Nothin's still happenin'...

lampeye · Post by **lampeye** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:25 am

2-3 weeks ago, I noticed the first saddle in my batch of cherry shrimp. I've also notice they are molting fairly regularly, feeding well (to my eyes at least) and 3 or so others have saddled up. But...these later saddles are looking pretty sad. They're barely there compared to the first female that showed one. Also, that female STILL hasn't bred.

My water temp varies from 68-70 deg. F. Is that why this is taking so long? All my shrimp were very young when I received them, so are my males perhaps not yet ready? Should I chill out and read a magazine or something?

Post by **Mustafa** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:50 am

Chill out and read a magazine.

68-70 degrees is around the lower limit as far as breeding temperatures go for these shrimp. That's why everything is taking forever. Once your females have eggs it will take much longer than usual for the eggs to hatch, too. If you want things to happen a little faster just increase the water temperature to the mid 70s.

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:51 am

Just give it time. They will begin mating.

You are correct that lower temperatures will slow the process.

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:03 pm

Up the temps to 78. You'll get some action if the water quality is good.

Shrimp&Snails · Post by **Shrimp&Snails** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:17 pm

I'm also having the same thing with my cherries.....the females have nice yellow saddles and i'm seeing the odd moult but no eggs. I'm starting to think I don't have any cherry males (again).

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:59 pm

I have the opposite problem

The temp here is high 70's and my red cherry shrimp wont stop mating! Besides cutting the amount of food they get, I will also cool the water down to slow the mating down

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:06 pm

Yeah, i've got my tank at room temperature (No heater yet), and there are so many little cherries runnning around... It took a while though, a few weeks longer for them to hatch then normal.

-John

AnneRiceBowl · Post by **AnneRiceBowl** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:25 am

I wish mine would slow down with breeding! I normally have at least 9 females that are saddled and carrying eggs at any given time, and all the other females that aren't carrying eggs are saddled--the latter are young females that haven't bred yet. Pretty soon, I'll have to either find homes for the young shrimp, or get them a bigger tank!

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:00 am

I have found a solution to my population boom. I have left all the females in the breeding tank and removed the males, now in a seperate tank. Some of the females are still berried so I am still expecting at least another generation of RCS

If this does not work I don't know what will.

zapisto · Post by **zapisto** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:00 am

yes same here
i decide give them a new home (bigger) .....

AnneRiceBowl · Post by **AnneRiceBowl** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:06 am

Mine got a bigger home this past Monday. They were in a 10 gallon tank, and now they are in a 20 gallong long. I don't have any more room for more tanks. I'm out of outlets and space!

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:14 am

Just to make it harder for you to "not" add more tanks

. You can find or make a shelving system and power strips to help organize and add a couple more tanks. It makes for a great viewing area. I know, I've been a bad boy

AnneRiceBowl · Post by **AnneRiceBowl** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:18 am

I've already done that. The last resort would be to hire an electrician to add more outlets, but I live in an apartment.

Shrimp&Snails · Post by **Shrimp&Snails** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:28 am

My seven cherries have a 21g they share with a bn plec and some blue ramshorns - no reproduction.

My tiger shrimp live in a 10g they share with two nerites and Mr Pink (my apple snail) and they won't stop having shrimplets.

I might move the cherries into the 10g and see if that helps but then i'll have a practically empty 21g.

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:33 am

I might move the cherries into the 10g and see if that helps but then i'll have a practically empty 21g.

It might help since the RCS will have competition for food and therefore delay saddle/egg production.

About the 21g, time for more types of shrimp