7 Habits That Will Instantly Improve Your Shrimp Keeping 🦐

[@DokterIkanAquascape]

Thanks for explaining $$$

[@ArieBrielle21]

Listening to you my red cherry shrimp have been thriving well in my 5 gallon tank. Thank you so much!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

That’s so good to hear. Thank you for taking the time to let me know 🫶🏻

[@makithegrappler5986]

Best neocaridina advice i get I am also glad i picked up your printed book best game changer that made shrimp keeping a lot simpler kudos to you sir!!!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Ah man, thank you so much. I really appreciate the feedback. If you get a chance, please go to Amazon and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review 🥰

[@bigrob029]

Went from a pack of 10 shrimp to a 100+ cherry red colony after cutting back on the water change frequency. They kept the water so clean it didn't seem like water changes were super necessary.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hey, that’s great news. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻

[@bigrob029]

@@FishKeepingAnswers np, thanks for the video! great advice! (the less time i have to spend doing water changes the better)

[@TrickstyrStudio]

Enjoying your shrimp. This is why I put my tank right by my desk. I can sit and watch them and see how they're doing. I enjoy watching them, they're the cutest little things. I also wanted to mention that avoiding water changes I think saved my shrimp. I was doing the weekly changes and I kept losing shrimp. I eventually noticed that whenever I found a casualty, it was always within a couple days after a water change. I stopped doing them unless I had to, and since then, no casualties. Now if only I can stop the tank water from evaporating so fast. It's forcing me to add new water more often than I want and makes me worried I'm going to stress the shrimp out.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Thanks for sharing your experiences. It is appreciated 🫶🏻

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

Try getting some RO water, like 20 litres or something. A lot of aquarium shops that sell marine fish will sell it. The issue with just topping off with tap Water means whatever is in that tap water will keep increasing. GH, KH, ect. There's nothing wrong with doing 0 water changes. You just don't want your tape water to keep increasing the minerals in your tank.

[@TrickstyrStudio]

@@darrensaquaticsworld I will probably look into this. I have tested my tap water and it's not terrible at least. It's a bit hard but nothing that seemed concerning. But I think RO water may be safer anyways. Thank you!

[@reefrichs6719]

Just purchased your book, looking forward to some bedtime reading. Thanks for all the information.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hey, thank you. I really appreciate the support. If you love it, please head back to Amazon and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review 🫶🏻

[@reefrichs6719]

I purchased the book from an eBay seller but I will leave feedback on Amazon when I have finished reading it. Must say I’m looking forward to it arriving in the post.

[@camillapinheirocristaldida8721]

I love hearing you explain ! You are so passionate ! It's inspiring ! I've being following your tips and my shrimps are super alive, molting, babys (that came for free with some adults hehehe) are growing. I'm with my shrimps for 33 days now. They are not breeding yet, but I'm patient ^^ Thank you for your chanel 🥰

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hey, thank you for sharing your experiences. I really appreicate it 👍🏻

[@rusn3]

Im planning to get into shrimp keeping and your videos have been the best so far good work mate keep going!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

That's great to hear. Thank you for sharing your kind feedback. It means a lot to me 👍🏻

[@kevinstandart4310]

Man I’m trying to picture a man in the 1970’s trying to explain how incredible shrimp keeping is at his local donut shop. Thank goodness hobbyists have the internet.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

😂

[@YangYingX]

Fantastic content as always! A deeper dive into tip #2 would be amazing, I'm not really sure when to water change.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Weirdly, I have literally just finished writing this exact video. Hopefully it will be out monday (or Tuesday) 👍🏻

[@alannguyen5050]

Great advise. I love feeding my shrimps everything under the moon. From algae wafters to repashy to pellets and flake food, my shrimps show brighter and stronger colors from a varied diet. I have not changed the water in 5 months, not even adding any water as the aquarium lid fits so well there is essentially no evaporation and mt shrimps are doing wonderful. Every week I just test my planted shrimp tank for ammonia/nitrate/nitrite and if there is none, i leave the tank alone.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Sounds like you have your tank set up perfectly. Thanks for sharing 🫶🏻

[@nadina1]

Hey Richard would you ever consider doing a video purely on plant care? Great video btw

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

I would love to. I am a massive fan of aquarium plants 🙂

[@glentoner3689]

Thank You again : ) Always learning from You : )

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

My pleasure! 🙂

[@TheNumbers400]

I dose a lot of my tanks for plant growth. But shrimp only tanks Id rather just overfeed slightly, it will eventually feed the plants while creating extra biofilm along the way. Fertilizer adds nothing for the shrimp.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Thanks for sharing 🫶🏻

[@NicolaHill-cb4ic]

I'm the same and don't dose my shrimp tank but over feed slightly sometimes and all my plants grow like crazy.

[@NicolaHill-cb4ic]

I wish i could upload a photo here to show you my tank now. Well actually i have 3 different sizes now, ive had sooo many babies. They have loads of live plants and ive kept them stable and happy since last year. Tanks to your advice and book. I can't seem to find some nice blues though that dont immediately birth wild colour babies 😢

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Ah, finding good quality shrimp can be tricky. Best advice would be to try and find a breeder (locally ideally, or online) who specialises in Neocaridina Shrimp.

[@NicolaHill-cb4ic]

@@FishKeepingAnswers that's going to be my next challenge for this year. I was so happy to find blues originally especially when they were berried, then disappointed slightly to not have blue babies. Although I am super happy that they are all 😊

[@Zeit.07]

Amazing video as always! I've had my blue dream shrimp for almost a year, and I want to start culling them to improve their line. Do you have any tips on what traits I should look out for when deciding which shrimp to cull? I’d really appreciate your advice!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to comment. The o my trait I ever look for is color. ‘Does the shrimp show the color I am looking for?’ Yea? Keep it. No? Cull it 👍🏻

[@Zeit.07]

​@@FishKeepingAnswersThanks! Is darker blue better than lighter?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

That's personal choice IMO 🙂

[@andnowi]

I never change the water and have no filters, but I top up several times daily with rainwater. There are bare-root houseplants around the surface and trailing over the edges. I estimate 5-10% of the total water daily 'wicks' out through the houseplants and drips down on to a surrounding moss bed. Water then drips down from the moss bed into small plastic tubs. These fill with minuscule airborne insects, worms and other life forms. I blow or tip the surface film from the tubs into the shrimp tank. Then I pour off most of the water from the tubs for use on houseplants. Finally, most of the fauna and sediment from the tubs goes in the shrimp tank. The shrimps share the tank with danios, which eat the larger fauna. I also add very small quantities of yeast into the shrimp tank when I transfer daphnia and cyclops to the danios from a separate aquarium. I equalise temperatures and mix water slowly when adding the daphnia. The amounts of yeast I use for the daphnia have decreased over time, and their water also drips on to the moss bed. The best way I can describe how well this system works is by saying the houseplants round the house are growing enormous, and the aquarium plants are all bursting with life, even in winter, all with negligible artificial light and no fertiliser. I can't be scientific about it but I attribute the success to natural light, rainwater, and recycling. I developed this setup after seeing a commercial drip setup in Thailand that fed mains water (safe) into tanks with fish fry (top tank), adult fish (middle tank), shrimps (bottom). I'd make a video but I'm too shy. If anyone else tries it, I'd love to see it one day on youtube.

[@rameelkhamo4890]

What do you mean by fertilizing the plant? I put together my first tank yesterday and want to buy a bunch of shrimp today. Great video and thank you for being straightforward and making things sound so much more simple than what other ppl suggest

[@GlassBoxShrimp]

Hey! I believe he is talking about liquid fertilizers. They can be added into the tank to help plants grow, specifically plants that grow from nutrients in the water column (anubias, floating plants, guppy grass, java moss, etc.)

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yep, you got it 👍🏻

[@ninjawolfx2329]

Ive been introducing new things into my turtles tank. I have a couple swords and javas, and im gonna get some moss and guppy grass soon to finish it. My turtle is pretty picky, and he literally bites off wafers in a perfect circle to avoid the algae part. I got guppies to see how he does with friends and immediately he took a chunk out of a plant and ripped one of the guppies in half. Once he discovered he doesnt like the taste of the plants he gave up, and the lil fish are too fast. He doesnt even care about my snails. I plan on introducing shrimp into the tank (i already have seed shrimp, a microbe). The tank is crystal clear, very large and full of hiding places. Substrate is on the plant side and the other is rocks and digging spots. I have a feeling as long as the shrimp can swim burrow and hide well the turtle will not mind them. If he does, ill simply create a smaller tank for them to colonize. Im looking into ghosts and neocaridina davidis. I have a feeling this will go well, but we shall see

[@Jacob_93ukpl]

Hi Richard, appreciate another valuable content. I've heard that plant fertilisers are mostly deadly for shrimps. My questions is as my regular TDS is around 120, but with fertiliser over 400, which make sense, but I have caradina shrimp, and now I am confused what am I supposed to follow, low TDS for caradinas or fertilisers for healthy plants as my ones don't grow nicely

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi thanks for taking the time to comment. If I’m honest, I’ve never come across a fertiliser that is harmful to shrimp, and I’ve used lots of different ones. I’m not really a Caradina guy, so o would recommend checking out some videos from Marks Shrimp Tanks and RWAquaroim Pages.

[@BGN_Aquariums]

Great video as always buddy. 👍🏻 Have you ever used kabadi ebi shrimp lollys. So good mate. Really stable

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Thank you my friend. How’s your new fish room coming on? 🐠

[@BGN_Aquariums]

@@FishKeepingAnswersslowly 😂 only because my car broke down last week so i couldnt do a couple of tip and b&q runs. This weekend though should be able to clear everything out and give it a lick of paint. Then build the shelving. Going for breeze blocks and wood. Seems the cheapest but most stable way

[@raeofsunshine369]

Which repashy do you feed? I have community plus, but ive never thought to use it for shrimp!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

I use community plus too 👍🏻

[@DebbieSearcy-e1s]

I have a hard time keeping my TDS under 300, comes out of my tap 120. Ive read TDS should be around 150 for plants and shrimp to flourish.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

You have to ask yourself, TDS made up of what? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

The whole TDS thing is more for Crystal Shrimp.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

True, but it still tells you nothing about the actual tank water. A TDS of 80 could be 80 calcium or 80 fertiliser or even 80 chlorine. It just tells you there are 80 bits of something

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

@FishKeepingAnswers Agreed, but TDS is still a good guide. It all depends on where you are at with the hobby. But 9 times out of 10, a tank with under say 200 TDS will be better off than a tank with say 600 in my opinion. My tap water is like 380 with a pH of over 8 and high Gh and KH. Now, if I'm topping off with that and not doing water changes, the tank TDS would go through the roof as all that stuff making up the TDS gets left behind after evaporation. So, in this instance, the TDS is important. I get the bit around fertilisers. In fact, water conditioners will also raise it, but low TDS in a tank will normally lead to fewer problems like algae, etc.

[@cameronlloyd2928]

Where do you get your smaller tanks from?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Amazon amzn.eu/d/9C3tnLI

[@mikenco]

Such professional content!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

🙏🏻

[@igorgilza]

Hi Richard, very good video, really liked it! You know, I always brag about not feeding my shrimps😅 I'm not trying to say that's it's THE way to keep shrimp, I'm just saying that it's possible and you don't absolutely have to feed shrimp in order for your colony to be able to be healthy or have anxiety when you're going on vacation or something. All in all, in my aquariums, I'm trying to have as stable of an environment as possible. And in my experience, if you give them say a flake, they will just tear it apart, or even if it's a thinnest slice of blanched carrot, it seems like they don't eat all that much. BUT I'M OPEN MINDED, I'll try to feed them some bloodworm see what happens))) thank you, this is really a good video

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and perspective. It’s appreciated 🫶🏻

[@LVCIVSbcRO]

Hello, Richard! Nice video, as usual. Is it ok to use a plant fertiliser that contains copper as a micro element? Is it safe for shrimp? Thank you!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

I would imagine it will be absolutely fine. Plants require micro nutrients like copper, so most fertiliser contain it. I use Tropica Premium Nutrition, and that contains copper 👍🏻

[@garthantash]

Shrimp need copper to live, it is essential for them to make blood. Plants need copper to live. Shrimp need copper in their diet, plants need copper in their fertiliser. Don't add copper sulfate aka snail killer into your tank or any other highly concentrated copper products and your shrimp will be fine.

[@jennysoderstrom]

Good tips, something to think about😊

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@83rdo389]

For the whole water concept, what if you have a beta in the tank along with the shrimp. Do I need to change the frequency of water Change?

[@EmmelineJM]

Fab video! Is there any particular (UK) based fertiliser you’d recommend? Never thought of this!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

I use Tropica Plant Growth Premium 👍🏻

[@EmmelineJM]

@@FishKeepingAnswers thank you ! And sorry another question, when transferring shrimp from one home tank to another that it is a different temp (25 and room temp 20 approx) would you acclimatise to the new temp before plopping the shrimp in? Have a fab weekend 🥰

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

If that was me, I wouldn't worry. However, always do what feels right for you 👍🏻

[@rogerhuggettjr.7675]

I feed Hikari Shrimp Cuisine, algae wafers, some tropical fish food and a rare slice of cucumber. I have a coconut bridge with Christmas moss that has been overwhelmed with hair algae, but since it is always got shrimp burrowed into it I can't safely remove it. I have hornwort, duckweed, Vallisneria and anacharis well as a coconut cave with an anubius at the entrance. I feel I am doing all I can, but worry that given it's only a 5-gallon tank that any small mistake could get bad fast.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Sounds like a good set up to me. 👍🏻

[@marcuss8538]

So, I'm having problems with my shrimp actually not eating the food I put in. I've tried algae wafers, repashy, and even cucumbers the past 2 weeks, and they're not eating much. I have noticed quite a few molts already, though. I just am confused as I'm new to shrimp. I have my gh around 200 and ph about 7.3, plenty of plants, rocky caves, a timed light, heater to maintain temp at 73, and a small sponge filter. I'm also worried about a couple of plants wilting and the others not looking the best, even putting liquid fertilizer and the root tabs in for them.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Personally, if they are happy in general and they are molting fine, then I wouldn't worry about it. Add some food and give them a few hours. If they aren't interested, take the food out and offer another bit in a few days. Maybe your tank is running so sweetly they have plenty to eat without the additional food.

[@johnp5250]

If it is a planted tank the shrimp are getting enough food from the algae and biofilm that naturally grows. If you truly are worried I would pause on making any changes as shrimp love consistency. I would either add more plants or almond leafs. Technically any leaf would work but research what you like in your tak.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Great advice 👍🏻

[@josephngo8389]

Do you think a submerged light in 4 inches of water in a 20 gallon tank would stress out the shrimp too much? Trying to do a paludarium with vampire crabs

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

I've never tried it, but it would be a cool project, so please let us know how it goes 👍🏻

[@CharLieTj]

I have that exact same plant in my tank, minute 9:22 , a friend gave it to me and grows so fast, and my shrimps love it, do you know the plant species/name?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

I have a feeling that is Hygrophila polysperma 👍🏻

[@MulladeNegu]

I still don't know how the heck I'm supposed to vacuum the substrate without sucking up the shrimplets.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

There is no easy answer to this question unfortunately. All you can do is go slowly and try to move any shrimplets with your hand before vacuuming.

[@TREX.GAMERZ9]

Can i use a lid to protect the shrimps ??

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yep! I put lids on all my shrimp tanks 👍🏻

[@mcraecalzado6208]

Will my shrimps survive to a 5 gallon tank without filter but lots of plants and has no substrate

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yes, if you set the tank up correctly, shrimp will survive in a 5 gallon without a filter 👍🏻

[@novazoid1717]

Would a dirted tank (such as the Father Fish method) be a good tank for neocaridina if I had a tank dedicated to them? No fish?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Interestingly, I’m currently considering this style of tank, so watch this space 🤔

[@cyanicgames5224]

@@novazoid1717 Yes. I have a nano shrimp and snails only 10 litre walstad method nano tank and its over one year old doing perfectly fine

[@mcraecalzado6208]

Will the shrimps survive if I dont use any filter on a 5 gallon tank?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yes, if you set the tank up correctly, shrimp will survive in a 5 gallon without a filter 👍🏻

[@mcraecalzado6208]

@ even if it has no substrate but has alot of plants

[@arthurcutaiar9994]

​@@mcraecalzado6208how do you have plants and no substrate. Plastic(not plants) or in individual pots?

[@CapayasIsland]

How to talk in all caps, without yelling😂

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

😂

[@tiborhorvath1551]

Hi! My shrimps not moving. Just standing in a place. Not eating, not doing anything. What is the problem? Thanks?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

It could be preparing to molt. Just leave it be. It will probably be fine 🤞🏻

[@mattiabressan3581]

Hi! I have a Huge problem with my tank: it’s full of white mud, i Made a 50% water change last week and now is full of mud again, the sponge filter and the inside tank filter are clogged again, the colony is decreased. I never fed the shrimps for a month and alto the plants are dieing. Water parameters are ok and i don’t know what to do. Please help! Hi from Italy!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. By ‘mud’ do you mean mold? 👍🏻

[@mattiabressan3581]

@ yes, a kind of rotten stuff

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Sounds like the tank is out of balance. Maybe carry out a 25% water change, sunning up as much mold as possible. Also, give the filter a good clean. If possible, add a few more live plants, then let the tank run for a couple of weeks and see if it settles down 👍🏻

[@mattiabressan3581]

@@FishKeepingAnswers thanks a lot!

[@joaonunes1510]

I had a no filter shrimp tank, them it got japonica, I tryied to treat the with a Vermifuge, but I lost it all 😢

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

That is sad to hear 😔

[@FishRfun]

No offense to the channel owner, because seriously I've learned a lot from this channel, but with my first shrimp I just kinda of drip acclimated them, put them in my 15g tank and before long I had more shrimp than I could keep. I never fed them because they just ate the algae in the tank plus leftovers from feeding my white clouds, peacock gudgeon and pygmy corys. It really takes little to almost no effort to soon have a huge colony. Cholla wood is perfect for the shrimplets to hide in.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

No offence taken 😉

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

If you are feeding your fish by default you are feeding your shrimp.

[@FishRfun]

@darrensaquaticsworld exactly

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Potentially yes, but if I put in a small pinch of flakes, and the fish consume them all before they hit the aquarium floor, am I still feeding my shrimp?

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

@FishKeepingAnswers If you are feeding Flake, then maybe, but if you are broadcast feeding with say micro crumb in a nano tank, then it will circulate around the tank and get caught in the moss, crevices and substrate. I have shrimp only tanks that I feed. I have a nano tank with fish and shrimp that I broadcast feed with a little extra shrimp food now and then. I just don't think adding fish food to a community tank is the same as having a shrimp only tank that literally receives no food.

[@DrSKMetz]

I wish I'd seen this yesterday. I did a water change and killed my entire amano colony. I suspect it was too much Prime.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Ah man, sorry to hear that 😔

[@AmazonasBiotop]

Of course it is stupid to add fertilizer that contain N if you have to much of it..😂 But there is fertilizers in the market with no N when there is tanks that is over stocked. (And not a heavy planted tank with low stock of inhabitants.) 👍

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Very true. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@no1init253]

⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

🫶🏻

[@Vel178-z4t]

Getting mixed signals on removing old molds. Pro say remove, other let it biodegrade

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

"Unless your shrimp are suffering from an external parasite, it's best to leave the molts in the tank. However, if your shrimp do have an external parasite, remove all molts as soon as you see them. This helps break the parasite's life cycle.

[@Vel178-z4t]

@@FishKeepingAnswers Thanks

[@TREX.GAMERZ9]

Bro can I turn off the filter at night during sleep ✨

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yes 👍🏻

[@derschwereGustaf]

Dosnt this kill all the beneficial bacteria?

[@aar2v718]

@@derschwereGustafno the filter just needs to stay in the water

[@TREX.GAMERZ9]

@@derschwereGustaf Don't use hangonback filter just us a sponge filter

[@tomblomfield6973]

You can but tbh look in to a nice air pump that’s quiet like the tetra brand ones