Consider adding shrimp to your aquarium if you want to give it some color and movement! These little animals add a lot of advantages to your aquatic setup in addition to being adorable to look at. Shrimp can make a fantastic addition to your tank, regardless of your level of experience as an aquarist. They are fascinating to watch because of their vivid colors and unique behaviors, and they can also keep your tank clean.
There are many species of aquarium shrimp, and each has special characteristics of its own. There is a shrimp to suit every taste, ranging from the vivid red Cherry Shrimp to the sophisticated Crystal Red Shrimp. To find the ideal match for your tank, it’s worth doing some research as they differ in size, color, and maintenance needs. In addition to having attractive faces, many shrimp species are skilled scavengers that consume leftover food and algae to keep the environment in tanks healthy.
Shrimp in your aquarium can be easily maintained, but it’s crucial to know what kind of care they require. They frequently flourish in tanks with dense vegetation and steady water conditions. Maintaining their health and happiness requires creating the ideal environment. Intriguing behaviors exhibited by shrimp include molting, the process through which they shed their exoskeleton. It’s fascinating to watch this process in action, and it serves as a reminder of how dynamic these little creatures are.
Shrimps improve the general health of your aquarium in addition to making it look more beautiful. Their vivid hues and practical behaviors guarantee that they will grow to be a treasured element of your aquatic ecosystem. Aquarium shrimp are a great addition to any tank setup, whether you’re drawn to them for their delicate appearances or their usefulness.
- Description
- Types
- Cherry
- Palmata
- Water parameters
- Lighting
- Plants
- Soil
- Behavior and compatibility
- Sexual dimorphism
- Reproduction
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Description
There are more than fifty species of freshwater shrimp in the aquarium. The tiniest measures 1 cm in length, while the largest can reach up to 15 cm. Rich or variegated color distinguishes the great majority of domestic species.
All animals share the same basic body structure, which consists of five pairs of limbs, a curved back, a tail that aids in quick backward leaps in the event of danger, and a hard chitinous covering that shields the internal organs from harm. Long whiskers enable aquarium shrimp to have exceptional tactile and olfactory senses. A large field of vision is a result of the eyeballs’ broad rotational radius.
Shrimp’s primary characteristic is their lack of claws: their jaws. The animal’s body is required for more than just mobility; it also aids in food capture and mouthing. It is simple to identify predatory species from peaceful ones because the former have big jaws that resemble claws.
Based on biological classification, shrimp fall into the higher crayfish class, the order of decapod crustaceans, the subtype of crustaceans, and the type of arthropods. These creatures live on the bottom, like other crustaceans, but they can swim up the water column and swiftly move their tails in order to escape danger.
Crustaceans’ lifespan at home varies depending on their species and habitat. The range of life expectancy is six months to three years.
The requirement to periodically shed the chitinous cover—which has grown constricted—is a characteristic of shrimp development. Moulting is a risky stage of life because the animal is vulnerable to predators and adverse environments without its shell. The shrimp depletes its body’s stored supply of nutrients and minerals in order to produce a new covering. The "building material" may not be sufficient if the crustacean eats poorly, which could lead to abnormalities or even death. Shrimp bodies are able to regenerate; limbs that have been severed can rejoin to form a new chitinous shell.
Types
It is impossible to list every species that exists, and every year new specimens from breeders hit the global market. However, the most well-liked shrimp for aquariums are available for purchase in nearly all sizable pet stores.
Cherry
The most common and humble shrimp species, cherry shrimp were first seen in home aquariums before other species. Although it is only around for a year, it gives birth to a sizable brood. Despite its small size, cherry shrimp stand out due to their vibrant color. This pet is perfect for small aquariums.
Amano
Thanks to the efforts of renowned Japanese aquarium designer Takashi Amano, this species has become the second most popular. Their average body size and active lifestyle set them apart for breeding purposes as filamentous algae destroyers. Although amano shrimp can live for over three years, they do not reproduce in aquarium settings.
Remove the filter
Large views are typical in pet shops. The filter shrimp has a lovely appearance, but its content is moodier and it doesn’t have an active lifestyle. Purchasing crustaceans as filter substitutes is something that many novice aquarists later regret. Despite their talkative names, the crustaceans themselves perish from pollution because they are unable to completely purify aquarium water. Yet, the filter has a three-year lifespan under ideal circumstances.
Cameronian filter
Similar to the prior appearance, the modified fan-shaped front limbs of the Cameroic filter shrimp serve as a distinguishing feature. These limbs are used to gather edible organic materials from the water. The crustacean is distinguished by an opulent hue that ranges from a deep blue to beige and sand. The adult is between 7 and 10 cm long.
The Harlequin
The tiny Indonesian harlequin shrimp is incredibly colorful, with black lines running the length of its body and red and white stripes that alternate. The upbeat name completely misrepresents the nature of these timid, fearful creatures that instantly hide in the undergrowth, prefer a nocturnal existence, and hardly ever interact with one another. An adult’s maximum length is 1.3 cm, and their maximum life expectancy is 1.5 years.
Cardinal
The Indonesian cardinal shrimp is an aquarist’s dream come true, but only seasoned breeders should attempt to raise one because of how erratic its diet and care are. The centerpiece is an opulent shade of rich red that borders on cherry, accented with white flecks along the edges. The crustacean has a proud appearance due to its long limbs and sharp nose, and its body length is up to 2 cm.
Ring-armed
This is a large, predatory and aggressive variety belonging to the genus of macrobrachium shrimp. The crustaceans are unpretentious to such an extent that they calmly live in hard and cool water. And it is not surprising, because their homeland is Himalayan streams. They prefer a nocturnal lifestyle, but can hunt in daylight. They live in a school consisting of one female and 3-5 males. It is unacceptable to keep these shrimp in an aquarium with small fish and other crustaceans. The popularity of the ring-arm shrimp is due to its beautiful marble coloring, life expectancy of up to 3 years. The length of an adult is 6-7 cm, in males one claw is noticeably larger than the second.
Babaulti
A rich green species that is erratic in its needs for upkeep and care. The primary challenge in raising babaulti shrimp is that, although they can adapt to tap water, they either stop laying eggs or the eggs hatch. It is incompatible with other, less ostentatious species.
Kong the King
Because of the stripes, which alternate between black and white, the species’ second name is bee. The King Kong shrimp is irrational and won’t breed in an aquarium. It was developed by Taiwanese breeders. An adult can only be up to 3.5 cm long. The crustacean has a 1.5-year lifespan.
Glass
Grass shrimp is the alternate moniker. The insides of the crustacean are visible because its body is truly transparent, like glass. The glass shrimp is native to Japan. Adults grow to a length of 5 cm and are characterized by their compliant and serene nature. Shrimps in aquariums primarily consume decomposing organic matter and microalgae. Crustaceans can live up to two years, depending on the filtration and aeration system’s quality.
Eastern Hemisphere
Because they consume filamentous algae, far-east shrimp are frequently raised for hygienic reasons. They are found in the Amur basin in the wild. An adult’s body is nearly transparent, measuring 5 cm in length, with dark stripes running the length of it. The animal reproduces well in aquarium settings and requires clean, aerated water; however, only up to 5% of the eggs will hatch.
Palmata
The absence of a permanent color makes the Chinese palmata shrimp stand out. It varies according to the soil’s structure, the food that enters the body, and the water’s chemical makeup. The body’s numerous specks are the only stable external feature. Breeding the crustaceans is simple because they don’t have erratic eating habits and breed copiously in aquarium settings. At 3 cm, an adult can live up to 2 years.
Crimson crystal
A rare and erratic species in need of a perfect, steady home. Animal health is deteriorated by even small variations in temperature, mineral and organic matter content, water hardness, and other factors; abrupt shifts wipe out entire populations. Wide stripes that alternate between red and white make up the red crystal shrimp’s exterior feature. An adult can rise to 3 cm.
Dream in blue
Breeders in Europe and Japan were able to obtain dwarf blue shrimp from Neocardina. The primary external characteristic is a deep blue hue, and the abdomen is transparent, allowing the insides to be seen. An adult can grow to 2.5 cm and can survive for three years. In a tiny aquarium, the inconspicuous Blue Dream shrimp breeds, feels at ease, and consumes microalgae and decomposing organic matter.
Rili
The rili shrimp’s bright red cephalothorax, tail, and translucent abdomen are its distinguishing features. These are modest, peaceful, and unassuming crustaceans that reach a maximum size of 2.5 cm.
Upkeep and attention to detail
The size and quantity of the occupants should be considered when calculating the tank’s volume. In an aquarium, shrimp require enough room. Two individuals measuring two centimeters in length can coexist in a one-liter volume with ease. Simple and unassuming crustaceans, like neocardin, are good to keep in a tank that holds five to thirty liters. However, it is preferable to outfit an aquarium larger than thirty liters for finicky species, like crystals, as it is more challenging to maintain the environmental parameters, such as the concentration of nitrogen compounds, in smaller tanks.
Water parameters
Shrimp in an aquarium depend heavily on the water’s chemical parameters and oxygen content to survive. The sensitivity of small crustaceans to environmental changes is remarkable. When they sense that conditions have changed negatively while living in the wild, they swim to a different location. However, glass limits the potential of crustaceans in an aquarium. After a few minutes, they jump out of the tank and die on the floor, scrambling to find a clean stream of water.
In water, strong aeration is the most crucial factor. Similar to fish, shrimp also have gills, but they pass much less oxygen through them. Consequently, the crustacean will suffocate almost immediately in those circumstances where the fish can hardly survive. While installing a filter in a shrimp tank is not required, it is essential if the shrimp are housed in a communal aquarium. In addition, a fine-mesh net covering the filter hole is required to prevent small particles from getting inside.
Normalizing the water cycle is required before adding shrimp to the aquarium. Three to five weeks will pass. Water should only be added after conditioning or after letting it settle for a full day to allow the temperature to reach room temperature, the chlorine to evaporate, and the pH level to stabilize.
Ideal water qualities:
- Temperature – 22-26 °C, the maximum short-term maximum is 29 °C, the minimum minimum is 13 °C, higher and lower values are fatal for crustaceans;
- Acidity – 7.5-8.5 pH, that is, a slightly alkaline level;
- Hardness – not less than 5 dGH, the harder the better, since in soft, slightly mineralized water there are problems with the formation of new shells during molting.
The predetermined boundaries have to hold steady. If they don’t change, crustaceans can adapt to environmental conditions that are even slightly off from normal. However, abrupt changes in pH and temperature are harmful to crustaceans. A brief temperature shift of 6–8 °C will undoubtedly cause an aquarium fish to become ill, and the shrimp will perish.
One-fifth of the tank’s volume must be replenished with water. Replacement occurs once a week, or perhaps less frequently. Typically, shrimp will only take tap water that has been warmed to room temperature.
When raising shrimp in an aquarium, it’s important to use chemical preparations very carefully.
- Copper salts contained in some medicines are needed in minimal quantities by crustaceans, are part of the blood, but even with a minimal excess of the dose they are lethal, therefore the preparations should be used strictly according to the instructions;
- Insecticides that are used to treat aquarium plants in stores can kill crustaceans, therefore purchased plants should be kept in another tank for several days;
- Antibiotics are not harmful to crustaceans when used once, but they suppress the immune system;
- Iodine is extremely important for shrimp, but its deficiency is often observed in aquariums, so it is recommended to dissolve the drug "Iodinol" in water once a month – 1 ml per 10 l, but an alcohol solution of iodine cannot be used;
- Fertilizers containing potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus are harmless to shrimp if they are applied only in the concentration that is needed by underwater plants, it is especially important to control the potassium content, since its excess provokes nervous disorders in the inhabitants;
- Iron, zinc, manganese and other trace elements are harmless if there is no excess of them;
- Calcium, sodium, magnesium and chloride compounds are safe for shrimp even in slightly elevated concentrations, since this is the mineral complex contained in sea water, but it is bad if the aquarium water is saturated with only one of the elements presented;
- Calcium is the most important mineral for crustaceans, without which it is impossible to form a shell to replace the one that has faded, in order to replenish the deficiency of the mineral substance, it is recommended to put shells on the bottom, use soil with marble particles.
Lighting
An aquarium lamp with solar or white spectrum LEDs is ideal because it will encourage more vigorous plant growth and highlight the best side of the shrimp’s color. At least seven hours of daylight should be experienced when there is live vegetation.
Plants
Select plants that will be able to provide crustaceans and their larvae with a stable haven. The Java moss is the best choice. Plant as much of it as you can in a standard aquarium to give the shrimp a sense of security among the fish.
Additionally, you can plant:
- Hornwort;
- Cladophora;
- Guadeloupean naiad;
- Shieldwort.
Even though algae serves as food and a backup method of water purification for crustaceans, you shouldn’t fight it with all the fervor that comes with caring for shrimp. If the water is fully bloomed, the aeration needs to be improved.
Though not significantly, shrimp require organic content in their water. The organic materials that are released when vegetation breaks down will be advantageous. As a result, adding natural driftwood, alder cones, and dried oak leaves to the aquarium is advised.
Soil
Select a soil type that promotes plant growth in aquariums. A fraction of up to 5 mm of gravel or 1-2 mm of coarse sand will work. A pet store sells nutrient-rich aquarium soil that can be used to adjust pH.
Fascinating aquarium shrimp can enhance the beauty and diversity of your tank. They are not only incredibly colorful and patterned, but they also eat algae and other debris, which helps to keep your aquarium clean. You can provide these small but enthralling aquatic pets with a flourishing environment if you are aware of their particular needs and behaviors.
Behavior and compatibility
Fish and aquarium shrimp have an antagonistic relationship, which makes their compatibility difficult to maintain. Fish in a typical aquarium, even the so-called placid ones, may view crustaceans as food, so choosing a compatible species is a crucial step in tank arrangement. Actually, any fish that is bigger than them and has an adequate oral cavity for absorption has the potential to turn against shrimp. For this reason, adding vegetation to a multi-species aquarium that crustaceans can hide in is crucial.
Fish that eat algae can coexist peacefully with aquarium shrimp.
Possibly harmful but not always displaying a desire for crustaceans:
It is improper to put shrimp in an aquarium with anything like:
Regarding the coexistence of various crustacean species, you must determine whether or not these species are predatory. Small fish can be consumed by filter feeders, macrobrachiums, and other predators in addition to their smaller relatives.
It’s also important to think about how shrimp reproduce in aquariums. Certain species usually breed through cross-breeding. For instance, crystals and bees can breed together. This is fine, but mixed-race progeny become unremarkable in appearance and lose the traits of their parent species.
Consuming
You won’t have to worry about what shrimp in an aquarium eat if live plants are planted. However, eating is still crucial. You must feed bloodworms to your pets twice a week in order for the chitinous shell to fully develop. Carrots, zucchini, and cucumbers are among the vegetables that crustaceans enjoy eating. Young nettle leaves that have been scorched make a delicious treat. Make sure your pets finish everything, and remove any leftovers an hour after feeding to prevent spoiling the water. Additionally, it’s crucial to siphon the soil every time you change the aquarium’s water.
Choosing what to feed fickle pets—like crystals, for example—is more challenging. It is preferable for them to select special foods that are full of all the ingredients. Goods made by Japanese companies do not contaminate the water. What the crustaceans eat determines their activity level, color intensity, and rate of successful molting. High-quality diet enhances shrimp reproduction in aquariums, speeds up egg collection, and increases the number of larvae that survive.
Feeding shrimp should occur once a day. Every week, a fasting day ought to be scheduled.
Sexual dimorphism
Depending on the species, the sexual differences can vary in intensity. However, there are a few general visual methods to identify the sex:
- Males are usually smaller than females, their color is not as intense;
- The tail of females is a place for carrying eggs, so it is wider than that of males;
- In a female carrying offspring, it is easy to notice the eggs attached under the tail.
Reproduction
The way that crustaceans reproduce in aquariums varies depending on the species; some will not breed in a lab setting, while others will procreate copiously and frequently. The comfort of the environment and the availability of shelters have a major role in determining the desire to procreate.
Pets engage in mating games when they become active and rapidly catch up to one another. Occasionally, multiple males fertilize a single female, resulting in offspring that come from various fathers.
The female shrimp has her eggs attached beneath her tail. In order to provide for her future children, the mother drives oxygen-rich water beneath the abdomen and ventilates the eggs. After four to six weeks, the larvae hatch, and they are lively and self-sufficient right away.
Species | Description |
Cherry Shrimp | Bright red shrimp that are hardy and great for beginners. They help clean the tank by eating algae. |
Crystal Red Shrimp | Striking red and white shrimp that require more care. They need clean water and specific conditions to thrive. |
Amano Shrimp | Large shrimp known for their algae-eating skills. They are efficient cleaners and good for larger tanks. |
Ghost Shrimp | Transparent shrimp that are easy to care for and help with tank maintenance by scavenging for leftover food. |
Rili Shrimp | Colorful shrimp with a mix of clear and vibrant hues. They add visual interest and are relatively easy to keep. |
Shrimps in an aquarium are an intriguing addition to any tank, providing aesthetic appeal as well as usefulness. They are an eye-catching option for aquarists of all skill levels due to their vivid colors and distinctive behaviors. There is a large selection to fit various tastes and tank configurations, ranging from the well-liked Cherry Shrimp to the sophisticated Crystal Red Shrimp.
These microscopic organisms are essential to preserving the ecosystem in aquariums. They aid in cleaning up leftover food and reducing the growth of algae, both of which can affect the quality of the water. Because of their scavenging nature, they are great companions for novice and seasoned hobbyists who want to keep their tanks’ ecosystems in balance.
Some basic maintenance is needed when keeping aquarium shrimp, such as creating a suitable habitat with the ideal water parameters and tank mates. Even though they don’t require much care, maintaining the proper conditions is crucial to their longevity and overall health. They will remain happy and healthy with frequent water changes and a well-planned tank environment.
Shrimp improve the general health of your aquarium and also make it more aesthetically pleasing. They are a valuable addition to any aquatic setup because of their captivating behavior and ecological role. Fish shrimp are a fun and useful addition to any aquarium, whether you’re just getting started or want to mix things up in your current setup.