Aquarium shrimp: types, conditions of maintenance and reproduction

Aquarium shrimp is an omnivorous crustacean creature with great stamina. This species of the inhabitants of the underwater world is so beautiful and graceful that more and more people are engaged in its reproduction every year. The unique shape and color of the shrimp in all colors of the rainbow makes it the darling of the home aquarium.

How are they arranged

The body of these crustaceans consists of several segments, each of which has its own limbs, designed for various activities. The first three parts are covered with a shell (it is a kind of protection) and spliced ​​with the head. Their limbs are mustaches, jaws and leg jaws.

The mouthpiece of the shrimp is very complex and has a fixed size. It consists of 3 pairs of jaws grinding food, and leg jaws (the first three pairs of chest limbs) that hold it at the mouth. To grasp prey and crawl shrimp use the remaining 5 pairs of chest limbs. For swimming and bearing eggs (in females) they have the so-called pleopods (abdominal legs). In males, their first pair degenerated into a copulatory organ.

Area

In the wild, shrimp can be found in almost all saline and freshwater bodies of the world. Moreover, each species of these arthropods has its own place of "birth". For example, red-nosed shrimp lives in the rivers of Venezuela, where there are a large number of deciduous trees. In the waters of the Pacific coast of Panama, you can find an American fan-like appearance of these crustaceans. Amano aquarium shrimp in nature prefers Japanese mountain rivers flowing into the Pacific Ocean.

Content

The care for these inhabitants of the home underwater world is almost the same as for the rest of the invertebrate inhabitants. One of the most important rules for keeping them in an aquarium is to install an aerator in it, since they need oxygen to function normally.

Optimal degrees of water - from +15 to +30. It was noted that when the temperature drops to 18 ° C, the aquarium shrimp becomes inactive. But it is worth making the water warmer, 26-30 degrees, as it regains its activity. By the way, with sharp fluctuations in temperature, these animals can die.

Aquarium shrimp, the content of which does not require much effort, is unpretentious neither in filtering water, nor in the presence of light. Although both will be necessary for better growth of the plants that these crustaceans feed on. But it is worth considering that they are very sensitive to the chemical composition of water, and even with a small chlorine content in it, the shrimp will die. For the same reason, air fresheners or other similar sprayers should not be used in the room where the aquarium is installed.

Nutrition

Aquarium freshwater shrimp is unpretentious in food. Eat everything in a row. Bloodworms, cyclops, aquatic insects, dead plants (such as algae), daphnia, and much more are all great shrimp foods. Therefore, in the aquarium where they are contained, it is necessary to plant a variety of living plants (pistia, hornwort, Javanese moss). They need to be fed no more than once every two days.

Aquarium shrimp: reproduction

The process of breeding these arthropods does not require any effort from humans, nature does everything herself. During the breeding season, the female releases a special substance, thanks to which the males learn about her “readiness”. The mating process itself occurs rather quickly - no more than a second. To determine that the female is fertilized is simple - a kind of saddle forms on her back (different species have a different color), inside of which is caviar. After a while, it moves under the abdomen, and after 3-4 weeks fry appear. They start eating their parents' food immediately, so they do not need special care.

Attention! All of the above about shrimp breeding applies only to certain species (for example, special, cherry). Many populations of these arthropods need special care during breeding.

Features

Aquarium shrimp, the content of which, at first glance, is very simple, can bring a lot of trouble. So, for example, if you forget to close the aquarium at night, then the crustaceans can escape from their home. And on land they are not tenants - they die in a matter of minutes.

During transportation, it is necessary to take care of the safety of the shrimp, as they can be injured on the walls of the vessel. To prevent this, it is enough to put any plant in it, for which, if something happens, they could grab hold of it.

When buying shrimp, do not immediately place them in a common aquarium. The fact is that most species of these crustaceans come to stores from the wild, respectively, they can be carriers of infections and parasites.

Rising water temperatures above 30 degrees can adversely affect shrimp. Therefore, in the summer season, this parameter must be monitored more carefully, enhancing the aeration of the water.

Shrimp species

Before you buy these arthropods to your aquarium, you should understand their types, otherwise problems may arise. For example, aquarium shrimp, becoming an adult, can be too big or even worse - a predator.

Red crystal. Beautiful and non-aggressive shrimp with red stripes on a white background. It is very whimsical in content (water pH from 6.2 to 6.8, temperature - up to 26 ° C, etc.), does not like overfeeding. Due to closely related crosses, her body is slightly weaker than other species.

Harlequin. These shrimp are very small (up to 1.2 cm), have a red-white color and are very shy. Also a little whimsical to the quality of water - pH from 7.0, temperature - from 25 ° C. Reproduction without a larval stage in fresh water. The time of gestation is up to a month, after which 10-15 tiny shrimp are born.

Amano. Light green arthropods with a light stripe on the back and brown spots on the sides. They are “aquarium cleaners” that kill harmful algae and other plants. Quite peaceful with many species of fish. There are many problems with home breeding. For example, to obtain offspring, the female is placed in a separate container (30 liters), where the water temperature is kept at 23 ° C, aeration is arranged, there is a lamp and a sponge filter. It should be borne in mind that the main condition for the larvae is brackish water and a separate container into which they must be moved 2-3 days after birth.

Red-nosed. This is also a kind of "cleaner" of the reservoir. Such aquarium shrimps, the species of which can be distinguished by their method of movement (they do not run, but swim), can live in both fresh and salted water. Their maximum size is 4 cm. They do not like keeping in a reservoir where there are aggressive and predatory fish species. They have a pretty nice color and a nose in a red spot.

Red cherry. This type of shrimp is one of the most popular. To this they owe much to their brightly glowing red color and ease of reproduction. Aquarium shrimp cherries are unpretentious in maintenance and feel great even when the aquarium contains a huge number of their counterparts. Males have a length of about 2 cm, which is much less than females (an adult reaches 45 mm).

Shrimp Compatibility

Before buying these wonderful aquarium inhabitants it is worth considering that many of the species can mate. The result is an indefinite type and color of shrimp, which, in general, is not very good. Therefore, it is worth taking care of this in advance and buying only those species that cannot have common offspring. For a better understanding, we present to you the table “Aquarium Shrimp: Compatibility”.

Where "+" - mating is possible, "-" mating is not possible, "+ -" - has not been studied.

Aquarium Shrimp: Fish Compatibility

These arthropods lead a very secretive life. Which is not surprising. Indeed, aquarium shrimp, whose species are diverse, are very attractive as feed for a large number of inhabitants of the home underwater world. In the wild, they are a very common food source. In the natural environment, these arthropods have a nondescript color, due to which they are saved from death. When purchasing a red or bright yellow shrimp for your aquarium, you should prepare for the fact that over time it will lose its color. The reason for this will be her nocturnal lifestyle, which she will switch to after some time.

In order to save shrimp from death, it is worth identifying them in those aquariums where there are less aggressive fish with an oral cavity smaller than these arthropods. After all, if they fit "in size", then with almost a 100% guarantee they will be absorbed. The most dangerous types of fish with which you can not jointly contain shrimp:

• cockerels;
• swordsmen;
• scalaria;
• fighters
• bottom fish;
• Pecilia
• gurus
• goldfish ;
• viviparous cyprinids;
• molinesia;
• cichlids;
• char.

Disease

Shrimp, like other living things, can get sick. The most popular ailments of these arthropods include parasites. They settle on the shell, muscles, gills, heart and plexus nerve plexus. This is an extremely dangerous condition, as a result of which she dies.

The second major nuisance is a fungal infection. It can also cause the death of crustaceans, as it is able to suck out all the nutrients from their body and poison it with its toxic substances.

Shrimp and viral infections are affected, which, unlike bacterial ones, are not very treatable.