The original and bright decoration of the aquarium will be the shrimp of Cherry, which got its name for the bright red color of the shell. For this they are among the people still called "Cherry". They perfectly get along with many marine residents and are undemanding in maintenance and care.
Shrimp Cherry - content in the aquarium
Every year more and more fans of aquariums populate them with beautiful shrimps that are not problematic in content. The unpretentious inhabitants of the cherry shrimp aquarium, whose size does not exceed 4 cm, are allowed to contain in large quantities, up to two dozen. If there are few individuals in the tank, they will constantly hide from fear. To keep shrimp cherries, note that 10 animals need a vessel with a minimum volume of 5 liters.
If the aquarium is started for the first time, it is not recommended to immediately populate the shrimp in it, since they are almost 100% likely to survive. For suitable conditions, be sure to place in the aquarium many living plants with small leaves, for example, Javanese moss , ferns, algae kladofory and plants floating on the surface of the water. If you use a sufficient number of mosses, you can not put a filter in the aquarium, but the compressor must be turned on at night. In addition, experts advise creating a good shelter for arthropods.
Another important point, which should be stopped - the loss of shrimp Cherry its bright color. This can happen for several reasons:
- Cherry was withdrawn artificially, so in the absence of breeding, they tend to return to a colorless form. To avoid this, it is necessary to catch young individuals and cull pale arthropods.
- It is recommended to periodically add new residents to the existing population. It is better to go shopping with another supplier.
- Brighter colors will be found in shrimps, eating food in which there are carotenoids or spirulina, for example, it can be a specialized food for crustaceans.
- The color of Cherry will become brighter if you use a dark background and a black substrate in the aquarium.
Temperature of shrimp content Cherry
Cherry is not afraid of water with different characteristics, so the range of acceptable temperatures is wide and is 15-29 ° C. In addition, it is important to take into account other conditions of shrimp content:
- Pay attention to the pH parameters, so the values in 6.5-8, and kN 3-10 are acceptable. Note that the water should not be too soft, since young specimens may not form a strong shell.
- Shrimp Cherries react poorly to a sharp change in the conditions of the aquatic environment, so every day should be replaced with up to 20% of water. It is important to control the level of carbon dioxide, which reduces acidity.
- Arthropods do not tolerate a medium with a high content of nitrites and ammonia, which will cause the death of animals.
Shrimp Cherry - compatibility with fish
It should be borne in mind that arthropods both in nature and in aquariums are easy prey, since they have no protected mechanisms. Shrimp Cherries can suffer even from small fish. Many do not dare to contain Cherry alone, wanting to create a more beautiful aquarium, so you need to correctly pick up their neighbors. A good compatibility of shrimp Cherries with peace-loving fish: neon unusual, guppies , ototsiklyusami, mollynesias and so on. It is strictly forbidden to settle Cherry with scalars and cichlids.
What to feed the cherries?
A significant advantage in Cherry's content is the fact that they eat almost all food suitable for arthropods and fish. Finding out that they are eating Cherry shrimp, it is worth pointing out the most popular meal for them: blanched spinach and zucchini, algae, special granules, fish flakes, bloodworm and others. Experts argue that if the arthropods feed on the flock, then they are all well with their health, and if they hide, they do not like the food they choose.
How often to feed the cherries?
It is recommended to feed once a day, and keep in mind that the amount of feed should be calculated so that it is eaten up for a maximum of 2-3 hours. If there is too much food, this can lead to the death of arthropods, and even worsen the quality of water in the aquarium. Please note that Cherry likes to collect waste, so you can argue that they eat constantly. Once or even two days a week, it is recommended that you do not use the cherry shrimp food at all.
How many shrimp do Cherries live in?
On average, the life expectancy of this species of arthropods is 12-18 months, so do not buy adults special because it is impossible to determine their exact age. If the care for Cherry shrimp is not carried out correctly, the life expectancy will be significantly reduced. Reduce the deadline can and poor water quality and use of large amounts of feed.
Reproduction of shrimp in a fish tank
Outwardly, it is possible to distinguish females from males, so the former are brighter and larger. In addition, we note that males have a narrower tail, and females are wider, since it is suitable for wearing eggs. Before the shrimp's reproduction, it is recommended that they be transplanted into a separate vessel. After molting, the female starts releasing pheromones, which is a signal for the male to act. Mating occurs very quickly and often Cherry owners do not even notice this process.
Pregnancy of cherry shrimp
Caviar in females is under the tail and attached to the legs. Over time they carry up to 25 eggs and at first they are pale green, and after a while they darken. To get the required oxygen to the eggs, Cherry has to move constantly, moving her legs and tail. Pregnant shrimp Cherry tries to hide in darkened and quiet places, because it is afraid of everything, so you do not have to make sudden movements, being near the aquarium.
If the female is pregnant for the first time, then she can lose eggs, and they will die. To avoid this, it is necessary to place the aquarium in a quiet place and monitor the cleanliness of the water. The duration of gestation is up to 21 days. Let's notice, that in some days the female is already able to produce a new offspring. As a result, one individual can spawn up to 10 times a year.
Shrimp fry of cherries
Newborn fry in length reach 1 mm and externally they are completely similar to adult arthropods. After birth, they live in plants, where they are very difficult to notice. They feed on plankton and biological film. The cultivation of shrimps of Cherries should take into account the fact that fry can not only eat other fish, but also suck the filters, so they must necessarily put a fine-sponge sponge.
Aquarium shrimp Cherry - disease
The most common problem in arthropods is the attack of pests that settle on the shell, in the gills, heart and muscles. In most cases, the death of Cherry is almost inevitable. Another reason why the Cherry shrimp die is fungal infections, which, unfortunately, do not lend themselves to treatment. Infection occurs as a result of the settling of new individuals, which experts recommend to first keep in quarantine. Note that if there are a lot of inhabitants in the aquarium, then Cherry will get sick more often than usual.
Lead to premature death can be poisoned by copper. This happens if an unsuitable fertilizer for plants is used or the dosage is disturbed. Copper can increase if you pour water from the aqueduct into the aquarium. Without any reason, Cherry can die after moulting, experts believe that the fault is due to the lack of calcium or iodine in the diet.