Red Cherries -- How many eggs?

[Kenshin]

That is an interesting question Mustafa. I would like to ask that myself all everyday. Sometimes I think they are [breeding] or they are not. It is because I do see several small RCS, like the size that you shipped out last time (make me believe maybe the RCS did have hatchlings, and was hiding really well in my tank during when the mother was carrying her eggs). However, I recently saw 1 or maybe 2 female RCS carrying eggs. They do not seem to be carrying a lot of eggs though (maybe 5 - 6 eggs each female). So far the female(s?) have been carrying the eggs for a week or so. So I guess we will see....thanks for your concern. I will definitely update when I see hatchlings. (PLEASE ). But I do see some other female RCS really developing a big yellow patch (ovaries). I will definitely only put only less than 10 of those crayfish in there, and watch carefully if they do multiple. That brings out one more question Mustafa. How many eggs do usually female RCS carry when they are pregnant? (If this answer is listed somewhere in the shrimp forum, then I will find it myself, and of course my apology for my "being of lazy". ) Thank you once again and for all the great advice you have given me.

P.S. I do not see anymore RCS or shrimps in general having cracks between their head and body. You are completely right by not over-feeding. They are definitely munching on my algae (tons of them) everyday, so I feed them once every 2 or 3 days.

[Mustafa]

My Red Cherries usually carry somewhere between 30-80 eggs depending on the size of the female. The number of eggs they carry is proportional to the amount of food they get. That's why it is so hard for many people to keep and breed shrimp in larger numbers. If you want reproduction you have to feed them more and more often, but if you put too much food in your aquarium, the water paramaters change and the shrimp will die. It sounds like your shrimp are reproducing though, just very slowly.

If you are willing to perform smaller water changes more often, then you can try feeding them every day. That should increase the number of eggs you see in your females. But again, be very careful that you do not feed so much that the food just lingers there for hours and hours.

[GunmetalBlue]

Interesting info, Mustafa! I had noticed the females do a lot of voracious eating prior to becoming ovigerous, but during actual pregnancy, they seem to eat less (and hide more). Don't know if it's just my imagination...

I do not see anymore RCS or shrimps in general having cracks between their head and body.

Kenshin, I had been wondering if the problems you were having had been ironed out. Sounds like things are on the up and up. Please do keep us updated on any hatchlings.

-GB