Retired_AF
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I bought some RCS to breed, mostly for the experience. I have had them for a while but never noticed any young until last weekend. I found 2 small shrimp about 1/4" long in the bottom of the tank.
I went to Florida this week, getting back on Thursday. Last night I noticed my filterwas running a little slow, so I pulled the pad out to rinse it. To my surprise, I found 15 - 20 baby shrimp in with the gunk on the pad.
I rescued them and put them into the tank with the other shrimp. I pulled the course pad out and rinsed it, discovering 10 more. I put them into the tank as well. I took the filter assembly off the tank and rinsed it out and found 7 more!
Apparently, the mesh I put over the intake is too coarse (I put it in specifically to prevent this) and is letting either eggs or hatchlings get into the filter. I use 2 layers of tulle over the intake. (I guess I need to rethink my strategy) I am surprised that there were so many in the filter housing. Making it through the impeller was a miracle.
2 weeks ago I put a small power head in the tank to keep the water moving and for additional filtration. On a whim I pulled it out and rinsed the filters and found several hatchlings, so small I could barely see their eyes, much less their bodies. I rescued as many as I found, putting them in the tank with the other shrimp.
Looking in the tank, I am seeing more of the shrimp than I thought possible. Then I spotted 2 large females with what looks like little green eggs in their swimmerettes. I guess more are on the way!
I went to Florida this week, getting back on Thursday. Last night I noticed my filterwas running a little slow, so I pulled the pad out to rinse it. To my surprise, I found 15 - 20 baby shrimp in with the gunk on the pad.
I rescued them and put them into the tank with the other shrimp. I pulled the course pad out and rinsed it, discovering 10 more. I put them into the tank as well. I took the filter assembly off the tank and rinsed it out and found 7 more!
Apparently, the mesh I put over the intake is too coarse (I put it in specifically to prevent this) and is letting either eggs or hatchlings get into the filter. I use 2 layers of tulle over the intake. (I guess I need to rethink my strategy) I am surprised that there were so many in the filter housing. Making it through the impeller was a miracle.
2 weeks ago I put a small power head in the tank to keep the water moving and for additional filtration. On a whim I pulled it out and rinsed the filters and found several hatchlings, so small I could barely see their eyes, much less their bodies. I rescued as many as I found, putting them in the tank with the other shrimp.
Looking in the tank, I am seeing more of the shrimp than I thought possible. Then I spotted 2 large females with what looks like little green eggs in their swimmerettes. I guess more are on the way!
