Freshwater aquarium shrimp have recently become very fashionable and popular pets. They have not yet adapted well to life in artificial ecosystems, like fish that have been bred for hundreds of years. The content of these unusual aquatic life Not particularly difficult, but may be beyond the capabilities of those new to the aquarium hobby.

The reason for this is hidden in the demands of crustaceans on water quality and fluctuations in its composition. Shrimp in an aquarium with fish can live and feel good for some time, but after changing the water they suddenly begin to get sick or die. Even for experienced owners of a home pond, it is sometimes very difficult to raise new fauna representatives.

Why are shrimp needed in an aquarium?

The function of exotic crustaceans in an aquarium is purely aesthetic. With a huge choice modern means There is simply no need to fight algae and filters that purify water from contaminants, there is simply no need for animals that feed on detritus. Shrimp, like snails, can eat all sorts of organic debris, cleaning the bottom. Most do not disdain algae. But the efforts of breeders are aimed mainly at the beauty and brightness of the colors of small crustaceans, which by nature are secretive and inconspicuous.

Thanks to this, aquaculture already has very beautiful, artificially bred shrimp breeds in white, blue, yellow, red and green colors. The number of shades and varieties of colors is even greater. Very rare and valuable species are incredibly expensive and quite capricious, while easily propagated species (neocaridins, for example) are quite accessible even to beginners.

It is very interesting to watch unusual animals. A flock of bright red cherries looks very picturesque against the background of greenery and makes you want to immediately place the same beauties in your aquarium. But these creatures will have to be looked after very carefully.

Shrimp maintenance requirements

Due to the fact that freshwater shrimp in an aquarium lead a mainly bottom-dwelling lifestyle, you have to constantly monitor these factors. IN lower layers stagnant water has little dissolved oxygen, but often contains large quantities of ammonia and other nitrates (products of organic matter decomposition). These substances are poisonous not only to crustaceans, but inhabitants of flowing water bodies are more sensitive to them.

Partial water changes along with aeration and filtration solve this problem.

To prevent this from happening, it is best to update the water every 1-2 days: clean the aquarium and add about 10% fresh water, just as you do when caring for fish. During replacement, you should try to pour the first portions of liquid little by little, observing the condition and behavior of the crustaceans. If they begin to worry, it is better to interrupt the procedure for 10-15 minutes so that the pets adapt a little to fresh water. Then you can gradually pour in new portions.

The birthplace of most famous breeds is Southeast Asia. This suggests that the animal prefers warmth. The optimal temperature for keeping shrimp is water with a temperature of about +25°C. When it rises to 30°C, too little dissolved oxygen remains and the shrimp may die. In case of accidental overheating, you need to increase aeration and lower the temperature by placing a plastic bag with cold water in the aquarium.

Keeping and caring for shrimp also includes ensuring the necessary mineral composition of the water. Its reaction should be slightly alkaline (pH 6.5–8.5), and hardness is welcome. Calcium salts are necessary for crayfish to form a shell. To maintain the amount of mineral dissolved in water, you can put marble sand (crumbs of different fractions) in the aquarium, place coral branches or pieces of limestone, marble, natural shells, etc.

When choosing a filter, it is best to choose models made of sponge (foam rubber).

Since crustaceans reproduce unsystematically and for as long as shrimp live (2–3 years), young animals may end up in the aquarium unexpectedly for the breeder and end up in filters with other water intakes. The sponge filter is the safest for newborn shrimp.

Knowing what aquarium shrimp eat, you can provide them with all the necessary substances that are needed for proper growth, life and reproduction. Like snails or catfish, these inhabitants of the bottom layers of water feed on detritus, that is, all kinds of organic matter that accumulates on the ground. These can be the remains of fish food, dying parts of plants, and the corpses of fish or snails. Many types of aquarium shrimp can also eat filamentous algae.

The question of what to feed shrimp is decided by breeders in their own way. You can feed them with spirulina tablets for catfish and dry flakes for fish. Feeding shrimp should be varied, but not excessive. Remains of food should be removed after 1–2 hours so that they do not contribute to the accumulation of nitrates in the water.

One of the especially favorite foods is the tubifex. Shrimp eat these small worms with great pleasure. Pieces of meat (without fat) or fish can be used as a replacement for live food. But it is best to purchase special food for aquarium shrimp, which contains a balance of all the substances they need.

If pets have to be left for a while, then feeding them may be the last issue that needs to be addressed.

A pet raised on commercial food will switch to its natural diet: it will eat algae, rotten leaves and other aquarium debris. The main thing to take care of is ensuring constant aeration.

How to add shrimp to an aquarium?

When buying a new pet, there is the problem of transporting it. In the case of purchasing shrimp, it is also complicated by the fact that the animal can be easily injured when shaking and moving water in the container. Convenient to transport crustaceans to plastic bag, having previously lowered plant branches there.

It is better to purchase young individuals. They adapt more easily to new conditions, and their colors will appear as they grow older. But even in this case, before planting them in the aquarium, you need to adapt to the new composition of the water:

1. Place the brought shrimp in a large container. The volume of water with which they were transported should occupy about 20% of this container.
2. Fill a separate jar with water from the aquarium (80% of the volume of the container with shrimp) where you want to transplant the new pets.
3. Through a medical dropper with a dispenser, you need to gradually add this water to the container with shrimp. Set the liquid supply rate within 1–2 drops per 5 seconds.
4. Observe the behavior of animals. If they behave calmly, continue to add water until its volume increases by 2–2.5 times. If the shrimp thrash around or arch their backs, turn off the water supply for about 1 hour and provide aeration. Resume at a rate of 1 drop every 15–20 seconds.
5. Having increased the volume of water as indicated in step 4, carefully drain some of the liquid and continue adding aquarium water. In the process of increasing its volume, you need to drain some more 1-2 times.

When all the liquid intended for adaptation has run out, leave the shrimp for 1 day in a new environment for them. If they feel fine, you can equalize the temperature and pour the contents of the container into community aquarium.

Population density and species compatibility

Before purchasing new pets, you should evaluate in advance your ability to keep a certain number of pets. A medium-sized crustacean (about 5 cm long) requires 2–3 liters of water. Based on this, you need to calculate how many can be kept in one aquarium.

The compatibility of shrimp with fish deserves special mention. These crustaceans are peaceful and defenseless creatures, but they cannot get along with all fish. Any large or aggressive neighbors are undesirable for them.

Crustaceans get along well with small fish (guppies, mollies, neons, etc.) living in the upper layers of water.

These species simply will not interfere with each other and, accordingly, will not pay attention to the presence of neighbors. Among bottom fish with whom crustaceans coexist can be called peaceful catfish (corydoras, speckled, thoracatum). But most often, aquarium shrimp, whose compatibility with fish is not particularly successful, is kept in separate reservoirs. This applies primarily to rare and valuable representatives.

In order for shrimp to feel calm at home, they need to be provided with good shelter. Pets can hide in thickets of algae, in decorative grottoes, under driftwood or in large shells. It is especially important for them to have a protected place during molting, when the old shell is shed and the new one is not yet strong.

How are shrimp raised?

Breeding aquarium shrimp does not require special intervention from the breeder. Animals are dioecious. The female can be distinguished by her larger size and wide tail, on which she will carry her eggs.

Shrimp reproduction occurs during the period between molts. At this time, you can notice the caviar sacs on the female’s tail. She bears offspring for 3–4 weeks.

By the time the young hatch, dark inclusions inside the eggs become clearly visible.

If breeding of aquarium shrimp is planned in order to increase their number or for selection purposes, then the female with eggs must be carefully transplanted into a separate aquarium, pouring water into it from the general one. Newborn shrimp are very small and become food even for peaceful neighbors. But even in a separate reservoir, thickets of plants are needed, among which the young animals can hide and feed.

What types of shrimp are there?

Even inexperienced aquarists can grow the most unpretentious types of shrimp at home. They belong to the genus Neocaridin. There are several breeds available, all bred from a single wild ancestor. But there are also quite rare varieties of aquarium shrimp, the maintenance of which is difficult even for experienced breeders.

The most popular breeds include cherry or cherry shrimp. They were named so for their beautiful deep red color. Breeding cherry shrimp is a pleasure. Small, only 2.5–3 cm long, these crustaceans love to live in large schools (at least 10 pieces), enlivening the underwater landscape. It is not difficult to keep them in large numbers due to their rapid reproduction: a female can bear about 30 eggs at once, producing offspring almost all year round.

These little ones need small-leaved plants, such as Java moss, Christmas moss, and cladophora. Lomariopsis and Indian ferns will help decorate the landscape. You can complement the green decoration with floating plant species such as duckweed or riccia. The contrast of greenery and bright red crustaceans looks very elegant, and watching shrimp in an aquarium brings real aesthetic pleasure. To prevent shrimp from starting to eat plants, you need to drop them a piece of apple, bell pepper, zucchini or other mild vegetable that they can eat. It is not necessary to remove it, you just need to change it once a week.

The brothers of the red “cherries” are other neocaridins - yellow and fiery.

These are varieties descended from the same wild ancestor, so they can be housed and bred together. They cross easily, and trying to select their offspring can be an interesting practice for young aquarists.

There is also a blue variety of neocaridina. Unlike yellow and red, this color is not inherited. It is caused artificially: with the help of special feed. You shouldn’t count on the appearance of blue-shelled offspring even in isolated animals, but you can use them as genetic material when crossing red and yellow individuals.

Speaking about unpretentious varieties, first of all, we mean their high resistance to fluctuations in water hardness and an extended temperature range (+18... +29°C). But even these aquarium shrimp need good care, a variety of feeds and ensuring optimal conditions. To imitate the natural environment, you can add dry tree leaves, pieces of oak wood, and walnut shells to the water.

Other varieties of shrimp

Rare breeds often turn out to be not demanding, but simply more expensive. Among them there are very beautiful representatives, whom professional breeders take to exhibitions and competitions. Some of the rare shrimp belong to the genus Caridina, and their care differs little from caring for yellow or cherry shrimp.

Among these varieties are red and black bees. These are adorable creatures white with 3-4 stripes of the corresponding color. The red bee is just a random mutation of the black variety, and breeding shrimp in an aquarium made it possible to fix this trait.

Another form obtained from bees is the red and black crystal. Unlike their striped progenitors, crystals have an almost entirely white body with a single spot on the cephalothorax. Hobbyists identify groups with different spot shapes.

The unusual red nose shrimp cannot be bred at home.

Transparent creatures with long red growths in the front of the body are sold from the salt waters of India and neighboring countries. Reproduction can only occur in natural conditions, but they can also live in freshwater aquariums.

The snowflake, white pearl and blue pearl varieties are all in the same neocaridine genus as the common "cherries". Their rarity is explained by the fact that these are relatively new breeds. They reproduce just as successfully as their counterparts, which means that soon they can be purchased more freely and they will coexist in the same body of water. By crossing white and red varieties you can get cute pink and striped offspring.

There are many beautiful breeds shrimp. When you start breeding these new aquarium pets, you can get a lot of positive emotions.

Unfortunately, it is very rare to find aquarium shrimp in home ponds. This is due to the poor awareness of fish lovers: they think that aquarium shrimp require special, difficult care, that they do not fit well with other types of fish, and that many difficulties will arise in their maintenance. And in vain! Aquarium shrimp- very peaceful creatures, they are friends with different types of fish, and are unpretentious in their care. They are very beautiful and can add color and variety to a home aquarium, giving it some exoticism.

Characteristics of crustaceans and their natural habitats

Aquarium shrimp in nature live in many bodies of water. Moreover, they are so unpretentious that they can live in both fresh and salt water. It should be understood that each type of crustacean has its own deposit. For example, red noses are found in Venezuelan rivers, and fan arthropods live in the freshwater rivers of Panama.

Variety of shrimp in a home aquarium

Thanks to these pets, the water corner in your house or apartment will turn into a real exotic paradise. They have many types and colors, are unpretentious in care, reproduce very easily and quickly, so they can diversify and surprise even the most avid and demanding pet fish lovers. Mostly aquarium shrimp have the following characteristics:

• The size of the individual varies from 2 to 5 cm (in rare species up to 15cm);
• Life expectancy – up to 2 years;
• Colors – yellow, blue, green, cherry, transparent.

A home aquarium containing crustaceans is called a shrimp tank. Basically, it is no different from an aquarium in which fish live. The volume of the shrimp tank should be at least 40 liters (but better than 80 liters). In the case of a smaller aquarium volume, it will be difficult to maintain biobalance, and this will negatively affect the health of the inhabitants of the shrimp tank. And if the aquarium is too large, they will simply get lost in the algae thickets.

Aquarium water requirements

Shrimp can be kept either separately from fish or together with some species. For example, aquarium shrimp get along well with goldfish. But you should not introduce crustaceans into an aquarium where there are predatory and aggressive fish: they will simply be eaten.

In addition to heating, each shrimp tank must be equipped fine bubble aerator and safety filter. These precautions are necessary to protect the shrimp fry, which are very small in size (so that they do not get sucked into the filtration system). The aerator must work around the clock, because shrimp require more oxygen than other inhabitants of the aquarium. The water can be changed to fresh once a week (but not more than 40% of the total amount) and only warm.

There are also these types of aquarium shrimp: rednose shrimp, Amano shrimp, Harlequin shrimp, cardinal shrimp, red crystal and other less known and common ones. They are more demanding in maintenance (for example, the rednose shrimp must swim in salt water to reproduce; the cardinal is not suitable for a beginner because of its whimsical nature). temperature conditions and diet).

Nutrition of aquarium shrimp

Individuals that live in home aquariums, by nature absolutely omnivorous. They will happily eat small or half-eaten fish, special food or algae. And if there is a shortage of food, the shrimp will eat all the moss growth on the stones and walls of the aquarium (it’s not for nothing that they are called cleaners). The necessary food for crustaceans can be purchased at pet stores.

If crustaceans are kept in a separate aquarium from other fish, you need to buy special food for them in pet stores. Some aquarists give their pets, for variety, pieces of zucchini, eggplant, cabbage or lettuce, and sometimes regular fish food. But do not forget that overfeeding is very harmful for crustaceans. They start to get lazy and stop cleaning the aquarium. How much food does a pet need? Experts recommend giving dry food no more than 1-2 times a week. This dose will be enough for them to live a healthy and fulfilling life for a week.

Feeding time

It is better to feed your pets at the same time. And not so that they have better digestion, but simply so that this process is not spontaneous. Consistent feeding times are key avoiding overeating. The best time to feed is an hour after waking up, when the shrimp wake up and crawl out of their homes. However, this is no longer important and depends on your capabilities.

Keeping shrimp in a fish aquarium

To prevent your shrimp from becoming a tasty treat for other inhabitants of the aquarium, you need to choose the right neighbors for them. They get along very well with small fish. These could be, for example, neons or guppies. Snails can be excellent neighbors for shrimp: they are harmless and unpretentious, just like crustaceans. Dangerous for shrimp There will be the following types of fish:

• Cichlids;
• Loaches.

But, according to aquarists, if your aquarium has a variety of shelters from plants and decorative ornaments, even these aggressors will not be a hindrance to the shrimp.

In fact, breeding aquarium shrimp is not as difficult as it seems. The main condition is separate vessel for fry. Otherwise, all the babies will become food for the adult fish that live in home aquarium. Experienced aquarists recommend breeding only those types of shrimp that do not have a larval development phase. After all, such individuals are very similar to their parents: they are very easy to care for and are not picky about their diet (they eat regular food).

Diseases of domestic crustaceans

Also, individuals of arthropods very often exposed to fungal diseases. No matter how much it would not be clean aquarium, no matter how much you have not followed all the parameters for caring for crustaceans, there is still a possibility of such a disease occurring. And it sucks all the vital juices out of the individual, poisons the body with toxins and can cause death.

But be that as it may, infected individuals must be urgently placed in a separate vessel, and the water in the aquarium must be changed to fresh and clean. After these manipulations, you should consult a specialist for advice and take all necessary measures.

Majority freshwater shrimp, kept in our aquariums, come from Asia. Their length, as a rule, does not exceed 6-8 cm. Almost all of them are omnivores, but prefer lower aquatic vegetation. Shrimp are generally quite hardy creatures. Shrimp are interesting mainly during the day, when they lead an active lifestyle, quickly moving along the bottom in search of food and crawling along the leaves of plants. In a moment of danger, they make jerky swimming movements in the water column using contractions of the tail fan.

Shrimp molt regularly. Throwing off the chitinous shell. During molting (two to three days before molting and one or two after), they do not feed. Having freed themselves from the old shell, the shrimp take refuge in thickets of plants, under stones or in other shelters. After molting, the shrimp's integument is soft, and for some time, until the shell becomes hard, the animals are defenseless. After molting, shrimp recover damaged and lost limbs. In young individuals this happens faster, in adults it happens gradually.

Shrimp are peaceful. They do not attack their own kind or other inhabitants of the aquarium.
Although, when kept with fish, they themselves can become quite tasty food.

All types of aquarium shrimp are not picky about their living conditions. With the exception of some, for example, Sulawesi shrimp.
An aquarium of 10 liters or more is suitable for successful maintenance. In which you can place 10-15 shrimp. But you need to remember that sooner or later they will multiply and choosing a fry will not be so easy. Therefore, we advise you to start immediately with large aquarium volumes.

Aquarium shrimp Looks better on black soil. Although this is a matter of taste.
Amazingly, they live in temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. So, if the temperature in your apartment does not drop below 17 degrees, you can safely keep a shrimp tank without heating means. Although the ideal temperature for them would be 24-25 C.

Thus, you can save on heating, but aeration will not do this. It is imperative to install aeration in the shrimp tank. Krill, unlike fish, is very sensitive to oxygen saturation in water.

Very good for shrimp the presence of living plants is important in their habitat - an aquarium. It would be ideal to plant Java moss. Shrimp need it for hiding and cleaning. Of course, any plants will do for a start, even hornwort and pistia.

Water filtration for shrimp. It is necessary to put a nylon stocking on the internal filter; there must be a pre-filter on the intake pipe of the external filter, otherwise the shrimp will be sucked in.

Lighting for shrimp not really necessary, except to see the food :). But the plants that will be in the shrimp tank simply need it.

And now the unpleasant moment when keeping shrimp.

Aquarium shrimp are very sensitive to the chemical composition of water. The water that is replaced must be clean and well settled. You also need to keep an eye on environment, the use of various kinds of sprays and fresheners in the room where there is an aquarium with shrimp is unacceptable; surface gas exchange has not yet been canceled. Be very careful when changing water and ventilate the room. In addition, shrimp do not tolerate high concentrations of nitrogen compounds in the aquarium.

Nutrition of aquarium shrimp

Everyone eats shrimp! In the literal sense of the word. They are constantly searching for food. They clean up dead parts of plants, the corpses of other residents (if there are any) and the smallest particles of everything that can be eaten. These arthropods need to be fed, or rather fed, no more than once every two days. However, it is not advisable to feed them on the day when the water is changed. Hungry shrimp are better able to withstand stress or other unwanted changes.

You can feed them with any food, from dry daphnia to live and concentrated and balanced branded food.

You can feed them with Tetra shrimp food. The food should be balanced and varied. Try to alternate feeds.

Shrimp tank maintenance.

Maintaining a shrimp tank is not particularly different from maintaining an aquarium with fish.
Water changes should be done once a week ~ 1/3 of the total volume. It is advisable to do a light siphon of soil every few months. Remove dead plant parts and shells from the coils. We emphasize! Everything must be done very carefully. Shrimp much fewer fish and it is possible to inadvertently injure or even kill them. But in general there is nothing complicated or unusual.

Breeding aquarium shrimp.

There is no need to help shrimp in breeding! They do everything well themselves.
If the conditions are favorable and your shrimp are good, then the offspring will not be long in coming.
During the period when the female is ready to reproduce, she releases pheromones into the water. All males begin to frantically chase around the aquarium and look for a female. Mating lasts no more than a second. Although the process of searching for a female usually lasts for hours. Soon after mating, the female develops a so-called saddle on her back. Cherry shrimp are yellow, special shrimp are drunken gray. This is caviar at a certain stage. Subsequently, the female molts and the eggs move under the abdomen, and after 3-4 weeks the fry will appear.
Juveniles do not need special care. He immediately eats what his parents eat. It hides in the thickets and swims jerkily. The above applies only to shrimp: neocardina cherry and neocardina special. There are complex types of shrimp that a beginner will not be able to breed, because... they need a special approach and a lot of knowledge and experience, for example, Amano shrimp, filter feeders.

The world of crustaceans is large. There are many aquarium inhabitants of this direction. Keeping aquarium shrimp is becoming increasingly popular. Individual shapes and sizes, a bright palette of colors, and graceful movements can captivate for a long time. Watching these babies is a pleasure, and caring for them does not bring any particular difficulties, since they are completely unpretentious.

Kinds

• cherry Body color: red, females are more inconspicuous. Dimensions 2.5-3 cm. female, 2 cm. male. An unpretentious type of shrimp. Perfect option for newbies. It reproduces quickly and can live in small aquariums.
• blue or bee shrimp. Shrimp with a bluish color. Relatively the new kind. The sizes of the individuals are 2 cm, male, 2.5 cm, female. Not aggressive and unpretentious in maintenance. The reproduction rate is high.
• yellow.As the name suggests, the color of this type of shrimp is yellow. Males reach a size of 2.5 cm, females - 3 cm. Not aggressive, unpretentious species. Like previous species, yellow shrimp reproduce quickly. An excellent option for beginners.
• green. Shrimp with a greenish color. Dimensions: 3 cm males, 3.5 cm females. Easy to maintain, non-aggressive. Playback speed is average.
• rednose shrimp. It has a reddish-transparent color, with a pronounced red nose. Can be used to control unwanted algae. Body size reaches: females 4 cm, males 3 cm. For breeding, the larvae require salt water. Not aggressive, medium difficulty.
• Amano shrimp. Light green, transparent color with a light stripe on the back that stretches from the head to the tail. Adult size: 4 cm male, 5 cm female. A peaceful type of shrimp, easy to keep. Larvae need salt water.
• harlequin shrimp. Has a bright contrasting color. Black, red and white colors are combined. This is a small species of shrimp, males - 0.6 cm, females - 1.2 cm. Low reproduction speed. For beginners, maintaining this species will be more difficult.
• cardinal. Vibrant look shrimp. The color varies from dark red-pink to light red with white dots along the body. Dimensions: male 2 cm, female 2.5 cm. Reproduction rate is low. Requires experience in content (not for beginners).
• red crystal. Also called the red bee. A popular species in the aquarium hobby. Has a bright red color. Dimensions of an adult: male 2.5 cm, female 3 cm. High reproduction rate. Beginners may have difficulty with the content.

Purchase

When purchasing aquarium shrimp, you need to take into account some features. These are quite delicate creatures and when transporting it is better to try to avoid sudden movements; it is worth putting some kind of plant in a container with them so that the animals can grab onto it. The vessel should not have sharp edges or corners so that aquatic organisms cannot be injured. Plastic bags may work just fine.

For shrimp, it is very important to have a proper aquarium with enough space for each individual. The aquarium must be selected with a liter of water per shrimp. However, when maximum sizes bodies of 2 centimeters in one liter two individuals can coexist.

They can be added to fish or you can prepare a separate aquarium - a shrimp tank. When kept in a community aquarium important role plays the correct neighborhood. The fact is that fish and shrimp are antagonists by nature. This is not about simple competition. Fish often hunt them, mistaking them for food.

Safety for them can be ensured a large number of shelters. Shrimp can hide both in decorative elements and among plants.

When choosing plants for an aquarium, you can pay attention to Java moss. Adults can hide in it and larvae can grow. In a general aquarium there should be more such moss, then not a single fish will be able to get the shrimp from its shelter.

Shrimp, like fish, are cold-blooded animals, so whether they are active or not depends on the temperature that was created in the aquarium. It should be 20-28 degrees. But even a drop to 15 degrees will not be fatal for them. They will become less active and stop reproducing.

If the water is heated to 32 degrees, protein coagulation will occur in the body, which means probable death for all individuals. Crustaceans have increased sensitivity to sudden changes in temperature. For example, a jump of 7 degrees threatens fish with disease and shrimp with death. Therefore, if a change is planned, it must be done gradually.

The amount of water that is replaced in the aquarium should not exceed 1/5 of its volume. This procedure can be repeated no more than once a week. Shrimp can live in tap water, but it needs to be replaced only when the temperature warms up to room temperature.

aquarium shrimp

The chemical composition of water does not have of great importance. The main thing is that there is no copper in it, otherwise both adults and larvae will die. In addition, the water hardness must be high, otherwise during molting they will have nowhere to get the necessary substances to build a shell.

It is important to siphon the soil frequently as shrimp leave a lot of waste. If ammonia levels rise sharply, they will get sick.

Lack of oxygen also has a detrimental effect on these crustaceans. To enrich water with oxygen, it is necessary to install a special compressor.

If a filter is used, it must be covered with a sponge, otherwise small individuals will get inside. In shrimp tanks, a filter is not necessary, but in a general aquarium you will have to install one.

The aquarium must be equipped with a special lid, since many species can crawl outside of it. Shrimp can only survive in air for a few minutes.

Aquarium shrimp: reproduction and offspring

Aquarium shrimp reproduce frequently and actively. In this regard, they are unpretentious and not capricious. Especially if they create all the conditions for this in the form of a cozy corner with Java moss and a couple of branchy small-leaved plants. After puberty, the female aquarium shrimp begins her mating games. One day the owner of the aquarium will notice how his pets become more active, how they rush after each other.

Such “catch-up” is the prelude. Watch a video on the Internet of aquarium shrimp during mating games - a fascinating sight!
It happens that one female goes to several males at once, then she bears “complex” offspring from several individuals. In small shrimp, which are translucent, you can see the process of egg maturation. The most amazing thing is to see how the visual apparatus is formed inside the egg - small black eyes appear.

Reproduction of aquarium shrimp is an interesting process that will appeal to the observant aquarist. The larva hatches from the egg after four to six weeks. Different types of shrimp do not interbreed. For example, the Amano species is not at all interested in Cherry Shrimp.

aquarium shrimp

Aquarium shrimp - compatibility with fish

Remember that shrimp can grow and reproduce well only if their neighbors in the aquarium are fish that will not encroach on their lives. The existence of the babies will be threatened by all neighbors who are larger than them in size and whose oral cavity will be able to capture the shrimp.

IN wildlife these cute creatures are common food for various fish. Therefore, sensing danger, they got used to hiding with the help of plants, stones, and soil. It is worth taking note of this fact for owners who are planning to make friends between shrimp and fish. Bettas, goldfish, cichlids, melanotenias, swordtails, platies and many other cute creatures can eat or torture your little ones. Boraras brigittae will be excellent neighbors for tiny pets.

To best set up your aquarium, you should match the shrimp to the fish, and not vice versa. Filter-feeding shrimp, Mucrobrachium rosenberghi, as well as the Palameon species will not be vulnerable targets for their neighbors, and may even become dangerous cohabitants for them.

aquarium shrimp

If you want to create an aquarium in which aquarium shrimp would live together with fish, you should not select neighbors at random, then keeping your pets safe will be at risk. And this can really bother you. It's best to think carefully about your choice.

What do aquarium shrimp eat?

These pets are omnivores, so you don't have to worry too much about their diet. If shrimp live with fish, then they can easily pick up food that their neighbors haven’t eaten.

Kids also love to feast on algae growths that have formed on rocks, soil, and various plants. If your pets live alone in their glass house, then you can please them with special food. They also love to eat pieces of zucchini, peppers and lettuce. Remember that these wonderful creatures should not be overfed. Since shrimp love to eat algae and fouling, some owners give them food 1-2 times a week.

The structure of aquarium shrimp

Aquarium shrimp, unlike the same crayfish, do not have clearly defined claws; instead, they have mandibles, which, in addition to motor functions, are also designed to capture, hold and deliver food to the mouth.

Aquarium shrimp have five pairs of hind legs, and a tail, which, like that of crayfish, helps the shrimp in case of danger, make sharp, jumping movements back, thus escaping from enemies in nature, and in the aquarium from aggressive fish. Also, aquarium shrimp have good sense of smell and touch, thanks to long antennae, and shrimps’ eyes are even capable of rotating in different directions, which contributes to a wide view.

What plants should be planted in an aquarium with shrimp?

Here we need to acquire unpretentious, small-leaved aquarium plants. FIRSTaqua.ru wrote to you about many of them in previous articles. It is in the thickets of small-leaved plants that aquarium shrimp love to swarm. Especially if they live next to fish in an aquarium, they need to have their own secret corner where no one will disturb them. The ideal plant in this case is Java moss.

aquarium shrimp

In the thickets of this moss, more than one fish will not get shrimp, so if you decide to put shrimp in a common aquarium with fish, be sure to plant more Java moss. By the way, aquarium shrimp also reproduce very well in it; the moss serves as an excellent refuge for shrimp larvae.

Aquarium shrimp will also like Hornwort - a floating, small-leaved, unpretentious plant; this also includes Cottonwort, Cabomba and Guadalupe Naiad. The latter also creates extensive dense thickets, serving as a home for aquarium shrimp.

Cladafora looks very beautiful in the aquarium. Aquarium shrimp simply adore it. It is a green ball of algae. Shrimp constantly crawl along it and collect stuck particles of food and various fouling from its fibers. This looks very funny!

Of course, we have not listed all plants suitable for aquarium shrimp. There are still a lot of them, and these are just the most common and unpretentious ones. These are the plants that novice aquarists plant.

Advantages and disadvantages

Every aquarist dreams of seeing colorful aquarium inhabitants in crystal clear water. Some create special lighting to highlight the beauty and brightness of the shrimp. This is a big plus of these crustaceans. Their choice is so large that you can choose small shrimps to match the small ones beautiful fish or large, “meaningful” individuals, so that they do not get lost among the beautiful fish. Moreover, their prices are rarely high (beautiful, bright crustaceans can be bought even for 50–100 rubles).

Another plus is ease of maintenance. Some types of shrimp (for example, red cherry) seem to require no care at all; they can adapt to any conditions. In addition, you don’t have to worry about the size of the tabletop reservoir. Shrimp can be stocked either in a nano aquarium (up to 1 liter) or in a very large container (up to 400–500 liters). True, the size of the individuals and the population size will depend on the size of the container. But such small creatures will help the owner keep the aquarium clean. Shrimp love to swarm at the bottom, among the leaves of plants and the surfaces of stones, so the water will not become cloudy due to uneaten food and plaque.

The disadvantage of a bright cleaner is that it can become a victim of aggressive fish. Some shrimp (such as the red cardinal) only grow to 1.5–2 cm, so a relatively large fish may mistake this creature for food. Young shrimp are especially at risk of being eaten. After all, the thin shell of crustaceans cannot protect against the teeth of predator fish. If you take good care of the shrimp, they will begin to actively reproduce. Some owners of arthropod pets have to “clean” shrimp rows. Experienced shrimp connoisseurs select those that are lighter (paler) and hand them over to a pet store or distribute them to friends. Bright and beautiful individuals will remain in a spacious aquarium.

Introduction

I was prompted to write this material by numerous requests for help on the forum related to keeping shrimp in an aquarium.

Just 10 years ago these were very rare and exotic inhabitants aquariums. And now they have become fashionable, and the number of people wanting to have shrimp is constantly growing. But if the rules for caring for fish and plants are more or less generally known, then people are usually familiar with crustaceans only gastronomically.

There are many excellent articles about shrimp written by wonderful authors. This text is in no way a replacement for them. My main idea: to give a short introduction to shrimp keeping for newbies. The materials were selected taking into account the most common errors.
In order to facilitate perception, the material is divided into two parts: theoretical and practical.

Part 1. Theoretical

Meat or fish?

Once on the subway I heard a conversation between two women. They discussed whether it was possible to eat shrimp during Lent, when it is permissible to eat fish. Their main question was: are shrimp meat or fish? I wanted to tell them that shrimp are decapod arthropods. But I changed my mind, because... such an answer would confuse them even more. And why deprive people of the pleasure of courageously overcoming the difficulties that they create for themselves?
So, shrimp owners should know much more about their pets than the average person. Indeed, in an aquarium, these creatures are absolutely helpless. Their life depends entirely on the competence of the owner.

Let's take a look at the place of shrimp in the scientific classification:

The key word here is arthropods. Therefore, immediately erase from your head the stereotype about the relationship between fish and shrimp. What they have in common is only their habitat. And according to their biological properties, they are “relatives” of cockroaches, spiders and bedbugs.

Which is more difficult to keep in an aquarium: fish or shrimp? It is impossible to answer unequivocally. But for a beginner, little familiar with the “pitfalls” of aquarium keeping, the answer is much clearer: casual fish are more tenacious. Therefore, shrimp are more difficult to keep.

Who sold me this hamster?

An old bearded joke... A man brings a bear to the poultry market and asks the sellers: “Well, who sold me this hamster a year ago?”

Shrimp also have their own hamsters and bears. Therefore, you need to be able to distinguish between them in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. For example, under the guise of a harmless booger, incompetent or unscrupulous sellers can sell macrobrachium rosenbergi, which grows up to 18 centimeters, freeing the aquarium from all fish, plants and its less fortunate relatives. In fact, the Rosenbergs are beautiful and interesting animals. But they need to be started consciously, providing appropriate conditions.

However, people usually want peaceful shrimp. And this is quite understandable. But how to distinguish them from predators? It's quite simple: predatory shrimp have claws that are visible to the naked eye.

I will not review all aquarium shrimp here. Moreover, new species and breeds are constantly appearing on the market. I would like to focus on the especially popular ones. Without having any statistics, I’ll take the risk of identifying the top three:

• Neocaridina denticulata Red Cherry, Cherry shrimp or simply cherry.
  The undoubted advantages of this shrimp are: unpretentiousness, fertility, bright color, wide availability. The disadvantages include small size. However, this is even good for miniature aquariums.
  The approximate lifespan of cherry shrimp is 1 year. This is certainly not enough. But it is compensated by their fertility.
• Amano shrimp, Yamato Shrimp, Caridina japonica, Japanese pond shrimp or simply amanka.
  Gained wide popularity with light hand Takashi Amano. Quite large, active, can eat filamentous algae. But it does not reproduce in an aquarium. But the lifespan is much longer than that of cherries. My seven Amanks have been living for 3.5 years.
• Atyopsis Moluccensis, Banana Shrimp, filter feed shrimp.
  These funny large shrimp can often be found in pet stores. But they are much more difficult to maintain than amanki or cherries. In addition, they are not very active. And many people mistakenly believe that a filter-feeding shrimp can somehow replace a filter. Unfortunately, it is filter feeders that most often die from inexperienced owners.
  One filter has lived with me for 3 years, the other is already on its fourth year.

Having mastered the simple rules of keeping these relatively unpretentious creatures, you can start the rest.

What you need to know...

What are these rules? Let's look at them right now.

Water quality

When dealing with shrimp, never forget that water quality is the most important thing in their life. They are extremely sensitive to any changes.

In nature, if shrimp sense something is wrong, they try to quickly swim as far as possible from the bad place.

Unfortunately, they have nowhere to escape from the aquarium. The poor creatures are rushing along the walls in a panic, trying in vain to find a stream that will lead them to clean water. Large shrimp are trying to jump out. Those who succeed die on the floor. The rest are in the aquarium.
This is the sad picture of poisoning with nitrogenous compounds among simple-minded owners who do not spare food for their pets. Or in case of an incorrect start in an aquarium with fish.

What to do in such a situation? Change the water?
As they say, it’s too late to drink Borjomi if your liver has fallen off.
Replacements are not very effective. Some of the poor fellows can be saved if they are immediately transplanted into clean water. But only owners of several aquariums can afford this. And in tap water, even if it is clean, shrimp also have little chance.

To avoid this situation, you need to remember that shrimp are much more sensitive to water content harmful substances than fish. We will return to the topic of monitoring the concentration of nitrogen compounds. In the meantime, let's look at the table of numerical estimates that I collected based on personal experience.

What other substances are harmful to shrimp?
Most branded aquarium products are safe. And for those that are dangerous, this is always indicated in the instructions.

But can our people get by with only branded drugs? There will always be “knowledgeable” people who will recommend some kind of miracle remedy. But no one has yet canceled their head on their shoulders. And for an informed decision-making, I want to give a review collected from the reviews of many shrimp owners.

Copper salts.	They are often active components of algaecides and some drugs. Both plants and animals need copper in small quantities. For example, in the blood of shrimp, copper plays the same role as iron in ours. But the slightest overdose can be fatal. In branded fertilizers containing copper, the concentration is not dangerous.
Insecticides	Pesticides against insects are also very dangerous for shrimp, given the similarity of their physiology. Most often, insecticides get into the aquarium with new plants, because... on farms they often use poison against pests. Therefore, do not rush to plant plants from unreliable sources in an aquarium with shrimp. Let them sit in a separate container for a couple of days.
Antibiotics	A one-time application will not usually kill shrimp. But it should be remembered that antibiotics negatively affect the immunity of animals. In addition, they destroy such an important and fragile balance of the aquarium.
Fertilizer macroelements.	Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. If you apply it in the quantities that plants need, then there is no danger. (Given that nitrogen is in the form of nitrate.) It is also important to maintain the proportion between potassium and sodium. Plants do not need sodium, although there is usually much more of it in water. But if suddenly there is a significant excess of potassium, this can lead to disruptions in activity nervous system animals.
Microelements of fertilizers.	Iron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, boron, cobalt, iodine, sulfur, etc. are safe in the required concentrations.
Calcium, magnesium, sodium and chlorides	Most shrimp are fine increased content these ions, because these are the elements sea ​​water. And shrimp still have a strong genetic memory of their homeland. But it is important to remember that when these elements are present in water as a mixture, this is normal. If only one of them is bad. As for calcium, shrimp need it to build their shells. If the water is too soft, many shrimp may show pathologies when molting. To compensate for the lack of calcium, you can use marble soil, tuff decorations, various shells, etc.
Iodine.	This is very important element for shrimp life. But it often happens that there is too little of it in food and water. If you add iodinol (from a pharmacy) to the aquarium water at the rate of 1 ml per 10 liters of water, once or twice a month, this will not harm plants, fish and bacteria. But the shrimp will be happy. From using traditional alcohol solution It is better to abstain from iodine.

Separately, I would like to touch on a sore subject - algae. In my opinion, in the fight against them, many people reach the point of absurdity. Shrimp are unlikely to share the aesthetic feelings of the owner. For them, algae is food, a useful substrate and an additional water purifier. However, in case of blooming water, it is necessary to ensure good aeration.
Think carefully before pouring pesticides, whether it is worth it. In general, excess algae can always be controlled without the use of algaecides. And even if many people claim that everything is fine with them, this does not mean that in your case there will be no problems. It is clear that the shrimp want to live, despite the good efforts of the owner. But each aquarium has its own specific conditions. Because of this, some people are lucky and others are not. Don't risk the lives of your pets in vain.

And a couple more tips:

• Wash your hands thoroughly without soap before putting them into the shrimp aquarium.
• In the summer I constantly use fumitox. Many shrimp owners do too. Negative consequences No.

Once again about water

Did I mention that shrimp are very sensitive to water quality? I think he said. But it’s not superfluous to say this again.

Oxygen

It is very important to provide a large amount of oxygen in the aquarium water. Shrimp breathe through gills, much like fish. But the efficiency of fish gills is much higher. Therefore, shrimp need more oxygen. Where the fish survives, the shrimp may die from suffocation.
Extreme situations leading to a sharp drop in oxygen concentration are: outbreaks of blue-green algae (water blooms), bacterial turbidity, an increase in temperature to 30 0 C, high oxidation of water (due to excess organic matter).
Fish have another important advantage: a swim bladder, which allows them to float closer to the surface, where there is much more oxygen due to gas exchange with air. Shrimp are heavier than water and cannot swim for long. The only salvation for them is floating plants, which they can cling to and breathe near the surface.

Shrimp do not breathe through their mouths. Their gills are located in the central part of the body (in the carapace), and they push water there with cilia located under the belly. And too much movement may mean that the shrimp is lacking oxygen. And females also ventilate their eggs this way.

Filter feeders are the most demanding of oxygen. I would call cherry ones the least picky.

Water temperature

Comfortable temperature for shrimp: 22-25 o C. Although, Sulawesi savages require no lower than 27 o. But for most the limit is 32 o. In addition, the warmer the water, the less necessary oxygen dissolves in it.
One summer there was terrible heat for almost two weeks. The temperature in the aquariums remained 30-31. Everyone survived. But this is force majeure.
Temperatures above 29 o are harmful to the health of shrimp.
The lower limit in my cherry shrimp tank dropped to 13 o without visible damage. I think that Amano could also survive this. But I wouldn’t take that risk with filters.

Hydrochemistry

What can be said about the hydrochemical parameters of water? Yes, advanced shrimp owners are usually well versed in such things as pH, KH, GH. You need to understand this especially well if you are going to install the feed carbon dioxide.
For most shrimp, the normal pH is between 6.5 and 8.5. Optimum 7.5-8. That is, a slightly alkaline environment.
High hardness is better than low hardness. For example, there are quite a few reports of problems with shedding in soft water (dGH< 5). В то же время, мне не приходилось слышать о проблемах в жёсткой воде.
Although, for example, red crystals feel better in softer and slightly acidic water.

But the most important quality of water is stability! Shrimp are able to adapt to a new environment, even if the parameters are not entirely favorable. But they will not be able to adapt to chaotic fluctuations in parameters (which are inevitable when trying to use pH-minus or plus products).

Organic

And all shrimp love water with a small organic content. Absolutely no organic matter (tap water) is very bad. Excess organic matter is also no good. Useful organic matter includes substances released by plants. Driftwood is also very welcome. Oak leaves or alder cones have a positive effect. At one time I used granulated peat in the filter. The water was yellowish, but all the shrimp felt great.

Shedding

A physiological feature of shrimp, like all arthropods, is their hard chitinous shell, which protects the body from all sides. This armor greatly helps them survive in the wild, and in some aquariums too.

But there is a drawback to this: the shrimp grows and the suit becomes tight. Therefore, periodically they have to shed their old skin and grow a new one. This is called molting.

By the way, there is another unexpected bonus: along with a new skin, severed limbs can miraculously grow back.

But everything is far from so simple! The molting process is very responsible. After all, at this moment the shrimp becomes very vulnerable. In addition, to grow a new shell, the body uses “fat reserves” accumulated earlier. And if the shrimp did not receive enough substances from food, then there may not be enough building materials for new armor. This is fraught with various pathologies and even the death of the shrimp.

In addition to natural molting, there are also unplanned ones due to a sharp change in water parameters. This is a rather dangerous and undesirable phenomenon in the case when the shrimp has not had time to recover from the previous molt. And if the shrimp had caviar, it is usually lost.

What is a sudden change in water parameters from the point of view of shrimp?
Oddly enough, this could even be a transplant to a neighboring aquarium. After all, shrimp feel the difference very subtly. Therefore, do not try to transplant a pregnant female (“so that the babies don’t get eaten”). It is unlikely that she will appreciate such good intentions.

A change in parameters can be caused by an illiterate launch of the carbon dioxide supply system, the introduction of chemicals that disturb the environment, and even global weeding of fast-growing plants.

When some impressionable aquarists see empty skins for the first time, they sometimes mistake them for corpses. And I myself was caught once: the body of a filter feeder was lying at the bottom, and only the whiskers were twitching. I was about to be very upset, but upon closer inspection it turned out to be an empty shell into which a snail had climbed. And the mustache moved because of her movement.

The corpses of any shrimp in an aquarium look exactly the same as those in the frozen section of the grocery store - twisted, red and motionless.
Empty skins are translucent and usually white. And they are very light, so they sway even from a slight current and can lie on the leaves.

Behavior and Compatibility

Most shrimp are social creatures. Perhaps this does not apply only to filter feeders who are single introverts.
I can say for sure that the behavior of seven amankas is very different from three. In a group, shrimp behave more actively and boldly, hiding less. Therefore, it is much more interesting to watch them.
Between the shrimp different types special relationship I didn't notice.

Another feature is 24/7 activity. It seems like it doesn't really matter to them whether it's day or night.

The keeping of shrimp together is limited by two factors:

• More large shrimp can eat smaller ones. This is usually the fault of predators, such as macrobrachiums. However, I already warned that it is better to start with peaceful ones.
• Some seemingly different shrimp turn out to be able to enter into mixed marriages. For example, this is possible between bees, tigers and crystals. () This does not harm them themselves, but the offspring come out completely unattractive. Is it worth paying through the nose for beautiful decorative shrimp if they are replaced by dull half-breeds?

Shrimp and fish

And of course, we cannot ignore the relationship between shrimp and fish.

Unfortunately, even small fish often prey on juvenile shrimp. And larger fish are not averse to snacking on adult cherries. Amanks and filter feeders can fend for themselves. But during the molting period, they can easily become prey for cichlids or macropods. There are known cases of amankas being eaten by roosters.
There are very few completely safe fish. Among them I would name microanalysis ( Microrasbora sp. Galaxy), otocinclus ( Otocinclus macrospilus), acanthophthalmus ( Acanthophthalmus kuhli) and gastromyzons ( Gastromyzon punctulatus). And also, oddly enough, a huge and formidable Gyrinoheylus ( Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) - a thunderstorm for fish - turned out to be absolutely harmless to shrimp. True, I once heard that he gave a thrashing to predatory shrimp. But, apparently, they were the first to make an attempt on his life.
The main trouble is that even in the absence of aggression from the fish, the shrimp try to stay out of harm's way. They begin to hide and switch to nocturnal activity.

For example, in my 100-liter aquarium, filter feeders, amankas, cherries and Indian red noses coexisted well.
Among the fish there were: Gyrinocheilus, two Siamese algae eaters (SAE), wedge-shaped rasboras, honey gourami and dwarf bots.
Juvenile cherry trees led predominantly night look life. In addition, they occupied the insides of the filters. The adults climbed calmly during the day.

I think that for the first time the theory will be enough. In the next part we will look at practical questions shrimp studies.

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