What is the reason if Shrimp do not breed?

Hi all thanks for the replies!

I hope that the deductions can be based on observation alone without any chemical testing.

Some more clues:

Tank
The bottom of the tank is covered with about 1.5 inches of soil topped with gravel. Soil is garden soil.

Tank had already been around for about 10 months.

Water is slightly yellow-greenish otherwise it is as clear as water.

Tank water does not stink and rather of a refreshing plant smell.

There is no air pump or filter or chiller. There is no electric lighting only sunlight.

Algae grows very slowly.

If tank is left for 2 months, you can still see through the tank clearly. If cleaning is done, it is only to provide fresh algae for fishes.

There is no water change, only top up water every 2 weeks that fills about 3cm of water each time. Only anti-chloramine and chlorine is used on tap water which is left to settle at least 1 day before adding to tank.

When you blow against the side of the tank you can see fogging as your breath condenses against the glass of the tank. The fog disappears after about 5 secconds.

Plants
There is alot of cover in the tank. Most of the plants are fast growing plants and need trimming every 2 weeks.

All plants are flourishing except for brown spots that appear on the leaves of
Ceratopteris Thalictroide/Water Sprite. Also present are Hydrilla, small and large versions of Crpt Parva, Java Moss, Hornworts.

The main floating plants are 3 clusters of Water Hyacinths.

There is a medium sized lava rock occupying about 1/8 of the tank floor and 3 small pieces of coral rocks.

The inhabitants of the tank contain about 2 dozens of Endlers with fries, 4 Tetras, 2 Rasboras, 2 Otocinclus, 10 shrimps, dozens of snails including Ramhorns, common Pond Snails and Malayan Trumpets.

Countless of dead snail shells only from Ramhorns and Ponds litter the floor of the tank. Some have already begun to break down.

All are fed on fish flakes. Tubifex worms are rarely fed

There are some small water bugs but no flat worms.

There shouldn't be any problem with water pH as shrimps are moulting properly. Water parameters should also be fine because shrimps are alive after 1 month.

I am thinking it is stress caused by an unknown factor and solution is to add twice or thrice the number of shrimps currently in tank.

The temperature may also be another factor.

But if we say that stress is caused by fishes that is quite impossible. The shrimps are gazing out in open. They approach floating flakes boldly and fishes do not disturb the shrimps at all. Sometimes, they will also draw near to a foreign object such as a human hand.

In the picture, imagine there are 3 clusters of water hyacinth floating on top. Will try to get new picture.

[PKB]

Maybe too little shrimps, too big tank.

[lucas_1957]

OMG! u shouldnt use garden soil! garden soil is for land plants and contain fertilisers that are poisonous for your shrimps! use gravel or aquatic soil.

[globalcookie]

Reading what you wrote and describe, I was expecting a pond, or those large flower pot, and longkang fishes. It sounds exactly like what we would have in the backyard of our kampung houses, with longkang fishes to prevent mosquitoe breeding. Correct me if I'm wrong, is that what you have?

If shrimp keeping is as easy as longkang fishes, these shrimps will cost the price of longkang fishes too.

If you are serious about shrimp keeping, you WILL setup a proper tank that is suitable for shrimps. Read up the sticky (articles and faq) at the top of this sub forum.

Yes, after reading countless articles, I decided to do something: An ecological project in a way, a pond like tank.

I planned to setup something that did not require electricity at all, as a result no money spent at all, except on fish flakes and water top up of about 1 bucket full every two weeks.

I am serious about raising a diversity of life within the setup.

True that garden soil is not safe, but after settling the tank for 2 months, you will get a super medium for bacteria to grow in which is another of my considerations.

I never needed to worry about sucking fish shit and all. I have not done any cleaning on the tank for 10 months, except for a rare scrubbing of algae.

My objective is to achieve an ecologically friendly setup and to learn more about diversity. I hope to be able to post some new pictures soon and you will understand my project.

[lucas_1957]

Hi, i see that you plan to set up a totally natural tank. that is possible, but not with the garden soil. i also have one totally natural tank at home, and it has been functioning for 1+yr. U really really need to remove the garden soil. as u said, it is garden soil, not for aquarium use. u should use aquatic soil or lapis sand, it would be as good, if not better, than garden soil. Otherwise, your tank is ok.