Color developement in Red Cherries

Luthier · Post by **Luthier** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:25 pm

Is there any way of developing more color on my red cherry shrimp? For some reason, I've had these shrimp for 8 months and they just aren't showing much red color.They are eating like crazy and the same on multiplying. I have right now, two females that are carrying eggs. But on 90% of my red cherries, there is very little color (sometimes, just a few red bands around the body. And some have color over their entire body but just not a strong coloration. Even the juvies seem to have some color but it never develops into a strong, vibrant color They all seem healthy and happy in their tank so I believe that I can rule out stress. I'm not looking to artificially color them but would like to bring out as much natural color as possible. They are in a twenty long tank that was setup according to the articles in the forum and the water parameters are right where they should be for shrimp. Water changes are done once a week with a 15-20% change at a time. I suppose I should be happy that they are healthy and multiplying. I just want to make sure that I am not missing a part to the puzzle on getting the most out of them......Fran

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:05 pm

As far as I have seen, food and water quality does help the shrimp reach their potential in color. But if the shrimp does not have the genetics for dark red they will not be dark red. This is the reason some of us selectively breed some shrimp for better characteristics.

Have you been able to find any that are darker than the others if so you can select these out and breed them for this characteristic.

Mordaki · Post by **Mordaki** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:49 am

agreed

. my cherrys some are verry vibrant and some arent. if they havent coloured up in eight mounths then i think it will be genetics aswell. suppose you could supliment thair diet with some quality flake with spirulina (acording to the lable it helps bring out colour. although other foods work just as good so that may not work) i only add some frozen invert food to my shrimp only tank they love the stuff i think it is for mariene inverts but my freshwater shrimp go nuts when i put it in (in a good way) but that dosnt affect colour my cherries started to colour up within about a week of having them without any special food. so don't think food will help much but try the idea of flake with spirulina in or prepare some spirulina for them to eat that is the only thing i heard that brings out colour the best (excluding foods with steroids added to them to bring out colour)

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:36 pm

Check your nitrates & phosphates. These were big factors in my shrimp not coloring up. The better the water, the brighter the shrimp. My mature females are solid blood red. At one time they were just so-so and I've not added new genes to the mix, just learned more about water.

TKD · Post by **TKD** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:38 pm

What kind of substraight are you using?
If it's a light colour or white that could be a reason as to why the shrimp are pail.

Mordaki · Post by **Mordaki** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:23 am

TKD wrote:What kind of substraight are you using?
If it's a light colour or white that could be a reason as to why the shrimp are pail.

it may be but i use coral sand with my cherries and mine are coulored up niceley (water sucks where i live need ciral sand to keep parameters up) but i have a stable tank now

ph around 7, no3 + no2 are at 0 hehe .
now ph of 7ish with coral sand gives away how low ph my tap water is lol good thing i am not into malawi cichlids much

. also lots of plants in my tank the whole floor of the tank is allmost covered so that helps with water quality a bit (waiting for my lilly to grow more) and getting some more java moss to put on back wall of tank

. anyway sorry about rambaling on... just saying i have light coloured substrate and mine are colourfull but in saying that nly about 5% of it is not covered

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:47 am

My substrate is nearly white. I don't think it really changes their color all that much, but the contrast may make them look more red.