Red Cherries won't breed, help.

[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

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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.



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

Cheers, Bill

[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

[Shaun]

I moved the neons and the guppy. Hopefully this will help.

[Neonshrimp]

You should see a big difference. Let us know how it goes

[aberfitch]

yea I think the fish are eating all the baby shrimp.

[Neonshrimp]

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

[aberfitch]

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

[Shaun]

I've got a berried female
Does this meen that the eggs have allready been fertilized? Or, do yhey mate while berried?

[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.

[Shaun]

How long before they hatch?

[badflash]

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.