Updated December 2013
Aquarium Size
Keeping crystal red shrimp or other dwarf fresh water shrimp doesn't require a big tank, from 5 gallon, 10 gallon, or bigger. There is a very popular one: Fluval Ebi Nano Aquarium, 8 Gallon. Breeding them, of course, the bigger the better, we use mostly 10 gallon and 30 gallon aquarium. 30 gallon aquarium is capabile for more babies, you don't have to worry about over crowded for long if everything goes well. And with some 10 gallons, you will be able to do selective breeding, or any project you want.
Filter
What we use now are mostly sponge filter, under gravel filter, and canister filter. It doesn't matter what type of filter you use, you want to utilize the capacity of beneficial bacteria, and the area of filtration area. You can use the most expensive filter medias, or the most economic sponge can just do the right work for you.
Substrate
There are many substrate available now for shrimp lovers. I have use ADA aqua soil, flora base, and fluval ebi-stratum. All those work very well in keeping shrimps. I have seen people use different substrate to keep shrimps, soil, sand, or just regular gravel. The main reasons we use soil type gravel
- adjust pH soften water
- nutrient --- utilize micro-organism and algae growth
Different types contain different level of nutrients, may require different length of new tank cycle time, one - three months.
Let's take a look at the picture below, what do you see?
Both are excellent indication of a well cycled aquarium, rich of food source.
There are too many types of Algae there, we can't exactly tell which kind it is by eyes. Crystal red shrimps only eats specific kinds they like. And Cyclpoida are feed on the same algae that babies crystals would enjoy.
As we all know shrimps strain plankton out of the water and eat them. It's pretty important for them to grow healthy. Well, CRS don't have the ability to catch it, but they will consum the dead body of cyclopoida. They always digging around for food, and the life cycle of cyclopoida is short.
In term of new tank cycling time, it's hard to tell. I setted up two tanks at the same time, the same things I use,and under same condition, from light, temperature etc. But one tank after a little more than a month, it shows very nice algae and cyclopoida, while the other tank is still crystal clean. It takes about another two weeks for the other tank to have the nice presentation like the picture above.
Lighting
As a healthy algae grow is important, you want a proper lighting, and a good length of lights on each day. There is no specifice time desire, you can determine by the condition, you may want to extend the lights on as needed, or cut off.
What you add to your water?
Top 1: beneficial bacteria.
I used to use a lot of hagen cycle. that works very well for me. Right now, besides cycle, I have my own bacteria add to the tank regularly. And unlike regular nitrifying bateria, which are feed on amonia, the bactecteria can directly work on waste. In nitrogen cycle, the first step is ammonification, then nitrification. Ammonification would create ammonia, and encourage heterotroph bacteria growth. The bacteria I use now do a great job decrease it. The more the positive bacteria in the environment, the less the negative one or the disease would present in the environment.
2. Mineral Supplement/gH booster
to be continue....
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Publish on 2009:
Crystal Red Shrimps are very sensitive to water quality. The present of ammonia is not allowable. This is also one of the major reasons that cause the death of crystal red shrimp.
Survival conditions:
pH 5.0~8.0 KH 1~6 Temperature 15~28 Celsius Degree/ 59~82 Fahrenheit Degree
Reproduction condition:
pH 6.2~6.8 KH 1~2 Temperature 24~26 Celsius Degree/75~78 Fahrenheit Degree
When the temperature is
25 Celsius Degree/77 Fahrenheit Degree, it is the best environment for egg hatching.
Change less than a quarter of water every time you do the water change.
Food
Shirakura or any other dedicated food for shrimp
Frozen blood worm
Boiled Spinach
Crystal red shrimps are constantly busy searching for food. If they do not eat, it may indicate some changes of water quality. Be careful!!
Water Plant and Sunk Wood
Sunk wood and densely plants provide shelter for baby shrimps from being attack. They also protect female shrimps after the ecdysis.
