New NPT Shrimp Tanks - El Natural

dwalstad · 05-31-2009, 06:31 PM

It seems the aquarium hobby has all kinds of recession-proof entertainment. Recently, I set up two 1 gal bowls for some Red Cherry Shrimp. Cost per bowl (from Wal-Mart) was $6 each. I like the magnifying effect of the bowls, because its easier to see the shrimp.

The bowl on the right has been going about 1 month. I used Miracle Grow's Organic Choice Garden Soil for it. I just set up the second bowl yesterday with MGOC's Potting Soil. Just a little sand to keep the soil in place. I put the shrimp in the same day. I used aged water from my other tanks so that there wouldn't be any metal toxicity (aged aquarium water has organic compounds that chelate heavy metals, which are very toxic to all invertebrates).

Lighting is window light plus a 13 watt CFL desk lamp. Perfect growing conditions for plants.

Plants and shrimp are doing great. No water changes so far.

I found that the Cherry Shrimp absolutely love to eat the same shrimp that humans eat. Thus, I keep a cooked shrimp in the freezer for them. I chop it up and feed the bits to them. Otherwise, they seem to eat just about anything.

clearleaf · 05-31-2009, 11:04 PM

These are beautiful! But the shrimp are too...shrimpy - I'm not seeing them.

melauriga · 06-01-2009, 04:53 AM

Pretty bowls! Shrimp are ok at room temperature? I thought about doing shrimp in a 1 gallon acrylic tank that I have, but was worried that my house is too cold.

dwalstad · 06-01-2009, 06:18 PM

Red cherry shrimp seem to do okay at room temp and in tanks without a heater. This is one reason I chose them.

I only have 4 shrimp in each bowl, so they're hard to see. I see today that one is actually carrying eggs. I have been patiently waiting for them to multiply. I'll post more pictures of the shrimp later on.

I am not a shrimp expert and am still learning.

Tominizer · 06-02-2009, 04:45 AM

I tossed in 7 cherry shrimp into my 120 gallon.............. and can't find them anymore. They've totally disappeared.

melauriga · 06-02-2009, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tominizer

I tossed in 7 cherry shrimp into my 120 gallon.............. and can't find them anymore. They've totally disappeared.

What do you have for fish in there?

Tominizer · 06-02-2009, 05:31 AM

10 red eye tetras, 10 silver tip tetras and two small red tail sharks.............. the 30neon tetras are still in quarantine.

melauriga · 06-02-2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tominizer

10 red eye tetras, 10 silver tip tetras and two small red tail sharks.............. the 30neon tetras are still in quarantine.

It could be that the shrimp have been eaten, or are hiding from the fish to escape being eaten. Most fish will see the shrimp as food.

Tominizer · 06-02-2009, 11:00 AM

dwalstad · 06-02-2009, 04:23 PM

Here's a picture of a female in the new bowl carrying eggs. Looks like a heavy load with a few eggs sort of dangling. I anxiously await what happens next.