Introducing new familylines for continued healthy breeding?

Dwaffer · Post by **Dwaffer** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:41 am

Hi,
Ive been keeping Red Cherry shrimp for some time now and have several hundred in my 6 tanks. Every now and then I find a new source for of them and this just happend recently. I put 12 new RCS in one tank and and I'm just considering how to best introduce the family line into my other tanks. Its starting to be a real juggeling act. Perhaps I put to much concern on this. Just wondering what other members thoughts would be on this? I am selling them in my area, Western Canada, and just want to put out the best and healthiest shrimps I can.
Also I can get more wild caught ones now and just wondering how often it would be wise to intoduce them into my tanks?
Also specifically can I keep red cherries, tiger, and bee shrimp in the same tanks without crossbreeding?
Thanks

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:54 am

It's great that you already have hundreds of RCS and have learned to care for them. If you look in the Shrimp Varieties section of this site you can read about the shrimp you are interested in. It does mention that tiger and bee shrimp will crossbreed. I had fun looking through this section and learned more about my different shrimp. Hope this helps.

Later.

Dwaffer · Post by **Dwaffer** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:29 am

Thanks Neon shrimp.

carbon etc · Post by **carbon etc** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:51 am

I've heard of people swapping to get some genetic diversity. I'll probably do it one day... I've kept track of who I got mine from to try to not just trade with someone who has siblings of mine.

JBN · Post by **JBN** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:17 pm

Yeah, I heard gene swaps are great because if too much inbreeding occurs then there will be genetic mutation (i.e. deformities). One of the shrimp I received was deform but he still swims, eat, play normally

.

Dwaffer · Post by **Dwaffer** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:48 pm

Keeping track of family lines or controlling breeding lines is proving to be a nightmare. I think inbreeding will just reduce quality over time and provide less shrimp. Perhaps hybrids will occur of a sort.

After much consideration I think I'll just keep my new arrivals in my smallest tanks and slowly release the offspring into larger populated tanks and finnaly into my largest display tank and my favorites back into the small tanks. This way at least I will know there is some new genes bieng introduced and the best lookers will continue on.
Still suggestions are appreciated.
Is it just me or do we always need more tanks?

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:56 pm

When you get new shrimp, put them in their own tank until you get a generation or two and really know what you have. I got some juvies that turned out to be browns when they grew up. Screwed up an entire tank for a while. The good side is I now have two lines of different colored shrimp that may breed true, but that isn't really what I wanted. I now have a green shrimp that turns brown when carrying eggs, and a tangerine shrimp.

Dwaffer · Post by **Dwaffer** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:25 pm

I will have to do that next time around. Probably in a few months.
I put the latest 16 RCS in a small tank with about the same amount of my tank raised. So far so good and all are Red. It is kinda small but should work for awhile. I think I will put the adults into thier own tank when I get over run in that one.
Quarantine is a good idea though. You helped me realize what a big risk I have taken before.
Thanks.
I'm up to 106g, whats another 10g!

Thats intresting about the colour varities. they are the same species though are they not?
And are the colors stable now?

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 5:03 pm

Yes, they are all the same species, just different color varieties. Colors are not stable yet, as it is tough to tell what color variety the males are. With each generation I pull out any that don't show the right color. I'm sure the "throw backs" are from cherry males that don't look it. This process takes time. I've been thinking about using snowball males as they should add little to the color mix.

Dwaffer · Post by **Dwaffer** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 5:58 pm

Its very intresting how they carry so much color within them and that some can change there colors when carring eggs.