madasafish
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hi All,
It's been a while since I started my own topic... This one is interesting, though I am not sure whether I'll be able to follow it through to its conclusion.
I have several (6-8 ) pregnant amano shrimp in my 55 gallon tank, and a couple more in my 10 gallon QT tank (filled with java moss).
The females are carrying clutches of 100s, if not 1000s, of eggs on their swimming legs. They fan these legs constantly, attempting, as Angelfish and many others do, to aerate the eggs as much as possible.
I've noticed over the last few weeks and months that some of these shrimp simply seem to grow larger than others. I've come to the conclusion that there's a fair amount of sexual dimorphism--that the females are quite a lot larger than the males when mature. The females seem to have topped off at 1.75" or so, and the males at 1.25" (rough approximations). I believe they've stopped growing.
I do think I witnessed at least one instance of mating. As I've been taking the largest amanos from the small tank and adding them to the larger tank (so that they don't become prey to the cichlids in the 55 gallon), I think I have created a gender-skewed society in both. All but one of the shrimp in the large tank are female, and all but one or two in the smaller tank are male. A few weeks ago, I observed almost every one of the smaller males attack one female in the 10 gallon. She fought them off every so often, but I am guessing the males were able to fertilize her eggs.
I have no idea yet whether any of the babies from that event have survived, but I will keep a close eye out in the 10 gallon (little chance in the 55). I do know that the shrimp larvae go through many life stages, so it's possible I've seen one or two babies so far. However, I doubt this is the case, as I think the babies go through the life stages while they cling to the mother's swimming legs.
I've read one interesting article on the web: http://www.uniquaria.com/articles/amano.html, but can't find any scientific articles on the shrimp in online databases.
I've taken some pictures. The first is a general shot of a pregnant shrimp. The second and third are close-ups (as much as possible) of the eggs on the swimming legs of the female. The others are perspective shots... OK, I threw in a couple of them I liked coz they were pretty.
I'd really be interested in finding out what you think might be a good strategy to keep the young alive. The java moss will clearly help, but I was wondering if you guys could think of another method. Egg crate and constant observation? Just stick with the java moss? Try one of the livebearer baby traps (sucks babies into a separate compartment). I've got a version of this one here: http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19201;category_id=1537
I'd be glad to have some imput. These guys are constantly pregnant nowadays, so hopefully if this batch doesn't work out, the next will!
It's been a while since I started my own topic... This one is interesting, though I am not sure whether I'll be able to follow it through to its conclusion.
I have several (6-8 ) pregnant amano shrimp in my 55 gallon tank, and a couple more in my 10 gallon QT tank (filled with java moss).
The females are carrying clutches of 100s, if not 1000s, of eggs on their swimming legs. They fan these legs constantly, attempting, as Angelfish and many others do, to aerate the eggs as much as possible.
I've noticed over the last few weeks and months that some of these shrimp simply seem to grow larger than others. I've come to the conclusion that there's a fair amount of sexual dimorphism--that the females are quite a lot larger than the males when mature. The females seem to have topped off at 1.75" or so, and the males at 1.25" (rough approximations). I believe they've stopped growing.
I do think I witnessed at least one instance of mating. As I've been taking the largest amanos from the small tank and adding them to the larger tank (so that they don't become prey to the cichlids in the 55 gallon), I think I have created a gender-skewed society in both. All but one of the shrimp in the large tank are female, and all but one or two in the smaller tank are male. A few weeks ago, I observed almost every one of the smaller males attack one female in the 10 gallon. She fought them off every so often, but I am guessing the males were able to fertilize her eggs.
I have no idea yet whether any of the babies from that event have survived, but I will keep a close eye out in the 10 gallon (little chance in the 55). I do know that the shrimp larvae go through many life stages, so it's possible I've seen one or two babies so far. However, I doubt this is the case, as I think the babies go through the life stages while they cling to the mother's swimming legs.
I've read one interesting article on the web: http://www.uniquaria.com/articles/amano.html, but can't find any scientific articles on the shrimp in online databases.
I've taken some pictures. The first is a general shot of a pregnant shrimp. The second and third are close-ups (as much as possible) of the eggs on the swimming legs of the female. The others are perspective shots... OK, I threw in a couple of them I liked coz they were pretty.
I'd really be interested in finding out what you think might be a good strategy to keep the young alive. The java moss will clearly help, but I was wondering if you guys could think of another method. Egg crate and constant observation? Just stick with the java moss? Try one of the livebearer baby traps (sucks babies into a separate compartment). I've got a version of this one here: http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19201;category_id=1537
I'd be glad to have some imput. These guys are constantly pregnant nowadays, so hopefully if this batch doesn't work out, the next will!
