Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

Hi all,

Been a little over a year since I was last active here. But thanks to advice I got on this forum a year ago I was able to keep and very successfully breed a tank of Red Cherry Shrimp that became amazingly prolific. In the process, I absolutely fell in love with dwarf shrimp. Even though I had 5 tropical tanks going at once, my RCS tank very quickly became my absolute favorite.

However, I have recently moved from the USA to Rome, Italy and I will be here for 2-3 years. I am considering trying to jump in once again to the dwarf shrimp hobby, however, I am not sure how to do it.

Does anyone know if there are tropical fish societies/clubs in Italy (specifically in Rome)? Or does anyone have any advice at all about how to get started over here? Do water conditions necessarily favor certain types of shrimps over others, or is it like the USA where water parameters can vary greatly from one town to the next? I am also worried about heat, as summers in Rome can get quite hot and the building I am living has no air conditioning, so it seems inevitable whatever kind of tank I set up is going to need a rather heat-tolerant species...

Anyway if there are any Italians floating around the forum here, or anyone at all who can lend a hand, I am all ears!

It sounds like you really did fall in love with the RCS. Sorry you weren't able to pack a few RCS with you for the trip. Have you been able to visit any fish stores in your area to ask about the shrimp there?

I know there are plenty in Germany. It may be easy to get them shipped in.

Neonshrimp, there are quite a few aquarium stores in the greater Rome area. Unfortunately, none of them are within walking distance of where I live, and I do not have a car here, so I have not as yet had a chance to visit any of them. I live right in the historic city center (one block from Trajan's Forum, 2 minute walk to the Capitaline hill, 5 minute walk from the Colosseum, etc.), but all of the pet/aquarium stores I have been able to find via online searching all seem to be out in the suburbs, or at least the city outskirts. I suspect once I get to know the bus lines I'll be able to find at least a couple I could bus to, but haven't progressed in my knowledge of the city well enough to do that yet. (I've only been here about 2 weeks.)

Badflash, I think you are right about Germany being the place to go. Unfortunately I speak not a word of German so that is going to cut down my possibilities somewhat when it comes to trying to order some online. I know at least one online aquarium auction site (in English) that has some Germans who sometimes post auctions, so I am suspecting that might be my best bet.

First priority, of course, is to get my hands on a tank and get it cycled...nothing can happen until after I do that. Just trying to research things as much as possible in advance so that, once I have a cycled tank, I'll be ready to go.

aquabid has any number of German and EU sellers. They mail order so that takes care of your car issue, and they speak English better than I do.