Crystal Red Shrimp

INFO I FOUND ON THE CRYSTAL RED SHRIMP!

(This link above is where I found all of the information and photos below!!)

ommon Name	Crystal Red Shrimp, Red Bee Shrimp, or CRS
Scientific Nam e	Caridina cf. cantonensis sp. "Crystal Red"
Adult Size	2.5-3.0 CM or 1.0-1.2 inches
Water Temp	20°-25° C or 68°-77° F
pH Range	6.5-7.2
Water Hardness	Soft
Fresh or Salt Water	Freshwater
Larval Stage	None. Young hatch as miniature versions of the adults
Difficulty	Medium-Hard
Egg/Saddle Color	Red
Behavior	Non-aggressive

General Information

Crystal Red Shrimp are a recessive mutation of the Bee Shrimp. In the early 90's Hisayasu Suzuki of Japan discovered a single Red Bee Shrimp in a batch of about a thousand. The first Red Bee Shrimp died but several generations later three more appeared. Hisayasu Suzuki was able to successfully breed these shrimp and subsequently named them Crystal Red Shrimp.

Appearance

Crystal Shrimp have bands of red and white on them. Crystal Red Shrimp have been selectively bred over time to increase the amount and intensity of the white. This has led to a "grading" scale for Crystal Shrimp. Higher grade Crystal Shrimp are generally more sensitive to water conditions and are not as prolific as lower grade Bee Shrimp. This is most likely due to the intense inbreeding required to achieve the higher grades.

Red Cherry Shrimp

INFO I FOUND ON THE RED CHERRY SHRIMP!

(This link above is where I found all of the information and photos below!!)

Common Name	Red Cherry Shrimp
Scientific Name	Neocaridina Heteropoda var. Red
Adult Size	2.5-3.0 CM or 1.0-1.2 inches
Water Temp	15°-30° C or 60°-85° F
pH Range	6.5-8.0
Water Hardness	Soft-Hard
Fresh or Salt Water	Freshwater
Larval Stage	None. Young hatch as miniature versions of the adults
Difficulty	Easy
Egg/Saddle Color	Yellow
Behavior	Non-aggressive

General Information

Cherry Shrimp are currently the most popular dwarf shrimp in the hobby. This is due to their hardiness, attractive color, and prolific breeding rate. Cherry Shrimp are also one of the cheapest dwarf shrimp available as they have been in the hobby for several years and are easily bred.

The red color of the Cherry Shrimp was bred from wild Neocaridina Heteropoda, a native of Southern Asia. The red coloring does not occur in the wild.

Appearance

Cherry Shrimp are red (obviously). The intensity ranges from almost clear to blood red. Adult females are generally the most red individuals. Selective breeding can be done to intensify the red.

Amano Shrimp

So, I like to post things about what I have in my fish tank because it is constantly changing and this is a nice way to keep track of what I have had over the years... get me?

INFO I FOUND ON THE AMANO SHRIMP!

(This link above is where I found all of the information and photos below!!)

Common Name	Amano Shrimp
Scientific Name	Caridina Multidentata
Adult Size	4.0-5.0 CM or 1.5-2.0 inches
Water Temp	15°-30° C or 60°-85° F
pH Range	6.5-8.0
Water Hardness	Soft-Hard
Fresh or Sal t Water	Freshwater
Larval Stage	Larval stage that requires brackish to full seawater.
Difficulty	Easy
Egg/Saddle Color	Light yellowish
Behavior	Non-aggressive? See below

General Information

Amano Shrimp are the dwarf shrimp that started it all. They were made famous by Takashi Amano when he started using them in his planted tanks for algae control. Amano shrimp are the best algae eating dwarf shrimp available. Amanos also get larger then other dwarf shrimp making them an excellent choice for tanks with fish that may eat smaller shrimp species.

Amano Shrimp are voracious eaters and will attack any food you add to the tank. I have even seen them swim up to the top of the tank, flip upside down, and grab flakes off the surface of the water. They also enjoy grabbing up food and running away with it to eat it where other shrimp will not be able to steal it from them.

Amano Shrimp are stronger then most other dwarf shrimp and are capable of moving around when they are out of the water (not very well though). They will sometimes wonder out of the tank and across your floor so be aware of this. If possible I suggest having a top on the tank or leaving the water level a little lower to make it more difficult for them to climb out. Of the 50 or so I put into my 120p ADA tank, I have lost maybe one a month when it decided to go exploring.

Some people believe that Amanos do not make good tankmates with other dwarf shrimp. They claim Amano Shrimp may prey on the young of other dwarf shrimp. I have not noticed this behavior and I don't not know anyone who has actually seen it occur. I have both Amano Shrimp and Wild Type Neocaridina Shrimp in a tank together, and have not noticed this behavior.

Appearance

Amano Shrimp are not very colorful. They are usually a clearish tank color. They also have spots running down their sides.

Breeding

Unfortunately Amano Shrimp are not easy to breed, and only a few people have taken the time to try and breed them. The larva apparently requires full strength saltwater within a few days of hatching. The newborn larva feed on plankton and other small particulates in the water. As they grow they can be fed larger food.

I've got a blue ram cichlid...

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a species of freshwater fish endemic to the Orinoco River basin, in the savannahs of Venezuela and Colombiain South America.^[2] The species has been examined in studies on fish behaviour^[4] and is a popular aquarium fish, traded under a variety ofcommon names including Ram, Blue ram, German blue ram, Asian ram, Butterfly cichlid, Ramirez's dwarf cichlid, Dwarf butterfly cichlid and Ramirezi.^{[2][5][6][7][8]} The species is a member of the family Cichlidae and is included in subfamily Geophaginae.^[2][9]

Appearance and sexual dimorphism

The male M. ramirezi

Distribution and habitat

Wild ram cichlids are often more colorful than the tank bred counterparts, which suffer from poor breeding and also being injected with hormones for more color, although this makes as many as one in four males infertile. Male specimens of the ram usually have the first few rays of the dorsal fin extended, but breeding has made some females also show this. There is also the fact that, when close to spawning, female rams have a pink or red blush on the abdomen. Females also have a blue sheen over the spot just below the dorsal fin, and males do not show this. Males reach a maximum length of seven centimeters, and females are usually slightly smaller. (Please note that the black spot method of sexing does not apply for the golden and electric blue varieties of the species.)

The natural habitat of M. ramirezi occurs in the warm, (25.5-29.5 °C, 78-85 °F), acidic (pH 5) water courses in the llanos savannahs ofVenezuela and Colombia.^[5][7][10] The water at sites where M. ramirezi has been found is generally slow-flowing, contains few dissolved minerals, and ranges in color from clear to darkly stained with tannins.^[5] The species is typically found where cover in the form of aquatic or submersed vegetation is available.^[5]

Reproduction

The territorial aggression shown between males of M. ramirezi

Once sexually mature, the species forms monogamous pairs prior to spawning and the males do not tolerate other males.^[7] The species is known to lay its small 0.9 - 1.5 mm, adhesive eggs on flattened stones^[7][10][11] or directly into small depressions dug in the gravel.^[5] Like many cichlids,M. ramirezi practices biparental brood care with both the male and the female playing roles in egg-tending and territorial defense.^[5][7] Typical clutch size for the species is 150-300 eggs,^[5][6] though larger clutches up to 500 have been reported.^[10] Parental M. ramirezi have been observed to fan water over their eggs which hatch in 40 hours at 29 °C (84.2 °F). The larvae are not free-swimming for 5 days after which they are escorted by the male or the female in a dense school for foraging.^[

The ram cichlid is a popular cichlid for the tropical freshwater, community aquarium although it is not necessarily the easiest cichlid to maintain in many situations.^[5] This is because the species is often kept with other fish that are more assertive, aggressive or overly active.^[5][7] The species is innately shy and is best kept with passive dither fish, such as neon or cardinal tetras.^[7] The species will readily exhibit breeding behaviours in water of pH 5.0-6.5, though softer water encourages more regular spawning.^[5][7][10] It is easier to maintain the species in larger aquaria as the species is intolerant of common aquarium pollutants such as nitrate.^[7] The aquarium should be decorated to mimic the natural environment and is best decorated with several densely planted regions of aquatic plants, separated by open water.^[6] The species is prone to filial cannibalism of its brood if distressed.^[7] As the water must be free of pollutants, aquarium filtration is important, though water movement should not be extreme. Removing and replacing small amounts of water assists with minimizing the quantities of these pollutants and should be conducted regularly.^[10]

Numerous strains of M. ramirezi have been developed in Asia for the fishkeeping hobby. These include numerous xanthistic forms, known as gold rams, along with larger, high-bodied and long-finned varieties.^[5][7][14] Many of these varieties suffer from lower fertility, health problems or reduced brood care in comparison to wild-type specimens.^[5][6]

I've got bleeding heart tetras...

General

This fish is somewhat susceptible to velvet disease and Ich. This fish is sensitive to water conditions. Does not usually live more than five years. Requires frequent partial water changes.

Compatibility/Tankmates

Bleeding Hearts are generally a peaceful fish but fin nipping may become a problem, Males can be territorial. Keep them in a small school (6 or more) and try not to keep them with fish with larger fins such as angelfish and bettas. They do well in a variety of community tanks, and like most tetras they do best in groups and with bushy plants. Make a great tank mate for corydoras and other bottom dwelling species. They are peaceful when they are surrounded by their own kind with a few exceptions, just like tiger barbs. They are also mischievous, nipping at others' tails and entering their territory looking for food.

Sexing

Female is more full bodied and the male has a larger dorsal fin.

Breeding/Spawning

Hard but not impossible, They have been bred in captivity and are egg layers.

Coloration/Fins

They have a splendid body shape and, after a month or two in captivity, their colors get very beautiful, especially when fed (two or three days a week) with frozen brine shrimp. The dorsal fin of the males can become long and flowing. Both sexes have the eye-catching, blood-red spot at the heart area. Both also have the black/white patch on the dorsal fin

I've got serpae tetras...

Serpae tetras are one species of the genus Hyphessobrycon, now known as Hyphessobrycon eques. These South American tropicalcharacids are popular aquarium fishes, often identified as "Red Minor tetras". They are found in nature in the Madeira and Guaporé regions of the Amazon river, and in upper Paraguay.

In the Aquarium

A long-finned variety of H. eques

Serpae tetras prefer water temperatures ranging from 72-79°F (22-26°C). They will generally do better and show off their best colors in soft, neutral to slightly acidic water. As with any other schooling fish, they thrive in large groups and should be kept in schools of at least 6-10 fish. The tank should be well-planted, which provides shelter and hiding spots.

They have a reputation of being fin-nippers although this is disputed. If any aggression is seen in the fish, it is usually amongst themselves rather than aimed at tankmates outside of their species, especially if they are kept in large groups where they can establish a pecking order (a behavior similar to Puntius tetrazona). Their typical temperament and striking appearance (red with a black diamond on the flank) makes them an excellent addition to the community aquarium.

Breeding

Breeding, as with most other tetras, can be difficult due to there being few obvious differences between the genders. However, males are usually more slim and smaller than females. There is also a visible difference between the shape of the swim bladder, which can be seen above and behind the silverish abdominal cavity. To breed these fish, they should be given a small, dedicated breeding tank planted with thick bunches of fine-leaved plants such as Myriophyllum on which they can lay eggs. Filtering through peat moss can also be helpful. The eggs hatch in about a day.

I've got tiger barbs....

The tiger barb or sumatra barb, is a species of tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Puntius genus of the minnow family. The natural geographic range reportedly extends throughout the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, with unsubstantiated sightings reported inCambodia. Tiger barbs are also found in many other parts of Asia, and with little reliable collection data over long periods of time, definite conclusions about their natural geographic range versus established introductions are difficult. Tiger barbs may sometimes be confused with Puntius anchisporus, which are similar in appearance.

Physical description

The tiger barb can grow to about 7 centimeters long (2.75 in) and 3 centimeters wide,(1.18 in) although they are often smaller when kept in captivity. Native fish are silver to brownish yellow with four vertical black stripes and red fins and snout. The green tiger barb is the same size and has the same nature as the normal barb but has a green body. The green 'tiger barb is often called the moss green tiger barb. People vary considerably in how green it looks to them. To some people it looks nearly black. Albino barbs are a light yellow with four stripes just barely visible.

Habitat

It has been reported that the tiger barb was found in clear or turbid shallow waters of moderately flowing streams. It lives in a tropical climate and prefers water with a 6.0–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 5–19 dGH, and a temperature range of 77 - 82 °F or 25 - 27.8°C. Its discovery in swamp lakes that are subject to great changes in water level suggests a wide tolerance to water quality fluctuations. Its average lifespan is 6 years.

Importance to humans

Green tiger barb

The tiger barb is one of over 70 species of barb with commercial importance in the aquarium trade. Of the total ornamental fish species imported into the United States in 1992, only 20 species account for more than 60% of the total number of specimens reported, with tiger barbs falling at tenth on the list with 2.6 million individuals imported. (Chapman et al. 1994). Barbs that have been selectively bred to emphasize bright color combinations have grown in popularity and production over the last 20 years. Example of colour morphs (these are not hybrids) of tiger barb include highly melanistic green tiger barbs that reflect green over their black because of the Tyndall effect, gold tiger barb, and albino tiger barb.

In the aquarium

A school of green tiger barbs in a 20 gallon tank.

The tiger barb is an active schooling fish that is usually kept in groups of five or more. They are often aggressive in numbers less than 5 and are known fin nippers. If you only keep two in a tank, one will eventually chase the other fish. Semi-aggressive fish form a pecking order in the pack which they may extend to other fish, giving them a reputation for nipping at the fins of other fish, especially if they are wounded or injured. They are thus not recommended for tanks with slower, more peaceful fishes such as bettas, gouramis, angelfish and others with long flowing fins. They do however work well with many fast moving fish such as danios, platys and most catfish. When in large enough groups, however, they tend to spend most of their time chasing each other and leave other species of fish alone. They dwell primarily at the water's mid-level. One of the best tankmates for the tiger barb is a clown loach, which will school with the tiger barbs and act as they do, and the tigers act as the loaches do. Tiger barb do best in soft, slightly acidic water. The tank should be well-lit with ample vegetation, about two-thirds of the tank space. These barbs are omnivorous and will consume processed foods such as flakes and crisps as well as live foods.

Breeding

P. tetrazona that is close to sexual maturity

The tiger barb usually attains sexual maturity at a body length of 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) in total length, or at approximately six to seven weeks of age. The females are larger with a rounder belly and a mainly black dorsal fin while the males have a bright, red nose with a distinct red line above the black on their dorsal fin. The egg-layers tend to spawn several hundred eggs in the early morning in clumps of plants. On average, 300 eggs can be expected from each spawn in a mature broodstock population, although the number of eggs released will increase with the maturity and size of the fish. Spawned eggs are adhesive, negatively buoyant in freshwater and average 1.18 ± 0.05 mm in diameter.

Tiger barbs have been documented to spawn as many as 500 eggs per female (Scheurmann 1990; Axelrod 1992). With proper conditioning, females can spawn at approximately two week intervals (Munro et al. 1990)

Once spawning is finished, they will usually eat any of the eggs that they find. It is usually necessary to separate the fish from the eggs after spawning in order to prevent the eggs from being eaten.