Before you start a shrimp tank!!

I have notice there are many brothers/sisters interested in shrimp keeping recently. Dunno its just me or the forum recently pack with ppl starting new shrimp tank.

Things to note before you start a shrimp tank.

1) I am concern over how many can afford the good quality shrimps to start off with (over jealous). however do note that the better the shrimps grades are, the more care and more dedicate the shrimps are. so I would advise/suggest those who intend to start this shrimp keeping hobby to keep low grades shrimps for a certain period of time (1 year) before they move on to higher gardes shrimps to learn the skills necessary and to avoid high shrimp death rates.

2) I have read many ppl starting with very small tanks.... besides the *sticky warning that a small tank less than 2 feet is not the ideal shrimp tank to start off with, due to water perimeters and many other factors.... so please try to start a shimp tank with 2 feet and above. I would also like to keep a small tank in my office for my shimps... but knowing it would not be the best environment for them... i cant...

For small tank, consider guppies?
Out of topic a bit... i have a small nano cube which i keep 2 small clown loach... they are very very very hardy.... from my experience clown loach is a good hardy fish though shy, when they are very comfortable in the tank and when they come out to swim... they look very nice too. consider hardy fish to start a small tank with.

3) Temperature flacutation - Note that this is not very good in shrimp keeping hobbies. must be able to maintain the water temperature below 28 degrees..... At 28 degrees is also not the best condition, its the extreme end when shrimps still survive. 24 degrees is good!

And nope... skin and hand and your feel is not enuff to guess the water temperature... we can be very wrong in guessing. get a accurate thermometer to confirm.... "Cool plcs" or spots in ur home can also be very wrong.

Maintaining is the word.... chiller is the only thing that can maintain a certain termperature. Else breeding is diffcult.

Well last but not least i hope ppl read this short summary for the basic of shrimp keeping. Please read all the *sticky* for in depth knowledge before you even try to start! 1 death is 1 death too many! Shrimps are life like you and me.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

[onlyyouknow]

I do not agree with some of the things written.

Its not necessarily true that good quality shrimps are more delicate, you can start with easier to keep shrimps before you move on to more delicate ones. The most important thing is to have a cycled tank with stable water parameters.

The size of the tank depends on the number of shrimps you intend to keep. You can safely keep 50 shrimps(possibly more) in a 2 ft tank if you have good filtration. A smaller tank is harder to maintain parameters but if space is a constraint, then stick to a smaller tank. Just make sure its cycled and proper filtration is applied. The bioload of shrimps are pretty low so if you have plants, there shouldn't be an issue.

I think a chiller is ideal but if you can't afford it, then better stick with shrimps that can deal with a higher temperature. I have kept cherries in a temperature of 30 degrees and they breed like rabbits.

[ranmaru1987]

Originally Posted by onlyyouknow

I do not agree with some of the things written.

Its not necessarily true that good quality shrimps are more delicate, you can start with easier to keep shrimps before you move on to more delicate ones. The most important thing is to have a cycled tank with stable water parameters.

The size of the tank depends on the number of shrimps you intend to keep. You can safely keep 50 shrimps(possibly more) in a 2 ft tank if you have good filtration. A smaller tank is harder to maintain parameters but if space is a constraint, then stick to a smaller tank. Just make sure its cycled and proper filtration is applied. The bioload of shrimps are pretty low so if you have plants, there shouldn't be an issue.

I think a chiller is ideal but if you can't afford it, then better stick with shrimps that can deal with a higher temperature. I have kept cherries in a temperature of 30 degrees and they breed like rabbits.

my sentiments excactly bro.. well said..

@icebabys: very kind of you to sound warning. I think in many pets, alot pple like to chiong in without considering what is need (time/cash/responsibility). More expr pple (like onlyyouknow) can contribute to it and thus, newbies can read more before deciding to start with the hobby.

Very good attempt, but there are a number of misleading information inside though its not totally wrong.

Like I would like to point out, 1 feet by 0.8 feet by 1 feet is a good enough size tank to house shrimps. Just that population shouldn't exceed 20-30.

28degree i won't say is the extreme temp for general shrimps, and definitely singapore temperature can easily breed species like cherry, green and some other common shrimps.

So I can only say.. Shrimps are very species dependent and different species requires very different condition, its good to check out the specific guides/threads before attempting any of them cause generalization is often what kills aquatic organisms the most

Originally Posted by ameyaiba

Very good attempt, but there are a number of misleading information inside though its not totally wrong.

Like I would like to point out, 1 feet by 0.8 feet by 1 feet is a good enough size tank to house shrimps. Just that population shouldn't exceed 20-30.

28degree i won't say is the extreme temp for general shrimps, and definitely singapore temperature can easily breed species like cherry, green and some other common shrimps.

So I can only say.. Shrimps are very species dependent and different species requires very different condition, its good to check out the specific guides/threads before attempting any of them cause generalization is often what kills aquatic organisms the most

Read my reply to "Only you know."

Originally Posted by reversebungee

@icebabys: very kind of you to sound warning. I think in many pets, alot pple like to chiong in without considering what is need (time/cash/responsibility). More expr pple (like onlyyouknow) can contribute to it and thus, newbies can read more before deciding to start with the hobby.

Its not surprising many ppl wants to jump into the hobby.... like me in the past.... but for shrimp keeping there are just too many things to consider if u read the sticky. just like keeping a dog... its cute, therefore many ppl just wants to setup a shrimp tank... during that impulsive stage... many dun think of how "deep" this hobby can go... or how sensitive shrimps are.

Originally Posted by onlyyouknow

I do not agree with some of the things written.

Its not necessarily true that good quality shrimps are more delicate, you can start with easier to keep shrimps before you move on to more delicate ones. The most important thing is to have a cycled tank with stable water parameters.

The size of the tank depends on the number of shrimps you intend to keep. You can safely keep 50 shrimps(possibly more) in a 2 ft tank if you have good filtration. A smaller tank is harder to maintain parameters but if space is a constraint, then stick to a smaller tank. Just make sure its cycled and proper filtration is applied. The bioload of shrimps are pretty low so if you have plants, there shouldn't be an issue.

I think a chiller is ideal but if you can't afford it, then better stick with shrimps that can deal with a higher temperature. I have kept cherries in a temperature of 30 degrees and they breed like rabbits.

icebabys: everything if, having the best filtration... of cos is ideal, but my tots... many starts with overhead filter for 2 feet and smaller tank. cos better cannister filter specs is for bigger tanks. for 1 feet and smaller tank i can only think of eden 501.... it is also quite impossible to have a chiller with a 2 feet and smaller tank, filter choice to support the chiller will be another issue.

it is also quite impossibe to maintain water perimeters if the tank is small... doing water change in the tank once a week greatly affects the shrimps in a small smaller tank as compared to a bigger tank.

icebabys: The flactuation in shirmp tank is not good at all. what shrimps are u keeping that are breeding like rabbits w/o chiller???? cherries? sakuras?what is the successful breeding rate? 100% all shrimplets grow up to adults?? of cos some will breed even in the worst conditions.... but is that things that we would like to teach newbies? or we guide them with the proper way they should setup a tank?

anyway to all new shrimp keepers, dun take this thread negatively...i m just suggesting that u all consider factors that i have listed before starting a tank... if u all have issues with even what i post, u all have not read the sticky.... if u really intend to start a shrimp tank and face problems can also pm me... we share what we learn together...

Last but not least i emphasize i encourage shrimp keeping... just read up and think about it before commiting.

[ah_ong]

Originally Posted by icebabys

anyway to all new shrimp keepers, dun take this thread negatively...i m just suggesting that u all consider factors that i have listed before starting a tank... if u all have issues with even what i post, u all have not read the sticky.... if u really intend to start a shrimp tank and face problems can also pm me... we share what we learn together...

Last but not least i emphasize i encourage shrimp keeping... just read up and think about it before commiting.

haha Thanks Bro no offences ah me also learning and of cos i want to learn from u too. The more the merrier Cheers Bro