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Amano shrimp breeding project bis

Hanuman

Hanuman

Member
Joined
4 Jan 2019
Messages
2,424
Location
Thailand
So I have mocked up what could be my project to breed Amano shrimps. I am trying to do it with what I already have in hand rather than go out and buy new hardware but for the experienced breeders out there of either fish or shrimp, your input would be appreciated. So in your opinion if this is no good, please let me know. It probably wouldn't cost me much to custom make one tank separated in three sections or even buy second hand tanks here. They should be rather cheap.
So here is a picture that explains it all:

IMG_8725 copy 2.JPG

I inherited the IQ9 Dymax tank about a year or so ago from a friend who didn't like the tank anymore so it's been sitting outside doing nothing. I think this tank was designed for reef but can also be used for software. The only caveat to this tank is that I would need is to add a cover to prevent amanos from escaping since water absolutely needs to be near the top in order for it to return to the pump.

What do you guys think? @Animek87 and @palcente any advice?

Edit: I thought I would complete the OP with all the resources I have found to date regarding Amano breeding. I will try to keep the OP up to date so this can become a central resource:

UKAPS Threads
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/breeding-amano-yamato-shrimp.23504
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/amano-shrimp-breeding-second-attempt.26458
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/amano-shrimp-breeding-project.53962

Websites
https://web.archive.org/web/20090209002140/http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/breeding_yamato.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/2020011.../content.php/129-Amano-Yamato-Shrimp-Breeding
https://web.archive.org/web/2020010...tent.php/264-Amano-(yamato)-shrimp-breeding-2
https://web.archive.org/web/20220906080920/https://maitrebull.free.fr/aqua/caridinajaponica.htm - in French
https://www.fishfish.fr/articles/reproduction-de-caridina-multidentata-japonica-la-methode-logemann - in French
https://gabhar.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/breeding-amano/
http://caridina.japonica.online.fr/English/index.html
https://m.blog.naver.com/fishfarm/10231039
https://caridinajaponicabreeding.blogspot.com
https://caridinajaponicabreeding2.blogspot.com

Papers
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/125554#page/613/mode/1up
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/crustacea/49/0/49_225/_pdf

Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3g6mf9acHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGWnClqbTIE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzr0p0ShYpQ
 
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dw1305 said:
You need somewhere for your phytoplankton (green water) culture(s), unless you can use a window sill?
Click to expand...
The plan is to culture the phytoplankton say 2-3 weeks in advance within the zoe tank with LED light prior adding the zoe. In other words the idea was not to add phytoplankton regularly in the tank but to dump the zoe in the green soup. My house is too dark so I can't rely on natural light :(
 
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dw1305 said:
I'm not sure, I'd definitely want to have a spare, separate green water culture somewhere, just in case.
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Sure that's possible too. I was planning on keeping a spare bottle like in a meyer's flask or a jar with a light and oxygen since I would't want to have to buy new phytoplankon once the project is done. I also guess its probably best to throw the water from the tank once all zoes have fully metamorphosed to shrimps and start all over again to prevent any unwanted bacterial development. Just guessing here.
 
If it was me I'd do it the other way around and put zoes in the biggest tank.That way you can get away without water changes, but that's me being lazy... And you could turn the entire big tank into green water farm, that let's you get away without feeding :D
 
palcente said:
If it was me I'd do it the other way around and put zoes in the biggest tank.That way you can get away without water changes, but that's me being lazy... And you could turn the entire big tank into green water farm, that let's you get away without feeding :D
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I am lazy too. Too many thing to do already.
Are we talking about the initial plan with the available tanks or the alternative plan with the custom made tank? In any case all the shrimp would need to be put somewhere at some point so I though the bigger tank would be more suited for the adults+juveniles.
In fact I am thinking that the custom tank could actually be devided in only 2 parts instead of three. The berried female doesn't really need a tank just for her. She could well be put in a jar or a any temporary container. It's only used for a few days at best.
So something like this.
1666190298063.png

That would equate to around 50L each side. Wondering though if having such a big tank for the zoes might not make it difficult to see them.
 
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you don't need anything separate for berried female, just pop her in the grow out tank... you only want sponge filters in there anyway, so once she drops, you can get the zoes out in the dark using a syringe and your phone torch... zoes will be fine swimming in your grow out tank for a day or two, you don't need to immediately move them
 
Hi
i wouldn't move berried females until week 4 then normal 2-3l jar is enough so and much easier to fish out Zoe's
 
I have been watching the videos made by Avatar Aquatics. His videos are fantastic with many details.
I think I'll just make a custom tank in order to make this the most efficient as possible plus that stand I have was originally made for a shallow tank that I returned years ago because the manufacturer did a pretty bad job, so I figured I should used the stand to its fullest. I have slightly modified my original idea. Instead of having a tank for the female (which clearly is not necessary), I though I'd convert it into a phytoplankton tanks instead such as this. Those are capacity volumes. They don't need to be filled entirely. What do you guys think?

1666259751984.png
 
Here is something I have never seen done in all these Amano shrimps breeding experiments and that is UGF filtration. There is probably a good reason for this, but I am wondering if an under-gravel filter at low flow with a mix of small to medium sized gravel would work. The only thing that preocupies me with this system is that phytoplankton would potentially get trapped in the substrate and die thus provoking ammonia spikes considering the large amount of algae present. The idea is not to use a too big gravel size else zoe could be sucked in with water flow but also not too small so that algae would travel more less freely in the UGF.
What is your opinion on this?
 
Here goes some update. Not much but it's one step forward! I scraped the big custom tank idea with internal dividers. I realized this would not be very flexible and would constrain me. So I simply bought 2 cheap tanks.
1. a 45x29x32 ~ (41L raw) tank which will be the grow-out tank which will host juveniles (if I succeed) and the breeding adults;
2. a 30x30x30 (27L raw) cube for the zoes.
That light above the main tank will not be used but instead I have a chihiros AII451 which will do the job just fine. I will be using an UGF box (asian style UGF) for the main tank, maybe even 2, not sure yet. I will probably be using MasterSoil to fill up those boxes and add an additional layer to the bottom of the tank. There will be some cholla wood, coconut shell and some botanicals which I'll pick up from the park this weekend. Plant wise I'll make this simple so that shrimps are visible at all times and easy to catch when needed. Thinking of some moss, a small Anubias/Bucephalandra and perhaps a short plant with runners like Marsilea crenata. Don't want any tall plants where shrimps will hide and anyway this tank is meant to be shrimp centric.

For the Zoe tank, well, nothing much there. Once the main tank is cycled and set up I'll add the adult amanos and from there I'll wait and plan accordingly when the zoe tank needs to be 'activated' and started.

IMG_8751.jpg
 
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Let the games begin. The main tank for ammano shrimp adults was set up today. I debated (with myself) for a long time whether to do a full tank under-gravel filter or use UGF boxes as can be seen in the picture. The boxes won considering the flexibility they provide. Easy to change and swap substrate when needed. Back and side panels where spray painted with black rubber paint. Light is a Chihiros A2-601 running 12h a day at full power. Plenty enough for the purpose. Susbtrate is MasterSoil and it was sprinkled with Bacter AE before flooding.
I'll be adding some bucephalandra and anubias and perhaps some mosses here and there once the tank is cycled. No point in adding them now as plants will mainly be for decoration and hidding purposes. Cycle should be done within ~3 weeks considering the temperatures here. In the meantime I'll let the tank get loaded with algae.

IMG_9486.JPG
 
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Question for the shrimp breeders out here.
I am still not set on what final parameters to give to the above tank. This will be the grow out tank which will home the adults and juveniles. I have scavenged the internet for ideal parameters for Amano shrimps breeding parameters but the range seems far and wide (6>GH<10 and 0>KH<10 and 5.5>PH<7.5). GH I can settle for something ~7-8, however I am not sure about KH and if I need to add any. What you all recommend? @MichaelJ I see you are a shrimp pro so maybe you can help?
 
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Hanuman said:
Question for the shrimp breeders out here.
What you all recommend? @MichaelJ I see you are a shrimp pro so maybe you can help.
Click to expand...
Hi @Hanuman, Unfortunately I have absolutely no practical experience with Amano shrimps. They are known to be the hardiest among dwarf shrimps - they will breed under a wide range of water parameters as well. I would expect a GH around 7 to work well (Ca:Mg ratio 3-4:1) - I don't think KH plays much of a role with shrimp keeping - I keep my shrimp tank at ~1 KH. What is a unique challenge with breeding Amano shrimps is the lifecycle of the larvae having to be moved to and initially raised in salty/brackish water and all that - which you are already very well aware of. I can't wait to see how it turns out - a very interesting project indeed.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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I kept my amano at gh6 kh 0 and the females were fat happy and almost constantly berried. Of course the babies didn't survive since I don't have a specialised set up. But something to take into consideration?
 
Tank still cycling. Ammonia is at an all time high with 5mg/L+. I have also added a new box which will serve to plant some hair grass. I haven't changed the water since setup but I might do that this weekend. Interestingly I see absolutly no algae development on the glass. Zero. Not sure if the light is strong enough or what but it's surprising. Plants will be added once ammonia is down to reasonable levels.
Anyhow, plans are slightly changing. I think I will have to setup an additional grow-out tank for the juveniles. I was initially planning to have both the adults and juveniles together but considering the tank setup, I am worried about the juveniles safety. Those acrylic boxes are not sitting square against the side panels (due to the poor silicone job) and I am concerned the tiny shrimplets could get stuck in those interstices and get crushed if I inadvertently move the boxes. 😤 - I didn't see this coming.
IMG_9552.JPG
 
Ok so here goes the juvenile tank setup. I decided to go with a full tank under-gravel filter + canister combo. After reading extensively on filters I though this would be the best option in terms of increased biological filtration and stability. This also allows me to have a flat surface to monitor young shrimps easier. Not as modular as the adult tank setup but well, can't have everything. One thing I am not sure though. Would the canister's motor be enough to power the whole under gravel plates? I am using a Filtosmart 200.

IMG_9571.jpg


IMG_9573.jpg
 
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