Hi! I'm new

[Neonshrimp]

Nice and colorful set up The shrimp will sometimes have a pecking order at feeding time. Thanks for the picture, it looks like you really tried to get the best pictures you could. I am sorry to hear you lost the flower shrimp. Maybe you can get another one soon they are a great shrimp to have. Thanks agian for sharing and keep us updated

[Pea-brain]

Luckily the place I got them from will reimburse me for any losses in the first 2 weeks, so I will get the money back for the 2 I lost. Also I'm thinking that the shrimp might already be full from cleaning out my tank all night. they didn't seem like they were really interested for the most part. Only 2 looked for it, and latched on to it for a minute to eat and then left more than half the pellet in the end. And when I watched them they were constantly picking things out from between my substrate.

The cool thing is that when that 1 latched on Something near the front (where I would expect the brain to be) was moving. I don't know if it was food moving or something inside the shrimp, or if I was seeing things, but it was cool. It looked like its "brain" was moving toward its stomach, then pulling back and pulsating.

They are pretty good at hiding too. I have yet to walk in and see them in the open. If I sit there for a while some will scurry out in the open for a second. then after 15 mins or so 1 will come out and get really close to the glass, just staring at me. that has happened 3 times. I'm getting kinda worried because I havent seen the CRS for a while.

Something is confusing me though. I have two ways to test my ammonia. 1 is a strip test kit, and the other is "LiveNH3" which is a meter atached to the side of my tank and constantly monitors the water ammonia 24-7 for 8 weeks until refill. I have had it for 4 days. My LiveNH3 read 0 ammonia. My Test strip, however, reads 4 ppms. Thats preety wierd, huh? I'm thinking that maybe the LiveNH3 doesnt detect detoxified ammonia, and I've been using an ammonia detoxifier (and chlorine/chloramine remover) when I change my water. any thoughts?

Also thanks for that comment. That substrate looked blood red when I bought it buy the way. I didn't think It was gonna be pink
Also that skeleton moves when I let the air pump run. It lifts the bottle to its head. It's pretty cool. I had a dinosaur that rose out of and egg and released a torrent of bubbles from its mouth, but It looked tacky when I installed it....I also need to spread the najas out a bit. The shrimp are hiding in it and I can't see them, and also its rooting in my sponge filter

[Pea-brain]

Okay I'm ordering more shrimps from that site (Replacing the singapore flower shrimp, getting a few more ghosts, and some more cherry red shrimps) and I'm thinking I want a fish that can live peacefully with my shrimps, live in the 3rd or 2nd level (above the ground) and can live in the same parameters. also something thats relatively common and can live comfortably in a 10 gallon tank. As for looks I would prefer something that has a long, sleek look, or a strange/wierd look, maybe interesting colors. And preferably fish that don't need to school. I looked it up and couldn't find the info I want. So any suggestions would be great! thanks!

[YuccaPatrol]

For a small tank with shrimp, I wouldn't consider any fish except the otocinclus catfish.

[Pea-brain]

Okay I know I'm asking alot of questions...and its probly getting annoying, so unless something comes up, this will probly be last one tonight I was just wondering, 1 Red claw macro in 10 gallon tank with my ghost and other shrimps (If well fed) a no go? I know it's probably a no for my tank size alone, and that they would probly eat all my shrimps, even though they are so peaceful. please tell me I'm wrong!

P.S. no fish then I guess.

[Neonshrimp]

This is an exert I found on the Red Claw Macro in the "Shrimp Varieties" section, "These shrimp will, however, eat any small algae eating shrimp or small fish they can get a hold off and even clip off parts of the fins of fish when they are asleep at night. They are not predatory by nature, taking only advantage of opportune situations. In my tank they are living together with a pair of Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon) and there has not been a single problem." You shuld read all the information on them before deciding. Hope this helps and remember that Ottos are a good fish to keep with shrimp

[Pea-brain]

I can't believe I missed that. I read that 20 times over and musta skipped a line cause I thought he was talking about small fish. sry about the stupid question. belive it or not I'm good at reading between the lines....I just completely miss the lines themselves

[ToddnBecka]

Actually, I have read varying degrees of success in keeping a dwarf puffer/s with shrimp. Apparently it simply depends on the individual fish, some ignore small shrimp, some don't. If you established a good population of ramshorn snails in the tank first, I'd think the chances of problems with the shrimp would be much less. Dwarf puffers like/need a more interesting (to them) environment than the one in your pics. A well-planted tank, whether real of artificial plants, would suit them better. They are interesting critters, and would be swimming all over the tank.

[Pea-brain]

actually I just came across an interesting fish. I'll copy/paste the info from site

"The Pencilfish originates within the tributaries of South America. They are bullet shaped and are mostly gold in color. Red and black horizontal lines cover the entire length of the fish and the red line extends into the tail. The upper half of the caudal fin is clear while the rest of the fin is red in coloration. They are a peaceful fish that will make a wonderful addition to any freshwater community aquarium.

The Pencilfish can be housed in an aquarium with other peaceful soft water fish. It is best to keep these fish with fish that are not overly active. Live plants, rocks and driftwood help to enhance its natural habitat and provide hiding spaces. They are sensitive to high nitrate levels, so frequent water changes may be necessary.

It is best when trying to breed the Pencilfish to remove the pair from the community aquarium to a separate breeding aquarium. Quickly remove parents after spawning, as they will frequently consume the eggs. The eggs will hatch within a few days. Feed the newborn newly hatched brine shrimp or rotifers.

The Pencilfish will typically inhabit the upper third of the aquarium where they will search for food. Frozen and freeze dried daphnia, baby brine shrimp and tubifex worms are an ideal food. In time, they will also adapt to accepting crushed flake foods.

Approximate Purchase Size: 3/4" to 1-1/4" "



think a pencil fish or 2 would be okay? This biggest problem is that this is a fish that like ph 5.5-7.0 and I keep mine at 7.5. is that too much of a difference, do you think? I also considered ghost/glass catfish, which have the same ph problem.

[ToddnBecka]

Pencilfish are like hatchet fish, very particular about the water chemistry.

[Pea-brain]

Guess that rules them out then. This is my last try. If this isn't suitable I'll lay downa and admit defeat.

"The Celebes Rainbow is a schooling fish that should be kept with other peaceful fish. The colorful males have an extended second dorsal and anal fin. Natural lighting intensifies their colors.

The aquarium for this peaceful Rainbow should have plants but also needs large open spaces for swimming. Water conditions should remain stable, as the Celebes is sensitive to changes.

Spawning takes place over moss or the eggs may be laid among plants. After hatching, usually about ten days, fry may be fed prepared live foods or brine shrimp.

Although Celebes Rainbows have large mouths, their throats tend to be narrow. Small pieces of an omnivore diet of prepared flakes, algae, or live foods should be fed. "



Still considering ghost catfish, if it's not too sensitive to that .5 ph.....this fish matches the water parameters of my tank, and if you think that they would get along with my shrimp, it a go! (how many do you think I would need to keep them from getting stressed out? maybe 3?) If this fish won't work then I probly wont get a fish. I just wanted something to add a little variety, but would be comfortable in my tank.

[ToddnBecka]

They may work, though I'd go with 5-6 for a school.

[Cableguy]

i kept sparkling gouramis with my red cherry shrimp, but i never had a single baby shrimp survive besides the one that crawled into the filter before the fish got to him

they won't bother the adult shrimp but they'll eat the babies

[wendyjo]

I'd have to suggest an oto as well. They are very peaceful little fish.

[Pea-brain]

well it's official. My Cherry shrimp is dead. oh well. I have another 3 coming in mail tomorrow. also another ghost died. I was feeding (I was a little late in feeding today) and they all jumped out immediately (they never did that before. I guess they liked to eat at their leisure, but they were hungry) except for one. I hadn't seen more than 2 at a time in a while, so Iwasnt surprised. I watched them eat, and when they were done one of the larger ones pulled a white shrimp corpse that looked like it was there for a few days out into the middle of the tank and they all went back to hiding. It probly accounts for the ammonia regardless my persistent water changes. It's ammonia is probly what killed my clams too. btw they died . I have another singapore flower shrimp, 3 cherry fire shrimp and a few more ghosts due tomorrow. I'll do another water change and hopefully that .5 ppm of ammonia will be gone (finally) Wish me luck! (again)