Shrimp in a Tanganyikan Community Tank?

megasycophant · Post by **megasycophant** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:40 am

I'm getting ready to set up a Tanganyikan community tank in a 90g
(340l for you folks across the pond). The tank's footprint is approximately 48" x 18" (122cm x 46cm). Decor will be two substantial
(to the surface) piles of lava rock at either end and perhaps a few
bits of well-aged driftwood. Substrate will be finely crushed
shell/coral sand, except for where I place trays for planting
(in about 40% of the substrate) containing some under layer for plants (probably Aquarium Pharmaceuticals' First Layer). Plants will consist of
jungle/corkscrew/etc Val across the back, planted pretty thickly; Anubias/Java Fern/Java Moss mounted to rockwork and/or driftwood; and Crypts in selected spots in the foreground, again pretty thick. Lighting will consist of a mix of T8s and CFs that screw into standard incandescent sockets totaling about 232W (4 x 32W T8s + 4 x 26W CFs). I make a homegrown salt mix to approximate lake water consisting of epsom salts (MgSO4), baking soda (NaHCO3), and salt substitute (KCl) to push up KH and pH (high 7-8 range).

As for livestock, I initally planned on having a (Para)Cyprichromis
species, a shell-dwelling species (probably Neolamprologus brevis or
ocellatus), a Julidochromis species (probably one of the dwarf species), Altolamprologus calvus, and a rock-dwelling Neolamprologus species, probably N. buescheri. Whatever fish I populate the tank with, I always start with 6-10 F1 fry and allow them to settle in and establish territories.

My questions are these: I've been looking at the shrimp which prefer more alkaline water, looking primarily at the cherry shrimp, for cost and ease of rearing reasons. I realize that a species-only tank is preferred, but I'd like to try to include them in my Tanganyikan community. Would they do well in this environment? Also, I've thought about eliminating the A calvus and/or N buescheri in preference for smaller species which would be less likely to bother the shrimp. All of the Tanganyikan species are generally only agressive to conspecifics. In addition, most of them (with the notable exception of A calvus) do not bother fry (I've even had livebearer fry that they never bothered), so I'm assuming they would not bother the shrimp much, apart from driving them out of their territories. Would eliminating the two larger/piscivorous species in favor of smaller species be a good idea? Anyone had success with a similar setup? Any other thoughts?

Thanx ahead,
BRiaN

AnneRiceBowl · Post by **AnneRiceBowl** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:05 am

Shrimp would be a good idea if you wanted to provide your fish with lunch. If not, then you'll need to house your shrimp seperately.

TKD · Post by **TKD** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:14 pm

Or on the flip side you could get a Macro and provide IT with lunch!

TKD

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:50 pm

First off welcome and hi

,

Looks like it is an all or no deal choice Brian since most fish do not get along well with shrimp. I wish they did since I have a couple of extra tanks set up because of this fact. I hope you do well with your new setup and please let us know how it turns out either way.

Thanks.

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:44 pm

megasycophant
Hello and welcome to the Forum.

As stated above, fish and Shrimp do not make the best tank mates.

If you still plan on doing this. I would get the Red Cherry Shrimp first.
And wait until you have a nice Colony going and then add the fish.

Some of the Fish you have your eye on. Are not really the best.
Territorial Species will attack any thing in there territory.

Just My Thoughts
John

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:01 pm

Only fish that are committed veggie eaters are safe with shrimp. This leaves ottos and the smaller plecos and few others. Most snail species are good shrimp mates and there are loads of very interesting snails too.

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:21 pm

I have my Wives 4 Black Mollies in with my Mutt RCS. And I have more than enough Offspring. to make up for the 1 or 2 Shrimp they will eat, when I do not feed the tank for a day or two.

That is why I said, to get the RCS Colony going first.

I have found that a well feed fish will go after a easy meal, before trying to catch a Shrimp.

John

megasycophant · Post by **megasycophant** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:20 pm

Thanx, folks. Trying establish a colony first before adding the fish is a good idea. I hate to just sacrifice them, but it's an interesting experiment. I'm inclined from my experience to think that if I leave out the larger species and the Altolamprologus, they won't bother them too much if there's plenty of room. I'll let y'all know how it turns out. Thanx again!

Veneer · Post by **Veneer** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:28 am

According to this page, the following species of shrimp occur in Lake Tanganyika ("E" = endemic):

Family Palaemonidae

Macrobrachium moorei (E) (Calman)

Family Atyidae

Atyella brevirostris (E) (Calman)
Atyella longirostris (E) (Calman)
Caridella cunningtoni (E) (Calman)
Caridella minuta (E) (Calman)
Caridella paski (E) (Calman)
Caridina nilotica var. typica (Roux)
Limnocaridina iridinae (E) (Roth-Woltereck)
Limnocaridina latipes (E) (Calman)
Limnocaridina parvula (E) (Calman)
Limnocaridina retiarius (E) (Calman)
Limnocaridina similis (E) (Calman)
Limnocaridina socius (E) (Calman)
Limnocaridina spinipes (E) Calman
Limnocaridina tanganyikae (E) (Calman)

Family Hippolytidae

Thorina maldivensis (Borradaile)

(The citation of T. maldivensis is apparently in error.)

All of these appear to be consumed quite intensively by the native cichlids. Interestingly enough, Limnocaridina iridinae forms a commensal relationship with the bivalve mollusc Iridina.

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:50 am

I know you want to think it will work, but the important part of keeping shrimp is creating a sustainable breeding colony.

Quite simply, any fish capable of eating anything larger than the smallest piece of flake food you can see can and will eat shrimp babies if not young or adult shrimp.

You may be able to keep some adult shrimp in your tank, but without a separate breeding colony, you are unlikely to have long term success and will most likley be feeding your fish some very expensive live food.

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 8:51 am

You may be able to keep some adult shrimp in your tank, but without a separate breeding colony, you are unlikely to have long term success and will most likley be feeding your fish some very expensive live food.

I agree with YuccaPatrol. Also, the ecosystem of our tanks, if you want to call it that, is much more confining than the one that exists in nature (=easier access to shrimp as food

).

Post by **Mustafa** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:13 am

Having kept and bred cichlids (including tanganyikans) before I can guarantee you that the shrimp will be expensive snacks for your fish. Even dwarf sized cichlids like your shell dwellers will relish the shrimp. Keep in mind that crustaceans are their natural food items in the lake.

Even if you had only 2-3 small fish in a 90 gallon and TONS of rock hiding spaces for your shrimp, and your shrimp actually reproduced continuously without getting eaten, you would never see the shrimp as they would turn nocturnal to avoid predation.