Max. opae population in a 1 1/2 gallon bowl?

[JoanToBa]

So, I’m setting up my first opae ula bowl and I wanted to know what’s the population limit (without feeding them) or if it will auto-regulate itself.

Thanks!!!

[jcfrank922]

In a 1.5 gallon tank, I would start with 20 shrimp.

[JoanToBa]

So, if I had just 20 shrimps, they would be able to live there without having to feed them?
Do you think the tank is ready for shrimp?

Thanks for answering!!!

[JoanToBa]

Could 20 shrimps survive in there without being fed?

[jcfrank922]

It looks like there is algae growth, so they could survive on algae alone. They might be happier and healthier with an occasional flake or pellet of food about once a month. They really don't need much at all. You should cover your tank to avoid evaporation also. I have a 1.5 gallon tank and started with 20. They are now multiplying to around 40 or 50. They will not overpopulate themselves.

[JoanToBa]

So, do you feed them from time to time?

[AnotherKevin]

I'd like to know, too!

From the algae, it looks like your bowl has plenty of nutrients, so I'm sure 20 would be fine. The problem is, it won't stay at 20 for long.

About 9 months ago, I started with 10 shrimp in a 1 gallon bowl, similar to yours. Just for fun, I fed them one single speck of fish food, just once, but other than that, I haven't fed them. There are maybe 60 shrimp now (and that's after giving a dozen away), and they seem fine, but the population keeps growing. I still haven't fed them, and it doesn't seem like I need to so far.

Mustafa should sell all-female or all-male groups, so we don't have to worry about a shrimp population bomb.

[JoanToBa]

WOW, that’s amazing.
Sadly, Mustafa doesn’t send shrimp to Spain, so I have to buy them at a local aquarium store (but they have to contact with another seller etc.)

About the population: The shrimps auto-regulate themselves, this way, if there’s an over-population the most fragile ones will die and the hardiest will survive.

At the end, the population should come to a limit.

[AnotherKevin]

I gave away most of the original adults we had purchased from Mustafa, because a relative wanted a shrimp tank, too. (I hear they're having shrimp babies in their new home, too.)

So, most of my shrimp are still juveniles. I don't know if there will be enough algae to support them all when they're fully grown. We'll see!

[JoanToBa]

Sweet!

[JoanToBa]

Well, as you can see, the tank has progressed a lot and I’ve also introduced a marimo that is doing very well.

Sidenote: the shrimps arrive on monday!

[Mustafa]

WOW, that’s amazing.
Sadly, Mustafa doesn’t send shrimp to Spain,

I do send to Spain, it's just too cold in Europe and parts of the US right now for international shipping. And, yes, they will regulate their population numbers on their own. Nobody ever complains about having TOO many shrimp.

[JoanToBa]

Hm, I see. Well, at least the seller that sold me the shrimps sends them from Spain, so it’s a short trip.
Do you think that my shrimps will reproduce in there? (it looks like there are both males and females)

Here are better pics of the tank:

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3220