Tips and Tricks How to Keep, Setup and Breed Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp for Neocaridina and Caridina

[@jamesblankenship4292]

This is one of the most educational videos I’ve ever seen regarding the hobby.

[@FatherFish]

Amazing plant growth on your old established tanks. With little to no water movement the roots are not competing with flow for nutrients. You demonstrate so vividly that natural aquariums are healthy.

[@alexandraghanem-latour5022]

I’ve been doing so much research on shrimp in the last week, and I just found your videos and it literally answered every single one of my questions. Thank you so much!!

[@HerDaytona675]

Saaaame

[@TheASMRlogs]

We have watched this a number of times. Trying to get everything just right before we order!

[@br2580]

This is the best straight forward video on shrimp I've seen.

[@hauntboy8576]

Awesome video! We bought some of your blue bolts, and have been VERY happy with them! Its always fun to see berried shrimp and to see the itty bitty babies! Our shrimp are definitely not only surviving, but thriving thanks to all the knowledge we have learned from you! Thank you for all you do!

[@SooShrimpBreeders]

Amazing collection! When you get into breeding high end caridina. That's when the real rewards come out. So much fun.

[@AquariumCop]

Lucas! I'm so so happy you took that time a lil ways back to get all your ideas and projects focused and hit it hard! It has proved through and true ! You are firing on all cylinders , you are slamming it! So happy for you and for everyone honored to watch listen learn and grow with you! You are the BEST at what you do, Hands down 👉 I'm a huge fan of Lucas the Messiah of WATER! Peace and love ,keep on rocking! 💞

[@LRBaquatics]

Thanks AquariumCop Keep on rocking as well!

[@jboh2112]

The most comprehensive shrimp keeping video on youtube. Thanks man!

[@shesellsfish]

This came up out in recommended...I know I watched it 3 years ago, but hey, never hurts to rewatch good content. 👍❤️👍

[@Guy_with_the_funny_voice]

thank you so much I learn a lot taking care of my shrimp from you I started a month ago and they are doing great going to get more shrimp after seeing your video.

[@clemmahabir]

Just started a 10g with RCS 5 Cpds 5 Neons tetras 2 phantom tetras Spider wood Natural gravel sand mix Plants Java fern on rocks Duck weed AC HOB running slow with a sponge prefilter. My original RCS colony is still around over 2yrs with a great turn over in population high and low. So I decided to do a nano fish and shrimp tank and move some of my RCS which turned out well 🐠. My fear was the fish eating the shrimp but they are all getting along so far so good!!!

[@richardhuff8201]

Lucas, really enjoy watching your videos. You truly are the most down to earth guy on KZbin! Thank you for your knowledge and insight into how to keep shrimp it helps me a lot. Always look forward to more from you.

[@LRBaquatics]

Thanks Richard!

[@cjclaeys4368]

Had to come back for a refresher course, it never hurts to go back to the basics, setting up a new tangerine tiger in neo parameter tank, local guy has some he has been breeding. Thanks LRB.

[@philthytanks4952]

Nice video, I’ve been keeping shrimp for a few years n I still like to watch videos like this just to see if i can pick up on any new tips or be reminded of anything I forgot

[@bossbullyboy195]

When you got a bed in the fish room you know yer hardcore

[@LRBaquatics]

Lol I removed the bed for more space :P

[@bossbullyboy195]

L.R.Bretz's Aquatics ... haha typical aquarium addict, fish before sleep!

[@tedkaczynski3916]

Its gonna smell so bad

[@inherentinsight5856]

LMAO!

[@woodworkerroyer8497]

I just put a 60g platie/guppy tank in my bedroom. I had no idea that I could be hard core with only 2 tanks.....

[@tjenkins1126]

This was awesome man. Been wanting to do things I've never done before in my 125. So it'll be planted, and now shrimp! Lot's of good info. Phoenix has pretty much sand out of the taps (my cichlids THRIVED for years), so neos look like a perfect fit. Then it'll be onto figuring out fish after a colony gets going. Thanks again, man. Oh, love the Wim Hof quote on your white board, dude is big inspiration to me.

[@rskj4life]

Thanks so much! I've seen that you can feed fish food to the shrimp. Only problem was theres a lot of different fish food. Tropical, goldfish, betta, cichlid! I couldnt find which kind I could use. You are the first to say. Thank you!

[@mellewedin8221]

I really really love the jungle look. I can't wait for my guppy grass to grow. I have low tech tanks and not the best lighting. I have it in tanks that get sun light. I have one tank that a a full spectrum grow light.

[@Joseph-tz5he]

Youve inspired me to start a shrimp tank love your videos alot of helpful knowledge

[@miguelbarriga4890]

thanks for the helpful info. just getting back into the hobby after a few years.

[@Neocaridina]

I got motion sickness 😂

[@slewone4905]

he's a main of the waters, I guess he hasn't gotten his land legs yet

[@TheStrawberryAnia]

Same

[@ndbyers23]

Looks like the motion you use when holding an baby!

[@HerDaytona675]

Me watching on ×2 speed 👁👄👁

[@BornAgainFarmGirl]

Same 😮.

[@fishroombum3771]

Another awesome video Lucas! Amazing how chill you are and how much knowledge you have. Great combination. Thank you for sharing!

[@javiermacias9263]

You answer literally everything man

[@LRBaquatics]

We be shrimpin! Whats your favorite shrimp? Heres the video I mentioned about Shrimp Havens: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2TKfJ2vq7OBf8k If I could have any type right now it would be Blue Cardinals (Sulawesi Shrimp). I need figure out how to breed the regular ones better first before I throw the money down on some blue variations.

[@lisathewhitewolf]

L.R.Bretz's Aquatics Thanks for the video. I want to keep shrimp, but it just hasn't been going well. These tips should help. I did startle at the sound included with the "cannibalism" shot...I have fibromyalgia and that jump really hurt >_< Maybe think about editing that sound out?

[@donwood213]

Blue dream is a strain of cannibis. Ooops?

[@LRBaquatics]

Glad these tips should help. Sorry to hear the sound got to you. I would of never thought of that happening.

[@LRBaquatics]

and unfortunately cant edit the sound out now that is published.

[@lisathewhitewolf]

L.R.Bretz's Aquatics Most people wouldn't. If you've never had a pain disorder (or autism, for that matter - yay me I have both), you just don't think about it, and that's okay :)

[@timainsworth8578]

By far my favorite from the fish fam! Keep up the great work Lucas. Really stepping up your game!

[@LRBaquatics]

Thanks Tim!

[@nickk4010]

Pays to be up all night doing water changes 😂 Great Video Lucas, I bought 10 of your fire red cherries from you about 6 months ago and now I countless amounts in the 100's. Thanks for all you do Lucas!

[@LRBaquatics]

Lol got to get them WCs done! Ive been up all night too. Bout to try and nap a bit then hit more WCs. Glad to hear it Nick! :)

[@nickk4010]

L.R.Bretz's Aquatics It comes full circle, My first fish video youtube was one of your all night videos. Just got more tanks and now it's the up all night "did you get your water changes done" type of night 😂You're the best Lucas!

[@x73.]

I use the stainless mess for discharge and intake. It really buffers the flow for planted and betta

[@okkie_2656]

A video on culling, breeding for specific traits and the genetics involved would be the best I'd have seen on shrimp so far. It's like the missing link as far as I'm concerned.

[@patche736]

I love this video i just got my first shrimp and this was very informative

[@CBales2006]

Great vdo for newbie thanks

[@FishForThought]

Recently got my hands on some crystal reds that were super cheap (1 for $1) and this was very informative. Thanks

[@LRBaquatics]

Dang nice deal!

[@LudwigVaanArthans]

I just love your vids. Gonna have some neocaridinia shrimp tanksgoing soon too Besides this, I love selecting 1.5x speed for your vids then go back to normal speed

[@marthanewsome6375]

I have mixed substrate, sand, ada, gravel and pebbles. I have set up my sump setup for caridina, but so far only my neo's have breed in there, but I think that maybe because they mature faster. I love having both neo's and caridina together, as it saves the amount of tanks you need to have. But neo's adapt very well. The parameters in there is ph - 6.4, gh - 5, kh - 0, temp 24 celcius.

[@LRBaquatics]

You would be correct the neos def. mature and breed faster IME.

[@WichitaFallFishKeeper]

Thank you Lucas. My 2 shrimp tanks are doing well because of the knowledge you have shared. Thanks

[@MarksShrimpTanks]

Awesome video Lucas !!

[@LRBaquatics]

Thanks Mark!

[@HCAqua]

One of your best videos! Learned a lot!

[@SoCalMike2]

Awesome video! Helping me prepare for my first Shrimp tank! I hope you can do a video on filtration. I am thinking a 15 gallon cube with an external canister filter to add volume and create a better biological situation. Would like to know what works best for you. Thank you!

[@LRBaquatics]

Thanks! I did mention my filtration on the video. I dont use much for filtration and some tanks have no filtration, just plants and water changes. If you want to use a canister I showed a few options on covering the intakes in the video so your shrimp dont get sucked into the filter.

[@mmarec936]

Cool I love your own way as you are and you should stay that way I wish you success

[@mikef3300]

Very cool video. I've been keeping fish for years and have seen shrimp in my lfs for sale but have never had the balls to buy any for fear of just watching them die off one by one. Most of my aquariums are planted so shrimp would be a welcome addition due to the algae eating habits of certain species. I've decided to give keeping shrimp a shot so have been researching their requirements. I really like the way that videos aren't so technical that they become confusing. After watching I feel as though I've learned something and also been entertained. Keep up the great work and thanks

[@McMerwe]

Great video! Really like the simplicity of it all..

[@LRBaquatics]

As some say you have to keep it shrimple.

[@melissafoster1228]

Thx for this vid Lucas!!

[@walterlingram]

Great video! Thanks for the tips

[@casmarykay8433]

Wow! Can't believe I missed this one! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@NisioftheNorth]

Not first, but how am I gonna sleep with a release from LR Bretz??? Omg. Yasss!!!!!

[@NisioftheNorth]

Wait, I'm first besides you! Woohooo!!!

[@LRBaquatics]

:P Nap time for me

[@nickk4010]

Nisi Can't top the super mod😂I thought I may have finally been first. But if I were not it to be first, I'd want it to be to Nisi 😄

[@inthego]

I too use the TetraColor Granules.. used them at first to feed the white clouds in the tank but saw the shrimp would attack it so I feed extra for the shrimp. They love it. (that and green beans)

[@Fishnkitts]

So informative! Thank you! How much to water change and how often for cardinia?

[@LRBaquatics]

I would stick around 25% weekly or biweekly

[@Fishnkitts]

Ah! Thank u!! 🙏🙏🙏 gobbling up ur content. Great perspective and learning a lot!

[@shrimptastic8603]

Great Video!

[@ThePaul555]

Beautiful blues

[@Fishguys]

Great video! I really loved all your setups

[@devrama]

HI i have a question , how true is this They will not interbreed, as they are not only different species but they are each in a different genus; Red Cherry Shrimp (RCS) are Neocaridina heteropoda var. red while Crystal Red Shrimp (CRS) are Caridina cf i would love to mix the 2 if they dont cross breed

[@LRBaquatics]

Yes you can mix neocaridina and caridina and they will not cross.

[@johnbearsfishroom8444]

I only have ghost shrimp right now, but I am getting some Cherry shrimp! But my favorites are the black roses! I want to get a lot better at keeping shrimp before I order, though. I would hate to lose them.

[@SinisterSaturdays]

How do you change out the substrate with a lot of plants? Very carefully?

[@dayanaandrade2930]

Hi, I'm a beginner on tanks but I wanted to know if having very hard water tap water in my city goes hand in hand with GH? Are they the same thing?

[@Lewischen82]

Hi, Im from Singapore. But i cant find the food you suggested. We do have Tetra brand everywhere but not the type you described. Any where I can buy this? TIA.

[@suman5492]

For inert substrate like small 2-3 mm size gravel how much depth to keep?

[@LRBaquatics]

As much as you desire. Depth won’t make much difference for the shrimp. If worried about planting 2-3 inches is suffice and can go as high as 6 inches plus. I usually slope my depth higher to the back of the tank and more shallow at the front fro easier cleaning maintenance.

[@suman5492]

@@LRBaquatics Ok. Are the anaerobic bacteria column that develops under the deep substrate layer required for a healthy tank or the shrimps will be fine without it? I am not getting the amount of sand to make the depth as you mentioned from sellers nearby me.

[@zachofalltrades1111]

What stands are you using for your 20 long

[@PoseidonsPets]

Great video man! Thanks for helping the hobby!

[@josemontalvo4532]

Your vids are very interesting. I will setting up a 125Gallon tank soon. Your vids are very educational. Thank you for sharing. I subscribed and put notifications on, so keep them coming!

[@cvdw87]

hi, What do you use for the bubble deflection. Thx

[@LRBaquatics]

Deli cup lids

[@chrisplunkett6223]

Great video

[@benzilla1844]

Good video, helped me a lot

[@joynalmiah8864]

Do you add co2? Your plants look great

[@LRBaquatics]

I dont. Most all my tanks now dont even have filters or airstones either.

[@joynalmiah8864]

@@LRBaquatics wait, no filter? does that mean you do more frequent water changes? Since you don't add CO2 did you add special substrate for the plants or fertilizer?

[@mr.nutinherminkz101]

I have a regular 10 gallon which would you recommend

[@laketuna]

what is that mesh-like thing coming out of the outlet of the HOB filter? stainless steel mesh?

[@LRBaquatics]

Stainless steel filter intake cover

[@laketuna]

oh lol, nice!

[@TheGuardianFid]

Great info Lucas, thanks.😎👍

[@TheStrawberryAnia]

Very informative. Thanks for sharing. Subscribed

[@haroonytares5740]

Hey Lucas, would you recommend usually a circulation pump in a planted neocaridina tank? 20 gallon long.

[@LRBaquatics]

I would not recommend. Best to have airline and or no filter.

[@MattBH444]

Great video, but a question: do you ever do a gravel vac? why or why not?

[@LRBaquatics]

I dont ever gravel vac but sometimes swirl lil tornados of crap with the hose when emptying. Plants and water changes do most the work for me as far as taking care of extra waste.

[@timothylowther9818]

This was a great video to watch. I have recently become interested in breeding shrimp. I bought a 20 gallon tank and got a couple bags of Fluval Stratum for the substrate. I have not set the tank up yet and want to make sure this is not the wrong type of substrate for the Neo's (Cherry Reds). Would high lighting be required to grow pearl weed in a 20 gallon tank or is the light it came with sufficient enough? Would injecting CO2 for the plants be harmful to the shrimp?

[@LRBaquatics]

I have heard of many people having issues with keeping Neos on Fluval Stratum, not really sure why maybe has some acidity to it. Not sure what kind of light came with it but pearl week needs moderate light to grow, like the aquaneat leds I use on my tanks. I recently raised them off my tank to open the top of the tank but had to lower the light back down because the change in light strength wasnt enough for them to grow, it was a 40breeder. Co2 isnt harmful to shrimp unless over used. Just dont run it at night since plants eat oxygen at night and produce Co2 with could cause in a co2 buildup if you run it all night.

[@timothylowther9818]

I would love to start out with the Taiwan Bees or Crystal Reds but the only type of water I have available right now is tap water that I would have to put a conditioner in. I did some research on the Fluval Strata and have learned it brings down the PH levels in the water as does Chola Wood? Would I be successful doing this in your opinion or should I just get some Eco Complete for Cherry Reds or Blues? Thank you for your time and advice. It is greatly appreciated.

[@ramgopalvakada]

How to enhance its colours? Any suggestions? Baby birth rate is very good but colour is very less. Does temperature of water also play some role ?

[@zucabrasil]

Thanks for the video, very helpful. When you do water changes, how fast do you ad the new water? Do you use the dripping sistem?

[@robertchapman1957]

Great mate. Enjoyed this video and learnt practical no bs stuff. Thanks looking forward to the continuation of subjects raised in this video. Your inspiring. :)

[@LRBaquatics]

Thanks Robert!

[@miguela.alvarez7284]

I keep species 3.., bamboo shrimp, Cherries and Amano... Got babies not a breeder just a keeper. Truely enjoy them. Specially you look at the tank and it a plants but then you get up close.. 👍🏻

[@bruced4994]

I have hard water, live close to mountains in Georgia, would cherry shrimp be best to start out with as a beginner? I am going to try to make water softer for German Blue Rams, but heard higher temps are more important. Any shrimp that can tolerate temps in low to mid 80s?

[@rohans3447]

Can I use a cheap natural black sand as a substitute

[@KevinsCaninesAndAquatics]

How do you do water changes on your tanks? I don't want to suck them up out of my tank but putting things onto the python makes it more difficult to gravel vac and pick things up

[@HCMAClub]

I have a small 8 gal planted tank with stratum in it and also hard water, what do u reccomemd

[@LRBaquatics]

You may be able to keep Tiger types. Since the substrates contradicts your water and eventually will lose its punch and cause a swing I would recommend switching it out with something else before a bunch of shrimp are in it and makes it that much harder to replace.

[@HCMAClub]

L.R.Bretz's Aquatics what substrate do you recommend

[@Michel-T]

I learnt a lot Thanks and Greetings from Paris 😊

[@LRBaquatics]

Glad to hear it! Greetings!

[@eugenesteele8310]

Have you worked with commercial shrimp operations for food? How is it different from what you have here.

[@LRBaquatics]

I have tried many commercial shrimp foods. Big reason why I like the tetra color tropical granules is the fact its bright orange and easy to see if Im over feeding also they really like it.

[@BrianS420]

I haven't quite made the jump over to shrimp besides a bunch of amanos. But my next tank will be a shrimp tank. Thanks for the info brotha!

[@jasonseerose5102]

Hi there, I have a question. Is active substrate really necessary for Taiwan Panda shrimps? I use 100% ro/di water. I remineralize my water to 120 tds, kh 1,5 and gh 5. Can I go with inert substrate if I do my water changes religiously?

[@LRBaquatics]

It is necessary, I have tried. They will live for awhile and not breed. Or you can use inert substrate and make it more acidic by adding indian almond leaves time to time. I wouldnt worry about getting religious on water changes either.

[@jasonseerose5102]

Thank you for your reply and helpful knowledge! I have a big tree trunk that releases tannin acid constantly. Will see how it goes since I'm going to use a batch from Germany.

[@richardmclaughlin3926]

where did you get the pleco magnet ?

[@vb2377]

Do you have any trouble keeping plants like java ferns, anubias, and pearlweed in shrimp only tank?

[@LRBaquatics]

Not really besides normal issues like hair algae and what not that would occur in fish tanks as well.

[@vb2377]

LRB Aquatics I’m talking about nutrients wise. Shrimp don’t have a huge bioload

[@LRBaquatics]

@@vb2377 No but I also dose ferts into my tanks. Usually hair algae is cause from excess nutrients and the biggest problem I have.

[@vb2377]

LRB Aquatics hair algae is great for shrimp though right?

[@ktcworld1]

Awesome informational video. I was wondering if you could help me out. I just started my cherry shrimp tank for a couple of weeks and noticed microscopic white worms in the substrate. They are so small that the naked eye can't see them. I have to use my phone to zoom in. I think it's because I feed the shrimp too much. How can I get rid of the worms? Thanks!

[@Jayr2374]

Can I put endlers in with shrimp

[@LRBaquatics]

You can but it can be tricky. This vid should help kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2TKfJ2vq7OBf8k

[@AmyHarrell41]

I’m keeping crystals on the same white sand substrate that you do! How old do they have to be to breed?

[@SparkledStilettos]

Hi! I can’t find the video where you say which food you feed your neocaridina! Please help? :)

[@SusanMiles]

he says it at the very end of this vid. tetra granules i think.

[@SparkledStilettos]

Susan M yeah, I found it. I was too embarrassed to comment that I had. Haha. I’m an idiot, clearly. Haha. Thank you xx

[@saifulamir10]

Hi, I subcriber from Malaysia 🇲🇾, nice video

[@9-5Adventures]

what shelves are you using for your fish tanks?

[@gigismith5675]

Need advice!! We had our colony up to over 60 blue dreams and suddenly about 10 died. We immediately did a water test and found there was a nitrate spike so did about a 40% water change. Each day we did about 25% after that for several days and even though the nitrates seem to come in line we still lost several every day until one pregnant female remained. After being alone in the tank with her babies still under for about a week, she finally went to hide and have the babies. After a couple of days she emerged and seemed fine but no sign of the babies. within about 24-36 hrs she died. We can’t figure out what happened because the rasboras all survived with no issues. We want to slowly reintroduce more shrimp but need to know what happened first. I’m suspicious of them not being able to molt might have caused the problem? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[@LRBaquatics]

Do you have plants in your tanks? They should absorb the nitrates. And if nitrates are coming from the tap water then water change could make it worse or even potentially something else in your water source. Any signs of whitening that could indicate bacterial infections?

[@alantooth48]

Excellent video Lucas by the way it was great to see you at the Pasco meeting have a question I have both hard water and soft water shrimp tanks which one would you pick for raising orange-eyed blue tigers? I have them in my caridina tank but they are not breeding like I thought they would be . Have you found that they breed better in type of tank over the other? Thank you so much for all the work you put in at educating the fish fam!

[@whitelight333]

What White substrate brand do you recommend?

[@oCaRRiEDx]

I have a 10 gallon with about 30 orange shrimp. I'm using fluval stratum in that tank, I just bought a 29 gallon and im about to get that set up and move everyone over. I was under the impression I needed something like the stratum but I really like the look of the eco complete vs the stratum and I am going to have the tank plated with a few neon tetras. Just wanted to makes sure im right here so the type of shrimp I have don't need the lower PH the stratum gives and I can do fine with the eco complete? I really want them to start breeding again as well. Very new to shrimp, have had mine for only 4 months but love the things. lol

[@ryan39364]

Awesome vid, thanks! Can't wait for the line breeding video. How do you know if you're over feeding shrimp? I've got probably hundreds of cherries in a densely planted 10g breeding prolifically. I feed once daily, but never know if I'm doing too much or too little

[@LRBaquatics]

Thats why I like the Tetra Color Tropical Granules because they are orange and you can see if they arent eating them. That and they go coo coo for them. So as long as your not seeing extra food laying around after a couple hours after feeding then your not overfeeding.

[@FancyTailAquatics]

I have tried to search videos and could not find it. I have been smashing up cuttlebone and dosing the tanks with it. My question, is how to get calcium that the snails and shrimp can use, am I doing it right?

[@LRBaquatics]

Yes you have been doing it right. As long as you have some source of calcium in there they will graze on it. This is how I add calcium kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKXMqpmJmsh7qdk

[@samwoods8643]

Very helpful! Thanks dude!

[@DeanVaturi]

Hello sir! I loved your video and i am about to build a rack for 2×2 of shrimp breeding tank, i would like to get the exact dimentioms of your shrimp tanks you just showed one next to the other (the long ones with more surface). Thanks in advance

[@charliehobbs7968]

I live in Bellflower California. Can you recommend a fish store that you might supply in my area?

[@LRBaquatics]

I dont usually recommend fish stores because you never know if they have already mixed them and how they will breed out plus they can carry other unwanted critters into your aquaria. I recommend homebred because they are more hardy as well.

[@koston777]

Hello, is colder water better for breeding shrimps? My tank is now 78 degrees and they do not breed anymore. They used to a lot.

[@LRBaquatics]

I keep mine around 74. The metabolism speeds up and slows down due to temp. They may just be adjusting to it.