Keeping aquarium shrimp at home. Decorative aquarium shrimp. Photo of aquarium shrimp

Aquarium - great option for those who want pets to live in the apartment, while not feeling remorse for the fact that there is sorely not enough time to care for pets. And if you add aquarium shrimp to the usual fish, the life of a small underwater world will change and revive. Shrimps get along well with fish, and their unusual appearance and behavior make watching them a pleasure. But in order for the "new settlers" to be comfortable, it is important to know what conditions are required for their maintenance and how shrimp breed in the aquarium.

Comfortable conditions for aquarium shrimp

Breeding shrimp in an aquarium is a simple matter. These small crustaceans cannot be called fastidious: they are practically omnivorous - they enjoy eating special food and fish food with pleasure, they will not refuse boiled vegetables either.

Shrimps have gained fame as aquarium orderlies: they “clean up” dead fish, dead plants, thereby regulating the cleanliness and growth of aquarium flora. .

You can make great aquarium shrimp houses by simply attaching a few pieces of tubing together.

You need to feed the crustaceans no more than once every 2-3 days, otherwise they begin to “get lazy”, ignoring their function as filter feeders. And decaying uneaten food robs the inhabitants of the aquarium of oxygen.

To create shrimp good conditions For life and reproduction, several requirements must be met:

• the aquarium should always have clean water, the temperature of which does not go beyond 15 0 С - 30 0 С (in more than cold water reproductive functions stop, and in hotter shrimp die);
• you need to create a slight movement of water: standing shrimps will be uncomfortable;
• it is important that the pH of the water is slightly acidic or neutral;
• the content of copper in water is unacceptable;
• artificial aeration is welcome, while the compressor should be selected quiet;
• to prevent crustaceans from crawling out of the aquarium, where they will quickly die, it is worth covering it with a lid.

And the decor and the presence of plants are also very important - this serves as a shelter for shrimps during the molting period, when the crustaceans are very vulnerable. In addition, it is worth avoiding the neighborhood with predatory aggressive fish: shrimp may seem like an attractive lunch to them.

Reproduction features

The structure of an aquarium shrimp.

The unusual appearance of shrimp is closely related to their reproductive characteristics. The body of crustaceans is segmented, while each of the segments has limbs: three pairs of mandibles belong to oral apparatus, and the remaining five pairs of limbs perform a direct function - the movement of the individual. On the body of females there are pleopods - abdominal legs on which they bear eggs; in males, the pleopods are transformed into a sexual organ. Recognizing crustaceans by sex difference is easy externally: females are larger than males (on average, 3-5 cm), wider in the chest region, and their color, as a rule, is more saturated.

Shrimps are prone to such a phenomenon as hermaphroditism, and with the onset of unfavorable conditions for reproduction, they are able to change sex!

When choosing shrimp for breeding, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of their interspecific crossing: unsystematic mating of expensive breeding species leads to the "degeneration" of the breed- fry are born inconspicuous, although the number of offspring in this case, the reproduction of shrimp does not affect.

Aquarium shrimp compatibility chart.

Beginners should pay attention to species such as neocardina and cherry (cherry) - the most unpretentious aquarium shrimp, the reproduction of which is quite simple. But, for example, for the reproduction of offspring, the Amano requires sea ​​water: although these shrimp are freshwater, in vivo they migrate to a salty pond to hatch fry.

Being in comfortable conditions for themselves, crustaceans begin to multiply quite soon: the female becomes sexually mature by about two months, it is possible to determine its readiness for reproduction when eggs are clearly visible in the ovary, which is often called the "saddle" (at the junction of the cephalothorax and abdomen). The color of eggs depends on the type of female and can vary from white to bright red.

Shrimp saddle.

By the time the eggs are mature, the female will shed chitin, releasing pheromones into the water that attract males. The lucky one, who first discovered a partner, gets the proud title of father. After fertilization, the female transfers the eggs to the undertail, where they stick to the pleopods. It can take up to 2 weeks from mating to oviposition. The development of eggs takes, on average, one lunar cycle (specifically, the time is affected by both the water temperature and the species of shrimp). The mother takes special care of her future offspring, providing them with oxygen by constant movements of the pleopod limbs and cleaning the clutch from dirt.

The fertility of a female is determined by her age and species. Only a dozen or two eggs are hatched by "firstborns", and the number of eggs is 1.5 - 2 times more than the norm for an adult female.

Features of keeping fry

Shrimp fry are born fully formed, although very small (about 4 mm), and outwardly resembling their parents in color. Now the mother stops paying attention to them, and the fry begin to live own life. At first, they hide under snags and among plants, but, having grown stronger, they become bolder, mastering the entire territory of the aquarium. Special nutrition of juveniles is not required: the food is the same as for adults.

Newborn shrimp, although very small, are already not much different from adults.

It is important to take care of safety: young animals often die when they get into aquarium filters. A good option in this case, a sponge filter. To protect the external and internal filters, you can purchase a fine mesh, which will need to be installed at the water intake points.

In order to avoid the death of the young from being eaten by fish, it is advisable to place the female for the period from the fertilization of eggs to the relative maturation of the fry in a separate container. When returning fry to a common aquarium, you should not worry about whether there will be enough space now: crustaceans do not claim additional “living” cubic meters, it is optimal to plant shrimp at the rate of 1-2 individuals per liter of water.

Simple conditions of detention and unpretentiousness make shrimp breeding not only exciting, but also profitable business: having initially acquired several individuals at a price of hundreds of rubles, after a few months you can make good money selling young animals.

Those who once settled aquarium shrimp in their home will definitely not want to part with these creatures: their bright colors and entertaining lifestyle give real pleasure to the observers, bringing peace to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And if this is exactly what you lack, maybe you should get shrimp?

aquarium shrimp are now at the peak of their popularity. Therefore, it is natural that in many pet stores you can buy both ordinary and rather rare species. However, replenishing the aquarium with them, especially the general one, should be done with caution.

It is not uncommon for reckless aquarists to unknowingly buy large representatives of aggressive species that crowd out other inhabitants of the aquarium. It happens that the old-timers of the aquarium themselves eat shrimp or their offspring. Below we will look at how to avoid such problems, and another important information. Let's start with the basics.

Structure

The structure of an aquarium shrimp.

Aquarium shrimp belongs to the order of 10-legged crustaceans. Her body consists of two parts - the cephalothorax and the abdominal part. The eyes and most of the limbs (mandibles and antennae) are located on the cephalothorax, and auxiliary limbs for swimming and bearing offspring are located on the abdominal part.

Due to the tail part, the animal makes spasmodic swimming movements, which often interfere with catching it. Eyes easily turn in different directions, which provides a wide view. Antennae are responsible for touch, smell and the "chemical sense".

In shrimp, the body structure is basically the same, while size and color vary by species. The dimensions of small and medium individuals range between 2-5 cm, and large ones reach 15 cm.

Types of aquarium shrimp

List all types ornamental shrimp in one article is impossible. Therefore, we will focus on the most popular varieties.

Cherry shrimp (Cherry shrimp)

They are bright, prolific and commercially available freshwater shrimp. The name says about the color. They live no more than a year, but during this time they manage to produce many descendants. Due to its small size (an adult is 2.5-3 cm), cherries are ideal for a small aquarium. Ease of maintenance allows it to be recommended for purchase by beginners. Cherry easily takes root in different conditions and is peaceful.

Amano (Amano shrimp)

Amano are light green aquarium shrimp with a light stripe on the back and brown spots on the sides. They are also called algae eaters, and are known to experienced aquarists as "aquarium cleaners" who easily get along with other aquarium inhabitants. Amano does not eat only red algae, but prevents their appearance. Representatives of the species live over 3 years. But breeding them in captivity is an extremely difficult task.

Japanese river shrimp (Macrobrachium nipponense)

Also known as oriental river shrimp. It is typical for her attractive color, at first glance, it may even seem glassy. This type bred on an industrial scale, due to its ease of maintenance, it is suitable for beginner aquarists. At the same time, these aquarium shrimp are an excellent example of why it is important to carefully approach the co-housing of certain species. Macrobrachium nipponense are aggressive. They can only be kept with commensurate shrimp.

reproduction

The shrimp hides its future offspring under the abdomen and periodically washes it, making characteristic movements with additional limbs.

Regardless of the type of shrimp, it is better for them to prepare a separate jig aquarium for the breeding season. In the general aquarium, the chances of survival of offspring are extremely small. It should be borne in mind that young animals are sensitive to adverse conditions and often die. If 25% survive, it's a success.

The reason for the death of the larvae can be both a lack of complete food, and rotting of the remains of uneaten food. Therefore, half an hour after feeding, the aquarium should be cleaned of residues. But if you manage to create favorable conditions in the shrimp farm, pets will breed regardless of whether you want it or not. At the same time, not all species breed in captivity. The aforementioned filterers can serve as an example.

Conditions of detention

To successfully keep shrimp in an aquarium, you need to work on creating a number of conditions. We list the main ones:

• sufficient space (1 liter of water for 2 shrimp when the size is no more than 2 cm and 1 liter of water for 1 individual when the size is more than 2 cm);
• suitable water temperature (20°-28°);
• the absence of copper in the composition of water;
• increased water hardness;
• the presence of a cover (crustaceans can crawl out of the aquarium).

When cleaning, do not forget to treat the soil with an aquarium siphon.

Also, do not forget about the fight against algae. good helpers in this case will be Cydex (glutaraldehyde), which, according to experts, is harmless to invertebrates.

Keeping shrimp in an aquarium with fish

AT natural environment fish perceive small arthropods as food, so you need to carefully select the species that will be placed in an aquarium with shrimp. Any fish that is larger than a shrimp causes the latter to lead a hidden lifestyle. In any case, it is worth giving preference to non-aggressive species with a small oral cavity..

Shrimp compatibility chart with aquarium fish.

In no case should you plant shrimp in an aquarium where they already live:

• cockerels;
• goldfish;
• gurus;
• swordsmen;
• angelfish;
• discus;
• cichlids.

If you recklessly introduce newly acquired individuals into the general aquarium, the crustaceans will actively hide, while other fish may begin to terrorize them and try to bite the bullet. As a result, arthropods will die either from the mouth of fish or from stress.

Shrimps in a community tank need different hiding places. For this purpose, aquarium plants and decor are suitable. good choice there will be Javanese moss, in which animals can hide, and the larvae will be hardly noticeable.

Special care must be taken in large aquariums equipped with filters. The latter can "pull" small individuals inside, so it is better to cover such a filter with a sponge.

Keeping shrimp in a separate aquarium

Nano aquariums with shrimps and plants are very popular.

A separate aquarium refers to a shrimp tank - a special container for the care and maintenance of crustaceans. Despite the fact that different species practically do not conflict with each other, there is a danger of cross-breeding, which can subsequently lead to degeneration of the population.

The classic shrimp aquarium has a relatively small volume (20-80 liters). Otherwise, it will be difficult to observe these small arthropods. The internal embossed background will be superfluous in the tank, which often causes the death of animals. But as a decor, you can safely use a coconut shell. Crustaceans love to eat its wood fibers.

What plants are suitable for a shrimp aquarium?

It is recommended to keep shrimp together with small-leaved aquarium plants, unpretentious to environment. Such plants include the aforementioned Javanese moss, as well as cabomba, hornwort, and shieldwort. Cladaphora is also suitable - a green ball of algae. Separately, it is worth highlighting the Guadalupe naiad, whose dense thickets can serve as a home for shrimp.

Feeding

The basis of the effective maintenance of aquarium shrimp is the competent selection of the diet. In the case of arthropods, this is not difficult to implement. They feed on the remains of plants and animals that are processed by bacteria. It can be rotten leaves of plants or dead fish.

Video: Shrimp Feeding

Aquatic insects, tubifex, bloodworms, and daphnia are also eaten. From plants, shrimps prefer soft-leaved ones. However, supplementation is necessary. Special dry food will help to take care of these aquatic inhabitants. In addition, boiled vegetables are suitable.

Feeding is enough to carry out no more than 1 time per day. At the same time, one day a week should be made unloading.

Shrimps are able to tolerate long breaks in feeding due to pasture.

Shrimp diseases

Shrimp diseases provoke the most different reasons: from improper care to certain infections. Arthropods suffer from:

A shrimp suffering from the disease of "rust" or "opaline".

• viral and bacterial infections;
• necrosis of muscle tissue;
• syndrome of rusty and burnt spots;
• porcelain, milk and cotton disease;
• sucking worms.

Each of these diseases has its own symptoms. For example, a viral disease known as white spot syndrome can be recognized precisely by white spots. Already in the early stages of this disease, animals become lethargic and stop eating normally.

Shrimp in the aquarium should be protected with preventive measures that can prevent the outbreak or spread of the disease. Much depends on the conditions of detention. In particular, water plays an important role. The reproduction of dangerous bacteria often contributes to the deterioration of its quality. This factor also reduces the immunity of crustaceans.

It also has a negative impact abrupt change water temperature. It is necessary not only to properly clean the aquarium, but also to avoid overcrowding. After all, a natural consequence of overpopulation is an excess of organic matter. Overfeeding has a similar effect. Therefore, if the food is not eaten, it is better to remove its remains..

Buying aquarium shrimp

Do not release shrimp into the aquarium immediately. Slowly pour the aquarium water into the transport container until the water in it is the same as in the aquarium, after which the animals can be released.

By purchasing freshwater shrimp for an aquarium, you should be aware of their fragility. During transportation, it is important to avoid sudden movements. It is good if there is a plant in the container used, for which the animal, in which case, can grab onto.

There should be no sharp edges inside the vessel. The temporary container should be at least 1/3 filled with air. For arthropods, a high oxygen content is important. It is better to buy young individuals. It is easier for them to adapt to change.

Compliance with the simple rules described above is a guarantee that aquarium shrimp will become your permanent pets.

Every aquarist wants to diversify their home water world. In the past, there was a lot of attention paid to various ornamental plants, but today the fashion for shrimp is growing exponentially. These crustacean creatures will decorate any aquarium, as they have a bright variable color and interesting behavior. In this article we will talk about how aquarium shrimp breed, about their maintenance, care and feeding.

Description

Shrimps belong to the decapod order, class higher cancers. These arthropod creatures can be found in almost any sea in the world. Only in the water expanses of Russia and in the seas surrounding it, more than 100 varieties of these arthropods live.

These small crustaceans come in two types: those that live in fresh water, and those that live in the seas and oceans. For domestic aquaculture, only freshwater crustaceans remain valuable.

Did you know? The black tiger shrimp is the largest representative of its infraorder. Its weight reaches 700 grams, body length is about 35-37 cm.

Freshwater shrimp differ in body structure from the same crayfish: they do not have separate claws for capturing prey, the leg jaws act as peculiar claws, which simultaneously perform the functions of movement and feeding food into the mouth.

All arthropod crustaceans have five pairs of legs and a tail, which serves them for sharp coordinated movements. The tail helps crustaceans to move quickly, to escape from the danger that threatens them. In addition, shrimp have long antennae that give them a good sense of smell. Arthropod eyes can rotate in any direction up to the maximum viewing angle.

The size of the shrimp depends on their variety. Some individuals can reach a length of 15 cm, while the latter do not exceed 2 cm. It should be noted that in a home aquarium it is better to keep small representatives of decapods, since they are not capable of harming residents water world. Large shrimp can completely destroy small fish, and also with roots to pull out some weak plants.

Habitat

The habitat of decapods is very extensive. They can be found in almost any big body of water peace. It should be noted that each species of freshwater representatives of the genus has its own specific deposit. So, for example, the Amano shrimp is found only in cool mountain waters. South Korea and Japan. Fan species of these creatures can be found on the territory of Panama, and the red-nosed shrimp is a guest of fresh water bodies of Venezuela.

In the home aqua world, representatives of Asian fresh water bodies are most often used, which naturally live in the rivers of Japan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Types of decorative

Among the aquarium representatives of the shrimp world, the following species remain the most popular:

Important! If you keep arthropods at temperatures of +15...17°C, then their life expectancy will be less than 3 years. At temperatures of +22…26°С shrimps will live for at least 4 years.

Shrimp are inherently unpretentious pets. They do not require special and careful care. All that is required is proper and timely feeding, optimal water parameters and the necessary plants in the home aquarium.

Nutrition and feeding

First of all, you need to figure out how to feed aquarium shrimp. Experts say that these arthropods are omnivorous and will feast on fish food or live plants. But it should be noted that in an aquarium inhabited by decapods, hard toxic algae should not be grown.

If you are going to keep these crustaceans in a separate vessel, then you need to take care of food for them. Such food can be found on the shelves of any pet store or veterinary pharmacy. It happens that for some reason the purchased food is over, and it's time for the shrimp to eat. In such cases, you can feed your pets with salad, zucchini, or even regular pasta.

Did you know? Dried shrimp caviar can be stored for several years, but as soon as it is immersed in water, the processes of hatching babies will immediately begin.

It is important to understand that you should not overfeed your pets, because they become lazy from this and stop acting as cleaners of the home aqua world. Two meals a day are considered optimal, and not a day, but a week. The amount of dry food per individual will be indicated on the packaging. Also, it will not be superfluous to consult an experienced veterinarian.

Care

A necessary condition for the normal life cycle of shrimp is the presence of phosphorus and its compounds (phosphates) in the aquarium. Without this chemical element, crustaceans are simply not able to build up a normal shell for themselves. To optimize the level of phosphates, special water for aquariums, where phosphorus is in excess, should be used.

You can also buy special feeds with increased phosphorus content or plant plants whose waste products are calcium phosphates and other compounds. But it is important to understand that the concentration of phosphates in the aquarium should not exceed 0.3 mg / l, as too high a rate can lead to a pestilence of crustaceans. Special tests can be purchased to measure this concentration.

You should not change the water in your home aquarium too often. Experts recommend replacing 20% ​​fluid every 5-7 days. It is important to understand that too frequent substitutions a large number water causes great stress in crustaceans, as a result of which they can die in a day or two.

An important step in the process of caring for domestic arthropods is cleaning the soil. Small invertebrates tend to excrete a large amount of excrement, so the soil in the shrimp must be siphoned regularly. I would also like to note that for normal life, shrimp need iodine. Purchase iodinol at the pharmacy and add it to the water at the rate of 1 ml per 10 liters of water. Iodinol will not harm fish and plants in any way, but shrimp will be happy with such a gift.

Important! About 3 liters of water is required for each individual in the shrimp.

Sometimes arthropods remain dissatisfied with the parameters of the water in the aquarium or other inhabitants of the aquatic world. In such cases, they try to leave the territory of their residence through graceful acrobatics, and they often succeed. However, if the crustacean leaves the aquarium, it will die within a few minutes. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to tightly close the aquarium during your absence, and also try to change the conditions for keeping pets.

I would like to note right away that shrimps are much more sensitive to the presence of a sufficient amount of oxygen in the water space than fish or snails. If the shrimp is planted large quantity algae, then at night, mandatory aeration of the water is necessary. In general, arthropods, unlike fish, undemanding to the chemical composition of water. However, they are very sensitive to the presence of harmful toxic substances in the water space, which can be released from the remains of food, the corpses of the inhabitants of the aqua world, or some types of algae. Toxic substances may also be present in poor quality water.

These creatures prefer neutral or moderate alkaline water in the range of 6.8 - 8.5 pH. If the acidity is below the minimum level, then there is a high risk of damage to the chitinous cover of the decapods. By the way, soft water, characterized by a lack of calcium salts, is also harmful to shrimp, because calcium is the basis building material- chitin. As for the hardness of water, it should be in the range of 6-25. The most important thing is to ensure that the water parameters do not change too often and abruptly. Experts say that ordinary piped water will be an ideal option for a shrimp.

Water temperature is directly related to the metabolic processes in the body of arthropods. The recommended temperature of the water space is +15-30°С. If the temperature indicator is too shifted to the lower side, then the metabolism will slow down, as a result of which aquatic pets will become inactive and lethargic. At high temperatures, which are at the upper limit, shrimp become too active. But it is important to understand that such a temperature and constant activity lead to a reduction in the life cycle of crustaceans. The following are considered ideal indicators of temperature: + 22 ... + 26 ° С. But sudden changes in temperature, for example, when changing water, can lead to the death of shrimp.

Did you know? The heart of shrimp is not localized in the abdomen, but .... in my head!

Shrimp can be placed in an aquarium of absolutely any size: everything will depend on the density of planting. If you have purchased 10 five-centimeter individuals, then they can be planted in a hundred-liter aquarium. If such an aquarium is with aeration, then the planting density increases by 4-5 times.

Keeping shrimp in the same aquarium with fish implies the presence of a large amount of algae, small stones and snags in it. Such scenery will serve as a shelter for crustaceans, which will become active and leave their hiding places only at night. The most suitable plants for the shrimp will be: fern, bolbitis, echinodorus and others. Shrimps also like small-leaved thickets: kabomba or pinnate. By the way, ludwigia is a plant that can grow strongly, make an underwater jungle. Arthropods are especially fond of such plants, as they provide them with a lot of space to hide.

Important! Check the water in the shrimp farm weekly for chemical composition. Remember that the presence of even a minimal amount of copper ions can lead to the death of crustaceans.

reproduction

Breeding aquarium shrimp at home is one of the easiest things to do. All that is required for this is the creation of the necessary conditions. In order for arthropods to begin to actively multiply, it is necessary to plant several branched small-leaved algae and Javanese moss in the corner of the aquarium. About the beginning mating games it is very easy to guess: the female begins to run around the aquarium, and the males constantly pursue her from behind. This process is very interesting and exciting, because it is difficult to wait for such activity from crustaceans in any other period.

Very often, the female mates with several males at once. Thus, a “complex” offspring is obtained, which, however, will be healthy and without any congenital defects. You probably already know that there are many types of transparent belly shrimp. So, if you have such individuals in your shrimp, you can admire the view of the maturation of eggs in the abdomen. If you look closely, you can see the formation of small eyes. In general, the process of prolonging the offspring of shrimp is very interesting. Small individuals will begin to emerge from eggs in 4-6 weeks. By the way, different types of shrimp will not have sexual intercourse with each other.

It is better not to plant different types of shrimp in an aquarium, as hostility may begin. The fact is that in the world of shrimp, there is also the law of the jungle, and larger varieties will always attack their smaller counterparts. Moreover, large crustaceans are always ready to feast on small shrimp. As for arthropods different types, whose sizes are the same, then they can be kept in one shrimp. Just take into account the fact that in this case a large number of shelters are needed so that each family builds separate tunnels and holes for itself.

Compatibility

Shrimps lead a secretive lifestyle, constantly hiding under stones and in thickets of algae. Predatory fish can harm aquarium shrimp, so you should be especially careful with the issue of compatibility.

The best neighbors for shrimp will be small non-aggressive fish or.

But, despite all this, arthropods can get along well even with predatory fish, but for this you should plant a lot of plants in the aquarium, make decorations from branches and tree bark, lay out small and large stones at the bottom. Under such conditions, the shrimp will make themselves a hiding place, and predators will not be able to get to them.

Now you know in what conditions it is necessary to keep shrimp, how to care for them and how to feed them. This information should be enough to get an excellent shrimp farmer at home.

Unfortunately, it is very rare to find aquarium shrimp in domestic waters. This is due to the poor awareness of fish lovers: they think that aquarium shrimp require special difficult care, that they do not mix well with other types of fish, that there will be many difficulties in keeping them. And in vain! Aquarium shrimp are very peaceful creatures, they are friends with different types of fish, unpretentious in care. They are very beautiful and will be able to add color and variety to the home aquarium, give it a certain exoticism.

Characteristics of crustaceans and their natural habitats

In nature, aquarium shrimp live in many water bodies. 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-nosed are found in Venezuelan rivers, and in freshwater rivers Panama is inhabited by fan representatives of arthropods.

Variety of shrimps in home aquarium

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

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

Aquarium water requirements

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

In addition to heating, each shrimp farm must be equipped fine bubble aerator and safety filter. These precautions are necessary in order to keep the shrimp fry, which are very small in size, safe from being sucked into the filtration system. The aerator must work around the clock, because shrimp require more oxygen than other inhabitants of the aquarium. Water can be changed to fresh once a week (but not more than 40% of total) and only warm.

There are also such types of aquarium shrimp: red-nosed, Amano shrimp, Harlequin shrimp, cardinal, red crystal and others less known and common. They are more demanding in keeping (for example, the red-nosed shrimp must swim in salt water to breed, the cardinal is not suitable for a beginner because of its whimsical temperature regimes and diet).

Nutrition for aquarium shrimp

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

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

Feeding time

It is better to feed pets at the same time. And not for them to have better digestion, but simply so that this process is not spontaneous. A single feeding time is a guarantee avoid 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 essential and depends on your capabilities.

Keeping shrimp in an aquarium with fish

In order for your shrimp not to become a delicious treat for other inhabitants of the aquarium, you need to choose the right neighbors for them. They get along very well with small fish. It can be, for example, neon, or guppies. Snails can become excellent neighbors for shrimp: they are harmless and unpretentious, 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 hiding places from plants and decorative ornaments, even these aggressors will not be a hindrance to shrimp.

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

Diseases of domestic crustaceans

Also, individuals of arthropods very often susceptible to fungal infections. No matter how much it would clean aquarium, as far as you did not follow all the parameters for caring for crustaceans, there is still a possibility of such a disease. And it sucks out all the vital juices from the individual, poisons the body with toxins and can cause death.

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

Many aquarists prefer to keep in the aquarium not only fish, but also other aquatic life. For example, it is now fashionable to start aquarium shrimp. They are not very capricious in content, and it is very pleasant to watch them. After all, aquarium arthropods are very different from their marine counterparts. Aquarium shrimp can be bright and active. That's just the owner of the indoor reservoir needs to know the features of maintenance and breeding.

Description of aquarium shrimp

The aquarium shrimp is an omnivorous crustacean high level endurance. In their natural environment, shrimp live in almost all water bodies (freshwater and salt). The homeland of various shrimps are warm waters Panama, Japan, Venezuela, etc. As a rule, most individuals come from Asia.

Most aquarium shrimp come from Asian waters.

Small crustaceans have a small body consisting of several segments. Each of them has a pair of limbs. In total, shrimp have 5 pairs of legs, which allow them to get food and move quickly. Also, aquarium shrimp have a massive tail. It allows you to make jerky movements, for example, in case of danger. The first 3 segments of the body are covered with a shell and fused to the head. This allows the shrimp to survive even in the company of predators.

The mouth apparatus of shrimp has a complex shape. It consists of 3 jaws and mandibles (the first 3 pairs of limbs). Legs help other limbs to move, as well as to capture and hold food. Despite the fact that the aquarium shrimp does not have large sizes(up to 8 cm), they have an excellent sense of smell and touch. Long antennae-like antennae capture the smells and rustles of future food. Also, shrimp have rolling eyes. This allows you to quickly find food and hide from the enemy.

Shrimp females have abdominal pleopods (abdominal legs) that are needed for swimming and brooding. And in males, the first pair of these legs degenerated into a reproductive organ.

Due to their complexly organized body, shrimp are distinguished by endurance

Varieties

There are many varieties of shrimp, but Russian aquarists have fallen in love with just over a dozen species. It is important to decide on the choice of shrimp before purchasing them. Indeed, despite the unpretentiousness and survival, representatives of different species require special maintenance. So you can buy small shrimp in a small aquarium, and then they will become too large and the aquarium will have to be changed.

The most popular representatives:

1. Red crystal. White shrimp with red wide stripes. Whimsical in content (water temperature should be 26 degrees), but eats little. Possesses poor health due to intraspecific crossbreeding.
2. Red cherry (cherry) - the most popular type of shrimp with a bright red body. They are unpretentious in keeping, breed easily, can live in large groups (males are much smaller than females - 2 and 4.5 cm, respectively).
3. Amano are light green shrimp with brown spots on the sides. Kills all harmful algae and other vegetation. Capricious in content, but very peaceful.
4. The tiger shrimp grows up to 4 cm. Outwardly, they are brighter than their tiger relatives, which we see in stores. They are inexpensive, but require a large aquarium (at least 50 liters).
5. The yellow shrimp is unpretentious in content, but you need to monitor the purity of the water. Easily breed (up to 30 babies at a time).
6. Blue dream is a bright small shrimp (up to 3 cm). With the right content, they rarely get sick, they multiply easily. Life expectancy - up to 3 years.
7. Black neocardina (black diamond) is a beautiful shrimp in several shades of black. It is very rare, although inexpensive.
8. Transparent shrimp (other names are glass, ghost, Indian). They live only 1.5 years, but grow up to 4 cm. They help keep the aquarium clean, but survive only in the company of small fish.

Photo gallery: aquarium shrimp of different types

Amano shrimp have an almost transparent body with small brown dots, but nevertheless, these shrimp are very fond of aquarists Several types of shrimp different color will decorate any aquarium Green shrimp looks very beautiful only against a contrasting background (merges with algae) The brightest aquarium shrimp are red (red cherry and red caridine cardinal) The red crystal is a colorful shrimp that is recommended for inexperienced aquarists. At a young age, the glass shrimp is almost invisible in the water. A rare species of shrimp for Russia - the blue tiger Tiger shrimp can have very bright heads and tails. Black shrimp are descended from blue shrimp, they are often culled by color, so it is difficult to find them in a pet store.

If you are confused and do not know which type of shrimp you like best, consult with a pet store salesman. A knowledgeable specialist will tell you the features of those varieties that are commercially available. Many aquarium owners choose fish and shrimp for price and appearance. Tell the seller how big your aquarium is, what kind of fish already live there, see what neighbors the shrimp have in the pet store.

When I bought different animals for my aquarium, I first took 1-2 individuals, put them in quarantine, and then transplanted them into the main aquarium and observed. If for several days the fish, shrimp, etc. behaved actively and cheerfully, I went to the store and bought the necessary number of individuals. If you are not sure about the competence of the seller, you can check the information yourself. By the way, some lovers of aquatic fauna buy rare inhabitants of the aquarium on the first day of delivery (not yet taken apart). However, it is best to wait a few days, because the shrimp are brought from Asia, you never know - suddenly they are sick.

Video: aquarium shrimp

Advantages and disadvantages

Every aquarist dreams of seeing bright inhabitants of the aquarium 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 great that you can choose small shrimp 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 use. For some types of shrimp (for example, red cherries), care does not seem to be needed at all, they can adapt to any conditions. In addition, you can not be tormented by worries about the size of the desktop reservoir. Shrimps can be populated both in a nano aquarium (up to 1 liter) and in a very large tank (up to 400–500 liters). True, the size of the individual and the population size will depend on the size of the tank. But such small creatures will help the owner to keep the aquarium clean. Shrimps like to swarm at the bottom, among the leaves of plants and on the surfaces of stones, respectively, the water will not become cloudy due to uneaten food and plaque.

The disadvantage of a bright cleaner is that he can become a victim of aggressive fish. Some shrimp (for example, the red cardinal) grow only up to 1.5–2 cm, so a relatively large fish may consider these living creatures as food. Young shrimp are especially at risk of being eaten. After all thin shell crustaceans cannot be protected from the teeth of predatory fish. If you take good care of the shrimp, they will begin to actively breed. Some owners of arthropod pets have to "clean" the shrimp rows. Experienced shrimp connoisseurs select those that are lighter (paler) and take them to a pet store or give them to friends. Bright and beautiful individuals will remain in a spacious aquarium.

The main plus of aquarium shrimp is the color variety.

As mentioned above, shrimp are not particularly capricious about the volume of their reservoir. However, the activity of the fish and their reproduction depend on the capacity of the aquarium. Some aquarists calculate the allowable number of shrimp as follows: 1 shrimp needs 1 liter of water. But it is also important to take into account the size of the inhabitants of the tank. For example, macrobrachiums grow up to 8 cm, which means they need more water (up to 4 liters per 1 individual).

The water temperature can vary from 20 to 30 degrees. This mode is suitable for all shrimp. But you need to remember that at temperatures below 18 degrees, the shrimp becomes inactive (almost asleep). Conversely, the warmer the water, the more active and fun the shrimp becomes. Aquarium pets do not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations. Even if you transfer the aquarium to another seasonal mode, then you need to lower / raise the temperature gradually. For this, a special heating device may be useful. And filters and aerators may also be needed (but this is not necessary).

Once a week, you can change part of the water (at least 1/3). If it is not possible to purchase or deliver special purified water, then ordinary tap water can be filtered. My father poured ordinary tap water into the snail aquarium, and after a couple of days he poured this water into a container with fish. It was important that both aquariums were in the same room (so the water temperature became ideal).

The activity of shrimp depends on the temperature of the water in the aquarium.

The aquarium in which the shrimp will live must be planted with a large number of different plants. Usually, hornwort, Javanese moss, pistia, cladaphora, etc. are planted in such containers. Bright pets will eat bits of leaves, and thick grass makes it easier to hide in case of danger. Plants may need light for better growth, although shrimp do not need it as such.

Water parameters should be checked periodically. It should be hard, since shrimp can shed, and instead of a discarded shell, they will need to acquire a new one (minerals for this are usually scooped from hard water). However, the water should not contain chlorine (shrimps cannot tolerate it). And also you need to minimize the amount of copper. This metal can cause the death of your beauties. Moreover, both adult shrimp and their larvae can die.

And also you need to follow simple rules about the environment. The room in which the aquarium is located should not be too noisy. There should be no vibrating equipment near the aquarium (such as washing machine or microwave). Do not use air fresheners, insecticide sprays or other harmful sprays near the container. Any poisons can get into the water and poison small crustaceans.

The more plants you put in your shrimp aquarium, the better.

What to feed

Shrimp eat whatever is offered to them. This can be food left after fish (bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops, etc.) or special food for shrimp, which is sold at any pet store. And if after the fish there is nothing left for them, then the cleaners will eat particles of algae (there are many of them in the soil and on the surfaces of the leaves).

If there are no fish in the shrimp aquarium, then you will have to buy food specially designed for crustaceans. Although many owners of shrimp aquariums buy food designed for fish. However, it is important to understand that special food is more useful, because it contains all the minerals needed for shrimp. I bought my shrimp special food in the form of flakes. It is believed that such food contains vitamins that are useful for the color and quality of the shell.

You can also feed shrimp with vegetables (cucumber, spinach, etc.). Some give garlic to shrimp, and there are even aquarium owners who feed pasta to shrimp, but this is not very good, because flour water in the aquarium can become cloudy and sour. It is important not to overfeed your aquatic pets, the large amount of available food will make the shrimp lazy and will not clean the aquarium. The recommended feeding frequency is 2-3 times a week. These beauties will definitely not go hungry.

Video: shrimp nutrition

Shrimp diseases

The body of a suvoyka is a "bell" on a long stem

Another risk is a fungal disease. A shrimp can "pick up" a fungus even in an aquarium with a relatively clean water. The fact is that the fungus can be in aquarium water for a very long time without showing up. At little change water parameters (for example, lowering the temperature), the fungus is activated, and a whitish coating may appear on the body of the shrimp. The ailment that has appeared sucks out nutrients from the sick individual and poisons the body with toxins. Crustacean larvae die almost immediately, and in this case it makes no sense to treat adult shrimp.

If the larvae turn white and die, the aquarium should be cleaned of corpses, healthy inhabitants should be transplanted, and then treated with a 0.1% solution of bleach (or Whiteness). Treflan can be used for treatment. It is buried in a jig with infected shrimp at a concentration of 0.00002%. After 24 hours, the water must be replaced by 1/3. However, such treatment is ineffective, so it can rather be called prevention.

shrimp can only be treated in a jig, and baths with salt are best done in a separate bowl (for example, in a bowl)

And also shrimp can get sick with infectious diseases. Often shrimp become infected with ichthyophthiriosis. It is easy to recognize such an ailment - by white grains on the body of aquatic pets. This disease is caused by protozoa (ichthyophthorus), all the inhabitants of the aquarium can get sick, but it is treated. vernacular name ichthyophthyroidism - semolina. To treat shrimp, you need to do the following:

• increase the temperature of the water in the aquarium by 2-4 degrees, increase aeration;
• if the disease is found in initial stage(1-2 points), then Tripaflavin will help (it is important to follow the instructions on the package);
• in advanced cases, stronger drugs should be used: Tetra Contralk, Kostapur, etc.;
• in emergency cases, you can use Furazolidone (1 tablet 50 mg per 15 liters of water), but this drug destroys the microflora.

Also, shrimp are susceptible different kind viruses, the action of which is not fully understood. Therefore, no cure has yet been found. If your shrimp got sick, and you could not determine the sore, urgently transplant it, change the water in the main aquarium, and then go to the veterinarian or pet store. Here you can not do without the advice of a specialist.

Fish compatibility

In order for the shrimp to please the owner with their bright appearance and active behavior, they need to choose the right neighbors

Peace-loving shrimps behave very modestly even in a large aquarium. This is due to the fact that the crustacean animal is afraid of being eaten. Therefore, neighbors for the bright inhabitants of the aquarium need to choose the same peaceful ones. Ideal neighbors for shrimp will be fish and other small animals:

• neon, guppies or zebrafish;
• micropecilia, barbus gracilis and paratocinclus - a relatively good neighborhood;
• snails (ampulyaria, helena);
• microassemblies;
• Siamese algae eaters;
• ancitruses, ottoncincluss, sticky catfish (these catfish simply ignore shrimp);
• swordtails, rhodostomuses, corridors, etc. - only under the right conditions.

Small fish (guppies, danios, neons, etc.) will not attack shrimp, but more active individuals can play tricks. For example, swordtails or corridors can attack a shrimp if the aquarium is too small, and pets have to fight for territory. In addition, the owner needs to prevent provocations in the form of joint feeding. It is better to put the shrimp food in the corner of the aquarium where the most plants are located (let the food fall into the thick of the algae). Shrimps will get food, but fish will not get there.

Photo gallery: good neighbors for aquarium shrimp

Guppies get along in any aquarium and with any neighbors. The most popular and affordable type of zebrafish is rerio. Microrasboras get along well with shrimp and any other living creatures. Neon is a small glowing fish with a minra character. Siamese can not boast of a bright appearance, but they are the same cleaners as shrimp

When a shrimp lived in my aquarium, its only neighbors were small multi-colored guppies. The shrimp was constantly busy with some crumbs at the bottom, and the guppies swam about their business, noticing only each other. A single shrimp can't breed, so I didn't disturb it. But if there are several shrimp, they need to be planted during spawning, otherwise guppies can swallow babies with fear. However, this feature is characteristic of all viviparous fish.

Undesirable neighbors for aquarium crustaceans:

• cichlids, loaches;
• barbs;
• angelfish;
• goldfish;
• gourami;
• aggressive types of catfish, etc.

In addition, you need to consider the varieties of shrimp. Sometimes a small harmless fish becomes a more useful neighbor than another shrimp. For example, blue shrimp should not be kept in the same aquarium with other baby crustaceans. The fact is that bright color a pet can "leave" if it is uncontrollably crossed with a paler shrimp. But if the owner of the aquarium has time to reject pale arthropods in time, then there is nothing to fear.

Breeding

Breeding shrimp is quite possible without special skills

Breeding shrimp is easy. The main condition is the presence of individuals of both sexes. Many aquarists simply watch the breeding process without helping their pets in any way. For successful selection of crustaceans, you will need a separate aquarium, where you will need to deposit a pregnant shrimp.

How to distinguish a female from a male

Sex differences can only be found in adults. To understand where the male is and where the female is, you need to pay attention to 4 signs:

1. Body dimensions.
2. The color of individuals.
3. Behavior.
4. The presence of a seat.

Male shrimp are always smaller than females. For example, cherry shrimp can grow up to 1.5 cm, and their males can grow up to 1–1.3 cm. Even if your humble cleaners have not grown to a record size (within their species), it is still possible to distinguish boys from girls. The females are larger and brighter. Most of the boys are painted in paler tones, sometimes the body of the male is almost colorless.

Two large shrimp on the right and 1 in the center are females, and small and almost transparent are males

If shrimp live in the same aquarium different ages, then the dimensions will not say anything. Then you can pay attention to the behavior of individuals. Small but nimble males are always trying to create "violent activity". They are always interested in everything and need to dig into everything. But the females are more calm, they slowly move around their possessions, only occasionally taking part in some common affairs.

The surest sign of the difference between females is the presence of the so-called "saddle". This is white education on the back of the animal (in the place where the abdomen passes into the chest). It is usually visible through the shell. The saddle is the ovaries. It is here that the eggs ripen, so the males do not have such a saddle.

Shrimp breeding

Females carry eggs under the shell, so a "saddle" is formed. After fertilization, the eggs move under the tail, where they develop for another 3-4 weeks. At this time, the female looks after the eggs, removes them, constantly shaking them. Closer to childbirth (about a month after fertilization), eyes appear in the eggs. They can be seen right in the belly of a pregnant female. Shrimp will give birth to 15-30 fry. They will be a reduced copy of their manufacturer (about 2 mm). Newborn shrimp are not visible at first (3-4 days) because they are small, transparent and move along the walls and leaves.

Shrimp fry are born already recognizable: they have eyes, antennae and a tail

Small shrimp hide well. Neons won't eat them. Danios can be caught a little, but they won’t catch everyone either.

V.K., forum user

http://aquariumok.ru/forum/2016

Video: shrimp farming as a business idea

How long do aquarium shrimp grow and live

All shrimp grow differently depending on the variety. It can take from 3 months to 1 year for the fry to grow into a beautiful, bright shrimp. However, many shrimp, even as adults, continue to grow. To fit in a dense shell, a beautiful creature needs to periodically change its chitinous shell. Shedding occurs about once a month. This is a very interesting process, before dropping the old shell, the shrimp itches against the stones. Even those individuals that have already grown to their maximum size molt. This is necessary for several reasons:

The average lifespan of shrimp is 2.5 to 6 years. But the point is not only how long an individual of a particular species should live. The temperature of the water also affects the length of life. For example, at high temperatures (above 26 degrees), animals grow old faster (such individuals do not live more than 3 years). Those who live in cold water (15 degrees and below) also do not live long. Females live longer than males.

The aquarium shrimp is a small crustacean arthropod. Such shrimps can decorate any aquarium, because they are bright and spectacular, besides, they are easy to care for. The main thing is to maintain water parameters and provide shrimps with a good neighborhood with non-aggressive fish.