Red Cherries won't breed, help.

This is an archived forum with lots of information. However, new posts are not allowed at this point.

Moderator: Mustafa

User avatar
Shaun
Egg
Egg
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:49 pm
Location: Tiffin, IA

Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Shaun »

Hello everyone, This is my first post. I've had red cherries for about 4 months now. I've been pouring through this site for a while trying to learn as much as i can for my shrimp. It has been very helpfull, great site! I think the conditions in my tank should be fine for them, I have only lost a couple and that was like right after I got them, everyone says that they are very prolific but I haven't seen one berried female yet. Can anyone offer advice?

my tank:
10 gal
78-80 F
GH < 30
KH < 20
pH = 7.0
NO2 and NO3 = next to none (as I keep up with water changes)

I have one live plant (some type of slow growing red lilly I think), 8 neon tetras, one male guppy, and 7 red cherry shrimp. I'm sure at least one of them is male. Will be happy to give more details if necessary. Again, this is a great site, I appoligize for having to ask, but my research has reached an impass. I hope I have correctly followed the rules in doing so.
Thank You All
User avatar
badflash
Master Shrimp Nut
Master Shrimp Nut
Posts: 2542
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:06 pm
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY
Contact:

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by badflash »

1st thing to do is find another tank for the fish. I would also plant java moss and java ferm and move the lilly to the tank with the fish. Unhappy stressed out cherries don't berry up very much. Once they are happy they are very prolific. The only other thing would be to check your phosphates. My experience is that you get no berries with phosphates over 5 ppm. Many water supplies are above that.
User avatar
Shaun
Egg
Egg
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:49 pm
Location: Tiffin, IA

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Shaun »

It seems like everyone swears by that java moss, I'll try to find some, thanks.
So, is it that cherries won't reproduce in a community tank? Is it the type of fish I have?
User avatar
badflash
Master Shrimp Nut
Master Shrimp Nut
Posts: 2542
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:06 pm
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY
Contact:

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by badflash »

Most of the babies will be eaten. Some have reported that they have gotten them to reproduce in a community tank with lots of plant to hide in, but few babies survive. The guppies and tetras love them. The shrimp know this and are stressed.
User avatar
southerndesert
Shrimpoholic
Shrimpoholic
Posts: 281
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:33 am
Location: Arizona
Contact:

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by southerndesert »

Badflash is right and I have a Guppy, Tetra tank with Cherry Shrimp and few young survive compared to shrimp only tanks. I do have a reproducing colony, but a small one due to most of the young being eaten and my tank is VERY heavily planted.... The females berry much less frequent as well due to stress I am sure.

Image

Sorry about the lighting in the photo, but have high output and the camera doesn't like it :roll:

Cheers, Bill
User avatar
Shaun
Egg
Egg
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:49 pm
Location: Tiffin, IA

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Shaun »

I think I like my community tank like it is. I guess if I want them to reproduce I will have to get another tank just for that. Oh well, I was looking for an excuse anyway. Untill then I'll get some java moss for them. Thanks Bill and Badflash for the advice

Shaun
User avatar
Shaun
Egg
Egg
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:49 pm
Location: Tiffin, IA

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Shaun »

I moved the neons and the guppy. Hopefully this will help.
User avatar
Neonshrimp
Master Shrimp Nut
Master Shrimp Nut
Posts: 2296
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 5:37 pm
Location: California, USA

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Neonshrimp »

You should see a big difference. Let us know how it goes :)
User avatar
aberfitch
Tiny Shrimp
Tiny Shrimp
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by aberfitch »

yea I think the fish are eating all the baby shrimp.
User avatar
Neonshrimp
Master Shrimp Nut
Master Shrimp Nut
Posts: 2296
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 5:37 pm
Location: California, USA

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Neonshrimp »

aberfitch wrote:yea I think the fish are eating all the baby shrimp.
Sorry to hear that but that is what happens when we keep fish with the shrimp :(
User avatar
aberfitch
Tiny Shrimp
Tiny Shrimp
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:02 am

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by aberfitch »

Neonshrimp wrote:
aberfitch wrote:yea I think the fish are eating all the baby shrimp.
Sorry to hear that but that is what happens when we keep fish with the shrimp :(

Yea baby shrimp is the perfect food for fish fry. It is a sacrifice but to me it is worth keeping my shrimpies separate and safe
User avatar
Shaun
Egg
Egg
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:49 pm
Location: Tiffin, IA

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Shaun »

:-D I've got a berried female :-D
Does this meen that the eggs have allready been fertilized? Or, do yhey mate while berried?
User avatar
badflash
Master Shrimp Nut
Master Shrimp Nut
Posts: 2542
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:06 pm
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY
Contact:

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by badflash »

Neither. The mating should occur before the berry, but the berry can happen with no fertiliztion. She'll drop the eggs in a few days if they are not fertile.
User avatar
Shaun
Egg
Egg
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:49 pm
Location: Tiffin, IA

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by Shaun »

How long before they hatch?
User avatar
badflash
Master Shrimp Nut
Master Shrimp Nut
Posts: 2542
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:06 pm
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY
Contact:

Re: Red Cherries won't breed, help.

Post by badflash »

Shaun wrote:How long before they hatch?
You should go read the articles and do a little search for this info. Have another look at the rules before you get warned or banned. This question has been asked & ansered a bunch of times.
Locked