatoos).

The presence of fish in an aquarium with shrimp suppresses the latter’s desire to swim – to the point of completely abandoning this method of movement.

In addition, a sufficient number of shelters must be built in the aquarium. Since shrimp, both newborns and adults, are very vulnerable during the molting period and can be killed even by the most peace-loving fish. The fish also significantly inhibit the reproduction of shrimp, rhythmically destroying newborns.

Contain shrimp in an aquarium better in group at least six copies, in this case they will feel more comfortable and appear more often in open areas. Without exception, all types of freshwater shrimp are very sensitive to the purity of water and its oxygen content. So the presence of a filter (an inexpensive internal one is quite sufficient) and an air compressor are mandatory. It is better if it is 2 in 1. A small sponge must be installed at the filter inlet to prevent the newly appeared offspring from being drawn in.

Once a week it is necessary to replace the water (1/4 of the volume) with fresh water at the same temperature.
As for the composition of water, for most popular types it is not important. Temperature range: 21-26°C, but sudden changes should be avoided. Upper limit value can be considered 30°C, and the lowest 18°C, these are extreme values possible for a short period of time.

It happens that shrimp jump out of the water, so a cover glass or lid will not hurt.

To ensure comfortable conditions, it is enough that the water has an active pH reaction in the range from 6.4 to 7; small deviations in one direction or another do not cause any visible damage to the health of the shrimp.
Water hardness can range from 4 to 10dGH, although there are known cases of keeping shrimp with total hardness values of 20–22dGH.

Shrimp in an aquarium

In general, for content shrimp in an aquarium Regular tap water will do as long as it is suitable for drinking and cooking. And high carbonate hardness in this case will contribute to the rapid restoration of the shell after molting. Such water usually has a neutral active reaction (pH = 7) or a value close to this.

Before using tap water, it should sit for several days to complete removal the chlorine it contains. IN aquarium with shrimp All kinds of chemical additives, often used as mineral fertilizers for aquatic vegetation, should be used very carefully. Copper compounds are especially harmful to them.

It should be remembered that in nature, shrimp usually live in flowing water bodies, where, unlike in an aquarium, there are completely no harmful nitrogen compounds. It is recommended to purchase special tests for nitrates (NO3) and nitrites (NO2) and periodically, at least once a week, monitor these parameters.

A nitrate concentration of 10 mg/liter can be considered close to the limit; when this value is reached, part of the water should be replaced. To reduce the NO3 concentration by half, to 5 mg/l, 50% of the total volume should be replaced.

Cleaning the soil does not cause difficulties until the shrimp have offspring that constantly fall into the siphon.
Only the front, viewing wall should be cleared of algae growth, and the fry should feed on the rest.

Despite the fact that shrimps, which are calm by nature, do not raise turbidity in the aquarium, there is almost always some kind of suspension in the water that should be gotten rid of.

The least suitable filters in a shrimp tank are filters with a water pump, which create a strong current of water that carries away invertebrates, preventing them from living a calm and measured life. For this purpose, airlift foam (sponge) systems are better suited, which not only collect large and small suspended matter, but also effectively aerate the water. In addition, shrimp love to collect detritus from the surface of sponges.

Shrimp spend most of their lives searching for food; from morning to evening (and some species even at night) they graze like herbivorous mammals. In this case, absolutely any surface can act as feeding grounds, such as soil, stones, driftwood, aquarium walls, filter sponges, plants. With quick movements of miniature claws, they scrape off tiny particles, transferring them to the so-called maxillae, and the latter send the prey into the mouth. The process occurs almost continuously with short pauses for rest.

If some of the shrimp begin to frantically rush around the aquarium, making their way through thickets of aquatic vegetation, this indicates that one of the females has molted and is calling for sexual partners with its pheromones. If there are a lot of shrimp in the aquarium, then such races of males will be observed quite often.

Catching a shrimp in an aquarium is not particularly difficult. Seeing the approaching net, the shrimp rise on their legs and carefully watch the unfamiliar object, deftly dodging it at the very last moment.

Shrimp have excellent control of their body thanks to a powerful four-bladed tail-fan (telson), which allows them to make rapid throws in any direction. However, with some skill, coping with the maneuvers of shrimp will not be difficult. It should be borne in mind that when caught, shrimp tend to jump out of the net, like grasshoppers.

When choosing shrimp to keep in an aquarium, you have to take into account the possibility of interspecific crossing. This primarily concerns breeding forms, in which, from haphazard crossing, offspring appear with nondescript coloring, reminiscent of the wild dominant form.

New breeds of shrimp are obtained through careful, intelligent selection, main goal which is to consolidate the desired characteristics.

For those who are new to keeping freshwater shrimp in an aquarium, below is a list of the most popular species.

The first group of species capable of interbreeding with each other: red cherry, red fire cherry, sakura cherry, yellow cherry, red and white heteropoda, that is, all derivatives of Neocaridina heteropoda and Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis (snowball shrimp).

yellow cherry

The second group of shrimp capable of hybridization: red, black and gold “crystals” of all gradations, including “red wine”, “red ruby”, “King Kong”, “panda”, that is, all derivatives of Caridina cantonensis, and also black, red and ordinary “tigers”, German breeding shrimp Tupfel (“spot” or “speckled”).
At the same time shared content Shrimp from the first and second groups are safe in terms of maintaining the purity of the species.

Other types of freshwater dwarf shrimp on the market can be kept with shrimp from both the first and second groups: green babaulti, orange shrimp (C.propinqua), all types of rednose shrimp, the famous Amanovka and others

If you are not interested in the quality of future offspring, you can purchase any species you like.

Even if shrimp are kept separately, they also need different hiding places. It can be driftwood, stones, living plants. By using your imagination, you can create an interesting composition in your aquarium using these natural materials.

As for plants, they are absolutely necessary for both successful maintenance and breeding shrimp in an aquarium. Plants serve not only as decorations, but also perform other important tasks in the aquarium ecosystem.

Aquatic flora utilizes harmful substances, helps loosen the soil, serves as shelter and releases oxygen. Many microorganisms settle on the leaves of plants, which are an ideal food source for juvenile shrimp.

Small-leaved plant species such as cabomba, hornwort, ambulia, etc. are better suited for the shrimper.

Various mosses look great in an aquarium with shrimp. IN community aquarium Over time, mosses quickly collect dirt. In the shrimp tank they are always clean, since shrimp love to graze on their surface for hours, looking for something edible for themselves. Shrimp are also very fond of cladophora. In its small threads many delicacies for shrimp accumulate.
Curtains from Leptodictyum riparium (“thong”) perfectly enliven the landscape. This moss is distinguished by its rapid growth and the fact that it stretches its long threads in the direction of the light. Its leaves are small, but total mass they create an amazing “airy” flower bed. Despite the difficult-to-remember name, this moss is by no means uncommon in aquariums.

Female blue shrimp with eggs

For normal development, plants require bright light, and since shrimp of most types are not afraid of light, the aquarium must be brightly lit. In addition, good lighting allows you to see the shrimp in the aquarium in all their glory.

As optimal light sources in aquarium with shrimp conventional ones have proven themselves well fluorescent lamps with a color temperature of 5400K and above. They correspond to the natural solar spectrum. The use of such lamps ensures normal color rendering that is comfortable for the eyes.

Bright light must be strictly dosed in time (no more than 10 hours), otherwise there is a threat of filamentous growth, which is practically impossible to get rid of on small-leaved plants, and shrimp, with the exception of Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata), ignore this algae.

There is an opinion that all ornamental shrimp come from the tropics. Many of them live only in the subtropics, prefer coolness and are accustomed to seasonal temperature fluctuations. Thus, in some streams of Hong Kong in winter the water temperature drops to 14°C, and in hot summer months rises to 24°C and above. Maintaining this temperature regime applies only to savages - people from the subtropics.
But adapted animals, which have been bred in aquariums for many generations, have lost their connection to natural rhythms and reproduce without problems even at constantly elevated temperatures.

It has been noted that some types of shrimp are capable of changing their color within certain limits, adapting to the color of the surface on which they are located. So on dark soils they darken, and on light soils they turn pale.
When choosing soil for a shrimp tank, you can take this factor into account. The soil should not contain soluble components that can affect the composition of water.

Feeding shrimp in an aquarium

When keeping shrimp together with fish, the problem of feeding them actually does not exist, since they will happily eat the remains of the fish table, but this is provided that the aquarium has large area bottom, it is densely planted with small-leaved plants and a biological balance has been established in it. Shrimps will graze on the ground and aquatic vegetation, picking up organic matter left over from the meals of other aquatic organisms. Even the excrement of fish (especially viviparous fish) and snails is used.

Shrimp eat dry fish food well, especially those intended for various catfish. They enjoy eating various frozen foods.

Currently, specialized food for crustaceans is produced (in the form of granules or tablets, for example Taiwanese Biomax No. 3 or SERA Shrimps natural granules). Of course, such food is not replaceable when keeping shrimp in a separate aquarium. Some vegetables can serve as good vegetable food for shrimp, in particular leaf spinach, zucchini, green peas, cucumbers, etc., which should be boiled for several minutes before use. Experiments with vegetables are entirely permissible, but it is necessary to monitor the shrimp’s reaction to them and promptly remove from the aquarium any food that does not suit them.

It would not be a bad idea to give the newly hatched offspring food for the fry.

At the same time, we should not forget that overfeeding animals is much more harmful than underfeeding, since in some cases this can even lead to their death. Exists general rule: feed little by little, but as varied as possible.

It is advisable to give the shrimp one or two weekly fasting days, during which they feed only on pasture.

Breeding shrimp in an aquarium

Aquarium shrimp are heterosexual animals. Therefore, for their reproduction, the aquarium requires the presence of individuals of both sexes, who are also of reproductive age.
In relation to shrimp, it would be more correct to say “reproduction” rather than “breeding”.

The quality of water in the aquarium has a huge impact on the reproductive functions of shrimp. Heavy rainfalls in nature and the resulting influx of fresh water are a signal for freshwater shrimp to begin reproduction, and an increase daylight hours and increased temperature stimulate the maturation of reproductive products.

Female yellow shrimp with eggs

So, when similar conditions are created in the aquarium, shrimp begin to reproduce quite quickly, regardless of whether you want to get offspring from them or not. So in the not-too-distant future, their numbers may have to be controlled.

It is almost impossible to prevent this process, but it is quite possible to stimulate it - by changing the water or transplanting it to a new environment (another aquarium).

A sexually mature female collects eggs in the ovary, which is located at the junction of the cephalothorax (carapace) with the tail (abdomen). If the upper covers are transparent, then the caviar will be clearly visible. Its color depends on the species of shrimp. And it can be red, pink, yellow, orange, green, brown, black, white.

For their characteristic location and special shape, shrimp lovers call the ovaries “saddle” (“saddle” in English spelling). When the eggs mature, the female sheds her shell, releasing pheromones into the water. Having sensed these, males begin to actively swim around the aquarium in search of a partner. The first one to find it fertilizes it, after which the female moves the eggs under her tail, where the eggs are securely glued to the swimming legs.

Fertilized eggs develop for about a month (the period depends on the temperature of the water and on the species), during this period the female constantly moves her legs, providing future offspring with oxygen.

In due time, a mass hatching of juveniles occurs, which immediately spread throughout the entire aquarium and begin an independent life, feeding like adults. At first, they hide in all sorts of shelters until they grow up and get stronger.

Newborn shrimp are very small (their body is about 4 mm long), but in outline, and often in color (for example, black and white, red and white, gold and other “crystals”), they are quite similar to their parents.

The fertility of a female depends on her age and the species to which she belongs. For females carrying eggs for the first time, the norm is a clutch of 10-15 eggs. Older ones are able to bear 1.5-2 times more.

Treatment of shrimp in an aquarium

Dwarf shrimp get sick quite rarely, but when they get sick, medicinal preparations for fish are not only useless, but also harmful.

Therefore, it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it.

Asian breeders have long appreciated the positive effect that the use of sea almond leaves (Terminalia tappa) gives when breeding ornamental fish. They use this natural medicine to prevent and treat many aquatic diseases. The leaves secrete substances that protect mucous membranes and have a good disinfectant, bactericidal and fungicidal (killing fungi) effect.

Depending on the number of leaves placed in the aquarium, the water, due to the humic acids washed out of them, acquires a shade from yellow to light brown. With a correspondingly low carbonate hardness, the pH value decreases, but the electrical conductivity (level of total mineralization) slightly increases.
It is necessary to ensure that the leaves have a brownish-reddish color. Gray leaves should not be used under any circumstances, as they were collected green, that is, full of juice, and may contain toxic substances.

They are easy to use: you just need to lower them into the aquarium water at the rate of 1-3 leaves for every 100 liters of volume. After a few days, the leaves will be completely saturated with water and fall to the ground.

Simultaneously with the therapeutic and prophylactic function, another important task is solved; sea almond leaves serve as an excellent substrate for a whole group of microorganisms that form the basis of the diet of young shrimp.

The life of most dwarfs shrimp in an aquarium is limited to 1-1.5 years, and during this time the shrimp must grow and have time to create its own kind, so there is no time to get sick.

Shrimp in an aquarium serve a purely aesthetic function. They can eat various organic debris, cleaning the bottom, as well as algae. Caring for them at home is relatively easy. However, to maintain bright colors and active behavior of animals, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules content. Also, shrimp may not get along well with all types of aquarium fish.

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Description

In nature, the aquarium shrimp lives in almost all salt and freshwater bodies of water in the world. All individuals of this species come from different regions of Asia. Shrimp are crustacean species of the arthropod type and have jaws that capture and hold food.

Freshwater fish differ in size and color variations, but their body structure is identical. Long antennae provide a good sense of smell and touch. Rotating in different sides eyes provide a wide view.

The shrimp's head is fused with the anterior thoracic segments, which provide reliable protection in the form of a shell. Animals move along the bottom using walking legs. Shrimp have a well-developed tail, which helps them perform leaping movements when they escape from predators.

The size of the decorative variety is 2–15 cm. On average, such aquatic inhabitants live 1.5 years.

Species

These animals are represented by a wide variety of species. The most unusual and popular shrimp:

Type of shrimp	Description
Riley	The most picky species in terms of care. These crustaceans can live in water of any hardness. They are omnivores. The tail and cephalothorax are one color, and the rest of the body is another. Grow on average up to 2.5 cm
Macrobranchium	There are about 200 subspecies that differ from each other color scheme. The most common shrimp are yellow, blue, and black. The peculiarity of this species is the presence of a second pair of limbs large size. It is most clearly visible in males. Average length torso - 5–8 cm
Cardinal	This species is capricious in terms of conditions. A special feature is the presence of front paws white. This shrimp has a very attractive shade, the main color is red of varying saturation. The shell is covered with chaotically located white dots
Harlequin	This species is characterized by timidity and a long habituation to changes in surroundings. Its body can be red, white or black. This is the smallest shrimp of all other aquarium species, measuring only 1.2 cm in length.
Glass	Unpretentious appearance. These crustaceans are not shy and do not hide during the day. They are excellent garbage collectors in the aquarium, clearing it of algae particles and remaining food. Their body is transparent, but can acquire different shades depending on the food consumed and the conditions of detention. Grows up to 5 cm in length

It is easy to care for these crustaceans at home, but some species are capricious and have special requirements for their maintenance.

The shrimp aquarium can be of any size. To avoid mistakes, the container is purchased at the rate of one individual per liter of water. If the crustaceans are large, then you will need 2 or 4 liters.

The optimal water temperature should be +17…+30 degrees. More is acceptable low temperature, but in this case the pets will become sedentary. During sudden temperature changes, it life cycle is greatly reduced, the crustacean may die.

In order for the animals in the aquarium to develop normally, the water must be changed every week. You can add regular tap water, but it must be settled and room temperature. The liquid must be saturated with oxygen using compressors and aerators.

Chemicals, such as water stabilizers, should not be used in the aquarium. Many of them contain copper sulfate and other copper impurities, to which freshwater shrimp are very sensitive.

It is important that the tank contains live ornamental plants, in which crustaceans will hide if necessary. Cladophora, pistia, hornwort, and Java moss are used for landscaping.

The aquarium must be equipped with a special lid, because some species crawl beyond its limits. The shrimp lives in air for only a few minutes.

Nutrition

Animals eat absolutely everything. They spend most of their time searching for food, scouring plants and the bottom. They eat plaque on stones and leaves, food leftovers from fish, and can even eat their own shell, shed after molting.

You can feed shrimp with dry fish flakes or catfish tablets with spirulina. Food should be varied. Residues of food are removed from the aquarium after 1–2 hours, as they contribute to the accumulation of nitrates in the water.

The favorite food of ornamental shrimp is tubifex. You can use pieces of meat (without fat). It is best to purchase special food designed specifically for aquarium shrimp, in which all substances are correctly balanced. To save them from death, you need to choose the right neighbors for them.

Fish compatibility:

Aquarium shrimp can get along well even with those fish that can attack them. To do this, they plant in the aquarium large number plants, make decorations from bark and tree branches, and lay out large and small stones at the bottom. Thanks to this, crustaceans find shelter where predators cannot reach.

Modern aquarists have long gone beyond the traditional keeping of fish. Today, in artificial tanks you can increasingly find other aquatic inhabitants - turtles, frogs, crustaceans, snails. Even a shrimp can no longer be called a rare aquarium inhabitant. Such diversity is impressive, but only if the company is chosen wisely and everyone coexists peacefully. All unusual creatures are of interest, and aquarium shrimp are no exception. Who do these crustaceans get along with, and how difficult are they to keep?

Shrimp in nature

These crustaceans can be found all over the world - they live in both fresh and salt water. However, there are many varieties of shrimp, and each of them has its own habitat:

Almost all successfully domesticated shrimp come from various Asian regions. Shrimp are crustaceans and belong to the phylum arthropods. But, unlike marine crustaceans, they have maxillary, thanks to which creatures not only move, but also capture and hold food.

In addition, aquarium shrimp have five pairs legs and quite massive tail, which helps them escape from enemies. After all, with the help of it, individuals can move quickly and spasmodically. Aquarium shrimp are very modest in size, but at the same time they have an excellent sense of smell and touch, which is provided by elongated antennae.

Besides, eyes These creatures can rotate, contributing to an expanded visual range - it is difficult for enemies to catch these big-eyed inhabitants by surprise. And such unusual organs of vision are very helpful in finding food. Oromaxillary system shrimp's is quite complex: it includes three jaws, the task of which is to grind food, as well as jaws that hold food in the mouth. Other limbs help these arthropods grab food and crawl. Size individuals depend on their gender, it varies within 3-8 cm.

Features of shrimp

Most freshwater shrimp are omnivores whose diet is based on lower aquatic vegetation. In addition to being omnivorous, they are distinguished by high endurance.

It is most interesting to observe shrimp in the daytime, when they are most active - then the crustaceans quickly move along the ground surface, looking for food, and they are also able to deftly crawl along the leaves of plants.

When the shrimp senses danger, it begins to move quickly, making jerking movements due to the contraction of the tail. These creatures are prone to regular molting; they shed their shell shell, consisting of chitinous plates. During this period - 2-3 days before molting and 1-2 days after - they do not eat shrimp.

When shrimp are freed from the old cover, they hide in secluded places - plants, under pebbles or in grottoes, and for good reason - their soft tissues remain without hard shell, performing protective functions.

After shedding their “skin,” crustaceans recover damaged or lost limbs. Regeneration processes in young animals are the most intense, while in adults they are slow and gradual.

Keeping aquarium shrimp

Freshwater crustaceans do not require special conditions; even a beginner can keep and care for them. For one and a half dozen individuals, a 10-15 liter tank is enough. However, it is worth considering that these crustaceans are quite prolific, and sooner or later the number of inhabitants will increase, which means it is better to immediately place them in a more spacious aquarium.

These creatures look most impressive against the backdrop of black soil, but here you can rely on your own taste. The most suitable conditions for keeping aquarium shrimp are:

Water temperature– 24°-25°С. Although shrimp can live if this parameter drops to 15°C or rises to 30°C, it is still better not to test the inhabitants for viability.
Heating– not required if the air temperature in the house does not drop below 17°C.
Aeration is necessary– Crustaceans react very sensitively to a lack of oxygen in water.
Live vegetation required– It is best to plant Java moss in the tank; shrimp use it as a hiding place and for cleaning. Beginners are advised to start with unpretentious plants- pistia or hornwort.
Water must be filtered– you just need to put a nylon multilayer mesh on the end of the filter. If the device creates a strong current, it can be reduced using special nozzles.
Lighting– shrimp usually do not need additional light sources, but plants need moderate lighting for growth and development.

Particular attention should be paid to water quality, since aquarium shrimp immediately react to changes in water chemical composition. For replacement, you can only use clean, well-settled water. It is enough to just add water containing chlorine once, and the crustaceans will begin to get sick and die.

In addition, it is important to avoid the appearance of any chemical impurity in environment. Do not use sprays or fresheners in the room where the shrimp tank is located. It is advisable to regularly ventilate the room. Also, shrimp do not tolerate increased concentrations of nitrogenous components very well.

Who do shrimp get along with?

Various aquarium inhabitants love to feast on these small crustaceans, while the shrimp themselves are peaceful, friendly and unobtrusive. In order not to endanger them, you should take the issue of choosing neighbors seriously. It is best to attach shrimp to small, non-aggressive fish - neon, guppies or zebrafish. They also feel good in the company of snails - both of them will not be attacked.

Shrimp feeding regime and diet

Shrimp are omnivores and spend most of their waking hours searching for food. They are real orderlies underwater world– they eat dead areas of plants, the remains of other inhabitants (if any are found), and even microscopic particles of food that have settled on the ground. In general, everything you can profit from.

The main menu of shrimp is already available in the tank; the owner only needs to feed his charges a couple of times a day. It is not recommended to do this more often. You should not give food to crustaceans on the day of a water change; they are more resistant to hunger. stressful situations and other unwanted changes.

Shrimp will eat any food that is offered to them. This can be either dry daphnia or concentrated, balanced branded diets. Some manufacturers produce special menus for shrimp, they meet all the needs of these unusual creatures and are considered the best option. It is advisable to alternate food so that the inhabitants receive everything they need and their menu is varied.

How to care for a shrimp tank?

Caring for such a tank is practically no different from caring for a container in which fish live:

water is changed weekly, approximately 30-35% of the total volume;
soil siphoning is performed 1-2 times a week, a fairly easy procedure;
biological waste - snail shells, dead plants, etc. should be removed as they appear.

Any activities related to the invasion of shrimp habitat should be carried out as carefully as possible - these creatures are smaller than most fish, and they can be accidentally crushed or even killed. Otherwise, there are no particular difficulties.

Breeding aquarium shrimp

When it comes to reproduction, shrimp are completely independent - they do not need help or special conditions. If you take good care of them, individuals that have reached sexual maturity will soon begin to produce numerous offspring. If the female is ready to reproduce, she gives a signal to the males in the form of pheromone secretions. And then you can observe a real race - the males begin to rapidly rush around the tank in search of the supposed “bride”.

A male can spend more than one hour to find a female, and mating lasts no more than a second. After fertilization, a “saddle” is formed in the female’s back area - in shrimp of the cherry variety it is yellow, for special – gray. In fact, it is the eggs that show through at a certain stage of development.

Afterwards, the female molts, and the eggs end up under the abdomen. And after 21-28 days the fry appear. Young animals do not require special care; the babies immediately eat what their parents eat. They hide in dense vegetation and swim in jerky movements.

Not all shrimp are easy to breed, and if there are no problems with neocardine cherry and neocardine special, then to obtain offspring from Amano and filter feeders it is worth gaining knowledge and experience.

Diseases of aquarium shrimp

Another threat is pathogenic fungi, from which even those individuals that live in clean water, corresponding to all the required parameters. Fungi gradually deprive the individual nutrients, poison the body with toxic toxins. In this case, the risk of death of the inhabitant is very high.

Shrimp can also suffer from viral infections that are difficult to treat. No matter what the shrimp are sick with, the affected individuals should be removed from the general container into a separate tank and the water should be changed.

Freshwater shrimp are creatures with unusual appearance, thin, graceful and at the same time quite dexterous. And if you provide them with decent conditions, they will become wonderful inhabitants of the aquarium, attracting attention and not letting the owner get bored.

Photo of aquarium shrimp

Video about aquarium shrimp

Exotic appearance, bright colors and interesting behavior Freshwater shrimp are increasingly becoming residents of aquariums. The most popular among owners of artificial home ponds are small specimens, ranging in size from 2 to 5 cm.

Even a novice aquarist can keep them. Such shrimps, unlike their larger relatives, do not consider themselves predators, and therefore are not at all aggressive and are quite content with food that falls to the bottom.

There are quite a few species of freshwater shrimp, but only a few can be considered suitable for indoor aquariums. For the first acquaintance, small shrimp of the Caridina genera (lat. Caridina) and Neocaridina (lat. Neocaridina). They will not only provide company to peaceful fish, but will also clean their habitat from the remains of dry or live food and excess algae.

By the way, contrary to popular belief, shrimp do not eat algae at all. Such known species small crustaceans, such as Amano (lat. Caridina japonica), which are most often used to clean an aquarium, simply trample the plants with their numerous legs, removing from them the bacterial plaque necessary for their development. Algae cannot tolerate such blasphemous attitude towards themselves, and defiantly stop growing.

In addition to practical benefits, shrimp have another advantage - some of them attract with their unusual colors. At the bottom of the aquarium you can find red, blue, yellow, black and even striped crustaceans. These are the so-called cherry shrimp, bumblebee shrimp, tiger shrimp, crystal shrimp, etc.

Truly, they are ideal for small ponds, as they are unpretentious and easily reproduce in captivity. True, they have one drawback - passive behavior when molting. Instead of hiding, the soft shrimp lies flat for several hours, becoming easy prey for curious local residents.

All aquarium species Freshwater shrimp resemble crayfish in appearance, but are more mobile and peaceful. They may also have a transparent shell, which emphasizes their fragility and decorativeness. In addition, it should be noted that many shrimp change their color in an attempt to adapt to their environment, under stress, or when there is a sudden change in temperature.

IN home aquarium a special pump will create the flow, the filter will purify the water, and the aerator will saturate it with oxygen. It is better to put soaked branches and stones at the bottom, and organic matter processed by bacteria will be a suitable soil. Mosses and cover plants are also good neighbors for shrimp.

Small crustaceans feed on live, frozen, vegetable and dry food of any size. It's funny to watch a shrimp trying to eat a bloodworm larger than itself. They get food from all nooks and crannies, preventing it from rotting and spoiling the water, which, combined with their ability to fight algae, makes them wonderful aquarium orderlies.

Freshwater aquariums are very colorful. Planted plants, among which decorative fish, snails, crayfish and shrimp swim and play, make it a real water garden.

Is it appropriate to keep crustaceans in a fish aquarium? Aquarists recommend carefully choosing fish that can be placed in an aquarium with freshwater shrimp. The compatibility of shrimp with some types of catfish has been proven.

For many freshwater fish, shrimp are delicious delicacy. If you want to create a friendly aquatic nursery within the walls of your own home, where there is no place for hunting and hostility, read the information about who is acceptable to keep shrimp with.

It is known that in wildlife shrimp use protective color camouflage, and there is more space to hide. The most popular aquarium shrimp species are: cherry shrimp, blue shrimp, white shrimp, and lemon shrimp (yellow shrimp). The main rule when choosing neighboring fish is that if the fish’s mouth is larger than the shrimp itself, then the latter will definitely be eaten! Let us consider separately the conditions of keeping these species and those freshwater inhabitants, with which you can put shrimp in an aquarium.

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Who can “cherries” live next to?

Or cherry - perhaps one of the most popular inhabitants of shrimp tanks. Their compatibility with other fish has long been proven. You can keep cherry tomatoes with peaceful and non-aggressive fish. But if you want to keep everyone in one water tank, study the behavior of small fish in advance.

Cherry shrimp get along well with guppies and zebrafish - compatibility has been tested by experienced breeders. To prevent the fish from injuring the shrimp, the latter must be fed so that the food gets into the thick of the plants. The fish will not get there without causing discomfort to small neighbors.

Look at the school of cherry shrimp.

Stock your aquarium a large number thickets - if they live in the same space aggressive species fish and cherry tomatoes, then the dense “tropics” will become a good shelter. Another thing is that you will hardly see kids.

Cherries can jump sharply to the side from stress, so quickly that a very active fish will not have time to catch its prey. The constant running around makes the cherries very tired, which will affect their well-being and make it more difficult to maintain. In addition, if you keep guppies and zebrafish in a shrimp tank, you should not expect offspring, since cherries still consider strangers as potential enemies.

Cherries get along well with other types of non-aggressive shrimp, but here you will have to avoid interspecific crossing. The only thing that will interfere is that larger crustaceans can take food from them. But all shrimp are relatively peaceful with each other, even young animals are allowed to eat. Neighbors should be proportionate to each other.

Neighbors for yellow pearl shrimp

Yellow (lemon) shrimp, or Yellow shrimp (other names - canary, yellow pearl) is a small freshwater shrimp 2.5-3 cm in size, is the result of selection of several species. The only species that has a purely yellow body. Some breeders jokingly call it “radioactive” because of its poisonous yellow hue.

A hardy species that does not require special water parameters or strict maintenance conditions. With age, they become less noticeable - they turn acid orange. You can keep small shrimp and small fish in the same aquarium. They breed all year round and walk around with a bag of caviar, so you need to place it in aquatic environment there are a lot of thickets where the fish can't get into.

Driftwood and Java moss are perfect as bottom accessories: algae and bacteria form on them, where the fry hides. “Yellow Pearl” likes to actively swim in the water, sorting through sand and plants. While the canaries are well fed, they will not touch the plants, but with a poor diet they turn into “caterpillars”, eating all the greens.

Who should I share the blue tiger shrimp with?

The Blue tiger shrimp is a relatively recent resident of aquariums; it was selectively bred in 2007. It is impossible not to see it among the living diversity of the home aquarium! They are direct descendants of Caridina cantonensis sp. Tiger, bred by selecting individuals with an intense blue color. Interestingly, not all the descendants of these “hybrids” have the same color.

Watch how blue tigers eat.

If you are going to keep them with other crustaceans, make sure that different types did not interbreed. Adults grow up to 2.5-3 cm in length. They can be kept in a general aquarium, but it is better to keep them in a separate species-specific shrimp tank with a volume of 20 liters. No other fish should be present. Large stones, driftwood and abundant vegetation will create comfortable living conditions for them. If you are going to breed a blue tiger, you will even need a separate tank.

Living conditions for white pearl shrimp

“White Pearl” belongs to the Neocardine genus. It was bred in Germany by the famous breeder U. Goshalk. The ancestor of the shrimp is wild Neokardina heteropoda.

The maximum length of an adult is 2.5 cm. Small, translucent crustaceans are almost invisible in the aquarium, only against the backdrop of abundant vegetation their outlines are noticeable. They are not demanding on water parameters, but they cannot be kept in the same tank with aggressive fish. The character of the White Pearl is calm, peaceful and adequate. During the first molt, they can be eaten by their fish neighbors, so there are rules for moving them into the nursery.

In an aquarium with a volume of 30-50 liters, it is necessary to plant a sufficient amount of moss and aquatic greenery so that White Pearl individuals can hide. They constantly dig in the aquarium sand, exploring its bottom. White neocardines should be housed 10-20 at a time, they are comfortable in a flock.

Small nano-fish such as microrasbora, zebrafish and guppies will be excellent neighbors for them. The only ones large fish, which can coexist peacefully with shrimp are the chain catfish (Otocinclus and Bariancistrus).

In the right habitat, female shrimp will almost always become pregnant and give birth to healthy offspring that no one will eat. When introducing shrimp, consider water parameters that are suitable for both nanofish and shrimp. Choose large containers. Remember, small ornamental crustaceans live with other species of shrimp of similar size and with very small fish.