Bought 5 Red Cherry Shrimp - enough genetic material?

Zambat · Post by **Zambat** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:13 am

Hi everyone,
Sorry if this has been asked before - I did a search but couldnt find any threads that answered this question.

I have just bought 5 Red Cherry Shrimp (3 female and 2 males about 1.5-2cm each) and I just wondered if there would be enough genetic material for a population from only 2 male shrimp? - I dont want my shrimp to be all inbreds if I can help it, so can anyone tell me if two males will be enough to start a population with?

Also, just had a few other Cherry Shrimp questions (I did read the 'Cherry Shrimp' page first, but it didnt seem to answer these questions)

How long does a Cherry Shrimp take to reach full adult size?

How long is it until there are able to breed?

What is there average lifespan?

I have read the shrimp varieties page but would like some other people opinion on what are the best Shrimpmates for Red Cherry Shrimp? (Preferably ones which have a fully surpressed larvae stage like cherry shrimp) I was thinking of tiger shrimp, but are there any problems keeping the two together?

Thanks in advance

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:12 pm

I think you need not worry about genetics just yet. I started a tank with 6 shrimp and only 2 males. That tank now has around 300 shrimp and is in its 3rd generation. I'm now trying to get a colony of "superred" shrimp going from 3 pure red shrimp and 2 males that are very red. All three females are loaded with eggs at this time so I've got my fingers crossed.

A shrimp will live ~ 2years. ~2 months from hatch to making little shrimp if the conditions are good. Full size seems to be 3-4 months.

TKD · Post by **TKD** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:11 pm

Hi Zambat,

For a population of any animal 50 is the lowest you should go to have enough genetic variation....(learned this in ecology)

In Theory...

That said I have a colony of guppies going for over 5 years with out much in the way of new genes and they seem to be ok. I started with about 15.

TKD

carbon etc · Post by **carbon etc** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:14 pm

You can always trade shrimp with people later.

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 1:50 am

I'm guessing, but I don't know that the genes responsible for being cherry red are all that common. I'm guessing, but I'll bet most all cheriies come from just a couple of shrimp, and the same with snowballs.

shrimping · Post by **shrimping** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:15 am

I had a betta pair (from the same parent I believe) and only after the 2nd generation of offsprings I started getting a lot of deformed frys.

Zambat · Post by **Zambat** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:05 pm

Thanks everyone for your replies

There seems to be abit of conflicting opinion as to how many shrimp are needed to start a good population

After reading articles elsewhere, I get the impression that all red cherry shrimp orignally came from just a couple of shrimp - so they are really already 'inbred' to begin with - Is this the case?

Zambat · Post by **Zambat** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:09 pm

Oh, and does anyone know which is the best shrimpmate for Red Cherry Shrimp? I was thinking of getting tiger shrimp, are they good together, or do the inter-breed?

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:28 pm

Zambat, you need to spend a little more time on the shrimp variety pages and zero in on the water parameters. I've been guilty of that myself.

If you want production stick with just cherry shrimp. The shrimp get stressed when they compete and this custs way down on babies. Once you get a tank of a hundered or som cherry shrimp you'll wonder why you wanted something else. Seeing the briliant reds against the green plants is pretty awesome.

As to what is possible, get a shrimp of a different genus, and likes the same water parameters. I would stay away from the more agresive shrimp, even ghosts as I've seen them eat baby cherry shrimp.

Zambat · Post by **Zambat** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:26 am

Sorry, I did read all the shrimp variety pages, as I mentioned in my first post, but I dont know anything/understand about shrimps 'genus' etc so have no idea if they would interbreed.

I am just looking for a good shrimpates for cherry shrimp that wont interbreed, enjoys the same water conditions, and has a 'fully supressed' larvae stage like cherrys, and am finding it difficult since I dont understand the whole interbreeeding thing

Shrimp&Snails · Post by **Shrimp&Snails** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:01 am

What badflash means is find out the full on name for cherry shrimp........neocaridina then find tankmates that aren't neocaridina and like the same water type so they won't produce hybrids and will thrive in the water.

By the way did you get my PM Zambat?

Post by **Mustafa** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:17 am

This person is using two usernames here for whatever reason. Usually the reason is that the person has something to hide or is up to nothing good.

"Zambat" is the same person as "raptor83". Zambat/raptor83, would you like to explain to us why you are using two usernames concurrently before I ban you? Posing as two different people is one of worst things you do in a discussion forum.

Zambat · Post by **Zambat** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:22 am

Hi sorry if anyone feels mislead! I am raptor83's girlfriend, we use the same computer etc - no confusion intended. I didnt realise it was such a problem

Apologies. Ill just ask to use his username instead from now on, didnt realise I would get us both banned

I feel quite bad now....

btw 'Shrimp&Snails' I have replied to your PM

raptor83 · Post by **raptor83** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:36 pm

Mustafa wrote: This person is using two usernames here for whatever reason. Usually the reason is that the person has something to hide or is up to nothing good.

"Zambat" is the same person as "raptor83". Zambat/raptor83, would you like to explain to us why you are using two usernames concurrently before I ban you? Posing as two different people is one of worst things you do in a discussion forum.

Im abit suprised that you have said all that Mustafa. I have just come home to find my girlfriend worried/upset that she has got us both banned from the petshrimp forums for doing nothing wrong.

I thought this was a friendly community, here to help each other learn more about these wonderful shrimp.

Could you not just have asked nicely in a PM why there were two usernames from one PC? Its not very nice to be accused of being 'up to nothing good' in a public forum, and then say that you are going to ban both of us - but if thats what you feel is right then so be it.

I am very disheartened and disappointed that you assumed the worst of us without even asking either of us first - I thought this was a friendly forum, but I guess I was wrong

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:44 pm

I think we need to just understand that we all make mistakes, that we don't need to hold a grudge, and just move on. We are a friendly community, but you must understand the responsibility Mustafa has as admin. Having been in lots of other forums where things get out of control, his approach is much better. Flame ward are no good at all.

I'm sure he has had run-ins with enough wacos to have earned his conclusion. No one bats 1000.

I've also seen sites that give you no chance to explain. He doesn't have to you know. This isn't a democracy. It is his site, he makes the rule.