Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: A Few varieties of Beautiful Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp!

Did you know that shrimp are not just for the
tasty Japanese tempura? They are also being taken
care of and kept in aquariums like colorful
tropical fish to serve as living decorations.
Aquarists have discovered that freshwater
aquarium shrimp can match the beauty of
freshwater aquarium fish. They also come in
different color combinations and sizes. As a
hobby, they are not time consuming and give the
same joy the fish give.

Takashi Amano, a Japanese aquarist, introduced a
shrimp variety known as the Yamato Numa Ebi in
the 1980's. Also known as the "Japanese marsh
shrimp" and "Amano shrimp", they are more
colorful than other freshwater aquarium shrimp.
Their color combinations are light brown to
reddish brown. They can get as large as 2 inches
when fully grown and prefer to eat soft algae.
They are sensitive to high levels of ammonia but
can tolerate high alkalinity. Coming from a
temperate region, they only thrive in waters
temperatures ranging from 30 C and below. They
are known to eat fish food if algae is not
readily available.

Another popular variety is the Cherry shrimp
which originated from Taiwan. The most sought
after variation of this type is the Red Cherry
shrimp which was bred in Germany. They were
brought to the Unite States in the 1990's. The
Red Cherry shrimp have care requirements almost
the same with the Amano shrimp. They are the same
in size and eating habits. Known in the
scientific circles as Neocaridina denticulata
sinensis, Cherry shrimp are non-aggressive. They
are very active and spend most of the time
grazing on plant leaves and the tanks bottom for
algae.

Bee shrimps also called Bumble Bee shrimp are
also a known variety. These small freshwater
shrimp came from Hong Kong. They grow slowly and
only grow to 1 inch in adulthood. Unlike the
Amano shrimp and Cherry shrimp, they are not good
algae eaters. They consume vegetable matter and
soft mosses. In water temperatures between 22 to
25 degress they do very wellC, and a water ph of
7.5 and the water should be free of any ammonia.
Bumble Bee shrimp can reproduce 12 times in a
year if their habitat is properly maintained.
They reach adulthood in half a year and can live
to almost one and a half years.

There are large, long-arm shrimp that are
preferred by some aquarists but they are known to
be aggressive. They have chelipeds and tend to
catch small fish. The Indian whisker shrimp are
one of these species. They also require bigger
tanks compared to their smaller counterparts.
They must be isolated from smaller shrimp and
fish because they may cause disruptions in the
habitat.

In caring for freshwater aquarium shrimp, it must
be considered that with their size, isolating
them would be a good idea. They must be kept in a
separate tank because small shrimp are at risk of
being eaten by freshwater fish. Avoiding ammonia
is also a main consideration and it can be done
by selecting a 10-gallon tank. A smaller tank can
not give the water quality the shrimp need. They
are more sensitive than freshwater fish to water
conditions. They can be easily killed by
accumulated amounts of ammonia.

For biological filtration, an air-driven sponge
filter is one of the better options. Cherry
shrimp and a few others like the fine grains of
silica sand and the like, as the substrate for
the bottomm of their fish tank home. Java moss
could be a great addition to the tank. It has
been observed that shrimp are more active and
productive having Java moss because it does not
drastically compete with them in nutrients.
Pellets and flakes are good for feeding shrimp
but the shrimp will do better with other foods
more to their liking. It is a better to give them
the amount they can consume in a few minutes.
Putting excess food in the tank can affect water
quality and may endanger the shrimp.

Water quality must be monitored constantly
because the slightest changes in its condition
have an immediate adverse effect on the shrimp.
The water temperature must be maintained at
25ºC and a maximum of 30ºC. Ammonia and
Chlorine must be neutralized immediately using an
ammonia neutralizer and dechlorinator
respectively. Toxins must be eliminated from the
aquarium on the weekly basis to protect the live
shrimp in the tank and should be done on a weekly
schedule and in stages of around 30 percent of
the water per water change.

The health of the shrimp can be judged with their
behavior in the water. They are healthy if they
constantly move and look for food. They never
hold still unless they drop their shell in the
course of growing. As their new shell hardens in
about two days, they stay hidden because at this
condition they are vulnerable to predators
especially in a community tank. Maintaining the
parameters of their habitat will ensure their
health and longer life span. New and improved
ways of caring for them are being discovered as
more people appreciate them as part of this hobby.

The market for freshwater aquarium shrimp is
slowly gaining ground. The west of the Americas
are now seeing the bauty in these pets and
getting them for their home aquariums and well as
some office fish tanks. The Japanese and other
people in the Orient have been doing it for many
years now. Keeping shrimp is an old practice
rediscovered as a hobby. It took a second look at
the shrimp not just as an edible creature, but a
living decoration that helped us realize its
beauty and vitality.

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Who else wants the hot freshwater aquarium
secrets that will make your aquarium thrive and
learn more about the different pets that your
neighbors have in their aquarium. Go to:
http://www.freshwateraquariumcenteronline.com/fres
hwater-aquarium-pets/ ,And remember while you are
there to sign up for the FREE email mini-course!

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