Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

Isn't that the way it always goes? If you don't care the fish or shrimp breed all the time. When you do care and go to all the trouble to please them, they hold out.
Perverse sense of humor.

badflash wrote: After a month the females just eat the berry and start again.

They don't eat the berry. The larvae usually hatch and die immediately due to the water parameters. Something must be wrong with you tank. It only takes something really minute (and hence not measurable) to kill off larvae. Adults will seem just fine in the same conditions. Why don't you just leave the tank alone for a while. No water changes, no food, just let it sit there for a few weeks to a month (or more). Just fill up evoparated water. These issues usually correct themselves if the meddling stops.

Mustafa wrote:

badflash wrote: They don't eat the berry. The larvae usually hatch and die immediately due to the water parameters. Something must be wrong with you tank. It only takes something really minute (and hence not measurable) to kill off larvae. Adults will seem just fine in the same conditions. Why don't you just leave the tank alone for a while. No water changes, no food, just let it sit there for a few weeks to a month (or more). Just fill up evoparated water. These issues usually correct themselves if the meddling stops.

Not really meddling, but as to them not eating the berry, that isn't the case. I've watched them do it and I have pictures. I posted about it last year the first time I saw it.
viewtopic.php?t=1264&start=45 scroll to the bottom.

Still, I'll give your suggestion a shot. With the oak leaves in there, no one will starve. My personal theory is there issome sort of trigger that is needed.

I imagine this observation has been noticed many times before, that if you skip one or two routinely scheduled water changes and then make a 50% water change, many of all the shrimp I've kept will shed within 24 hours with breeding following immediately.

badflash wrote: Not really meddling, but as to them not eating the berry, that isn't the case. I've watched them do it and I have pictures. I posted about it last year the first time I saw it.
viewtopic.php?t=1264&start=45 scroll to the bottom.

You've actually seen the female take the eggs and start chewing on them and ingesting them one by one? Or did you just see the female grab the eggs between her pleopods?

apistomaster wrote:I imagine this observation has been noticed many times before, that if you skip one or two routinely scheduled water changes and then make a 50% water change, many of all the shrimp I've kept will shed within 24 hours with breeding following immediately.

But that's not the reason I suggested not doing anything for a while. I just want his tank to have a chance to correct its own issues. Microorganisms are amazing that way...if given a chance. Plus, with a 50% water change all of a sudden after a long period of no water changes the molting may not be a positive indicator at all. Shrimp molt for all kinds of reasons including stress (due to suddenly changing water parameters for example). Do a search and you'll find some more comments about it in the forum.

Mustafa wrote:

apistomaster wrote:I imagine this observation has been noticed many times before, that if you skip one or two routinely scheduled water changes and then make a 50% water change, many of all the shrimp I've kept will shed within 24 hours with breeding following immediately.

But that's not the reason I suggested not doing anything for a while. I just want his tank to have a chance to correct its own issues. Microorganisms are amazing that way...if given a chance. Plus, with a 50% water change all of a sudden after a long period of no water changes the molting may not be a positive indicator at all. Shrimp molt for all kinds of reasons including stress (due to suddenly changing water parameters for example). Do a search and you'll find some more comments about it in the forum.

Hi Mustafa,
I couldn't agree more. Just was assuming if all things are otherwise good a slight delay of a routine water change can induce a healthy shedding and subsequent spawning of the breeders.

If one's shrimp are experiencing other issues of health and water quality I would think one would make correcting these a priority before attempting to breed the shrimp. Seems like a given, to me.

Mustafa wrote:You've actually seen the female take the eggs and start chewing on them and ingesting them one by one? Or did you just see the female grab the eggs between her pleopods?

Yes, I saw her pull them off and start eating them. This is something I've observed more than once and it is quite frustrating.

The times that I have succeeded in getting lots of zoes, I have put beried females in a newly cycled tank when I notice the eggs start to change colors.

BTW- I don't miss water changes. Every weekend.