Cycled vs Seasoned

[Newjohn]

I thought that I would share a observation .

Everyone should know that you need a cycled tank before introducing Shrimp into the tank.

But, a cycled tank is not a Seasoned tank. What I mean by a Seasoned tank is, That the Bio-film and Algae have established themselves in the tank.
And if you have done your research, You know that the Bio-film and Algae are the best food for your Shrimp.

And until the tank is seasoned, you will need to suppliment the Shrimps diet with other foods such as flake foods. And if they are over fed the water parameters can go bad in no time. And if not fed enough they may not breed.

I have found that to have the best success with a new Species, especially a Wild Caught Species. Is to have a Seasoned Tank ready for your new Species.

I do this by first getting a tank Cycled and then adding a couple of my Ghost shrimp.
The biggest reason I use Ghost Shrimp is that if they happen to breed in the tank and I do not remove all of them, They will not breed with the new Species I introduce at a later date.

I just thought I would share what I have learned from this Forum.

Feel free to give feedback or Add your observations.

John

[badflash]

This is true for cajun crays too, so this is a good ovservation to share. Until I put them in a well seasoned tank, they would not reproduce for me.

[AnneRiceBowl]

Same is true for Atyopsis moluccensis. They like a well-aged filter for catching food in the water current, and I am sure that other filter-feeding shrimp would do much better in an aged tank.

But, I don't know about using ghost shrimp though. I have seen them in my tanks with oportunistic-hunting behaviors.

[Tuscan]

Anne, you're right...
Also form me a very good cycled tank (--> seasoned) is better for shrimps.

In italy we use to wait a month before putting shrimps or fish in tanks (this is cycling for me).

If i wait other weeks or month (-->seasoned) the water and other parameters will be optimal for all the living things...Maybe maybe you can put some little fishes...

Anyway i don't know much people who can wait 2-3 month until putting shrimps in tanks:))))))))

My "shrimp-o-drome" (see my pictures) has worked without shrimps for two months or more. I'm planning to make a "two divided tank of 60 cm" and i will run it from now to september without animals. It will contain red crystal and yellow shrimps.

ciao

[Newjohn]

AnneRiceBowl

The Reason I use Ghost Shrimp, is that if they produce any young in the tank there is no chance of cross breeding with any Shrimp that I put in the tank at a later date. That is if I miss a youngster when I am removing the ghost Shrimp.

John

[Mustafa]

Good post, John! You've definitely done your homework!

[AnneRiceBowl]

AnneRiceBowl

The Reason I use Ghost Shrimp, is that if they produce any young in the tank there is no chance of cross breeding with any Shrimp that I put in the tank at a later date. That is if I miss a youngster when I am removing the ghost Shrimp.

John

Didn't think of that...lol. I need to pay attention when I read posts.

[Newjohn]

Hi AnnieRiceBowl
Not a problem, I always have to reread post.

That is the joy of this hobby, you can always learn from other hobbyist.

John

[Newjohn]

I knew I stated a Thread on this Subject before.
It is a 4 year old thread,
But, the information is still valid.

I just read the latest Amazonas Magazine ( English Version )

And there can be a little confusion between the 2 articles on Shrimp if you are just getting into Shrimp Keeping.

The one article is about Mass Producing Shrimp on a Commercial Scale.
Bare Bottom Tanks with Central Filtration, Large Feedings & Massive Water Changes.

The other article states,
Light Feedings.
There tanks were not bare bottom and looked well Seasoned.

In the Past,
I have had a well Seasoned Tank, Moderately Planted & a good light source.
12 Adult Female & 6 Males RCS.
I did not feed the Tank for 1 month and the Population still prospered.
That was the extent of my experiment, but I am sure that it would have went another month without a problem.

[Mustafa]

I knew I stated a Thread on this Subject before.
It is a 4 year old thread,
But, the information is still valid.

More valid than ever. It's amazing to me how people get obsessed about different "shrimp foods" from Japan (sold for stupendously high prices) and the latest "soil" substrate for their CRS and other shrimp, without understanding the basics of shrimp keeping. The food is completely useless (or as useful as any cheap fish food out there) and just a gimmick, and the "soils" that are clay-based work for a reason that nobody out there understands...and they only work best for the types of species that tolerate/[orginate from] acidic water[s]. Once I publish a book (yeah..I know i've been saying it for years...) it will blow away everything that people thought they knew about shrimp keeping. After that there won't be many, if any, "experts" left anymore...LOL.

I just read the latest Amazonas Magazine ( English Version )

Ahh...interesting to see that's being read here in the US (it's a German magazine in case people don't know). I had heard that it started being published in English, too, now... Could you please tell me who the authors of the shrimp articles were? I know pretty much everyone there (and they know me) and can better judge the quality of the information if I know who actually wrote the article.

In the Past,
I have had a well Seasoned Tank, Moderately Planted & a good light source.
12 Adult Female & 6 Males RCS.
I did not feed the Tank for 1 month and the Population still prospered.
That was the extent of my experiment, but I am sure that it would have went another month without a problem.

There is more food in any given tank than people think. People in the aquarium hobby are used to fish, who get most of the food intake from daily feedings by their humans. Shrimp are a completely different matter..they'll take the food AND they eat pretty much anything else in the tank...bacteria, fungi, algae, and all of those three served up on yummy growth substrates like old leaves, rotting aquatic plant parts etc...etc. Shrimp definitely need a different treatment.

[Newjohn]

" Cover Story - Indonesia - shrimp breeder for the world "
by Hans-Georg Evers
Mass produced CRS

" Maintenance and Breeding of Dwarf Shrimps "
by Kurt Mack
This is a nice read.
" Go easy on the food'
This is just one of the topics covered.

" Black and Red, Selective breeding of two shrimp "
by Kurt Mack

" The BLUE TIGER Shrimp "
by Roland Blankenhaus.
Unless he photo shopped the pictures, these are the Bluest Tigers I have seen.

The Shrimp pictures are great.
The $8 price tag is well worth it just for the picture.
The useful information is a bonus.