Amano shrimp larvae disappearing?

Lady Friesian · Post by **Lady Friesian** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:08 pm

I tried to find the answer to this on this forum and other websites, but I'm still puzzled.

One of my female Amanos had been carrying eggs for three weeks (to the day), which should be near hatching according to some posts. The eggs were quite light in color. That morning, I noticed she no longer had any eggs. Excited, I looked around for the baby shrimp.

There weren't any. I looked for days, and didn't find one.

There are no fish in the tank, and no filter they could get caught in. My question is, where did they go? How can I keep this from happening again?

Shrimp&Snails · Post by **Shrimp&Snails** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:25 pm

Amano shrimp larvae need to be transferred to a brackish set up in order for them to thrive. When they are young shrimp they need to return to freshwater again.

I've never attempted this before so my amanos never have babies in their tank.

Do a search on this site for more info on how to raise amanos.

Good luck.

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:07 pm

You will see my trials and tribulations on this topin under "my amano project"

viewtopic.php?t=1350

For some reason they simply pull off their eggs and eat them. I have not figured out why. I'm thinking it is some sort of water issue. They may need some sort of environmental trigger for a release and whan theat doesn't happen, the eggs die and they eat them.

Lady Friesian · Post by **Lady Friesian** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:36 pm

Thanks for your help! Next time I'll try to change the water when I think she's about to release the larvae.

(I know how to raise Amanos and have read the "Amano Project" posts. I just didn't get any hatched eggs to work with!)

I've read that the larvae can eat most anything small enough. Has anyone had luck with bottomfeeder tablets crushed into a powder? The adults sure seem to like this food (as a supplement).

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:37 pm

I'm going to try a temperature swing. I lowered the temps to 72 and will keep it there for a couple of weeks. Then I'll swing it back to 78 and see if that triggers a hatch. My biggest hatches have been a day after water changes so It is probably temps, pH or something related.

Lady Friesian · Post by **Lady Friesian** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:23 am

Hmmm...maybe change using warm water prior to a hatch? I'll try that. (Not too warm, though!)

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:11 pm

Just be careful of your warm water. Don't mix with hot water from the tap unless you've tested it for copper. Warm it in the microwave instead. I'm just doing the swing using the heater setting.