Shrimp keeping
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22929
Printed Date: November 14 2025 at 6:16am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Shrimp keeping
Posted By: taylorwaldron
Subject: Shrimp keeping
Date Posted: January 04 2008 at 8:48pm
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Is there a suplement that is needed to keep shrimp alive for long periods of time? I have never been able to have a shrimp for longer than a year or so. I just got a coral banded tonight, and just wondered do they require anything just as iodine, to be added? Thanks! Taylor ------------- www.taylorwaldron.com Chuck Norris does not sleep, he waits. Hyv� Suomi! |
Replies:
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: January 04 2008 at 9:25pm
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as far as i know they just need an adequete amount of calcium so that they can grow and molt. other than that not much. we had a coral banded for years that we had to get rid of b/c he was eating our cleaner wrasses while they slept! what type of shrimp have you tried before and what type of tank were they in? ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: January 04 2008 at 9:35pm
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I don't think you have to necessarily add any special supplement when keeping shrimp. However, IMO shrimp are generally more sensitive to nitrates than some other inverts so you should always keep an eye on your nO3 level and keep up with water changes to ensure "fresh" trace elements are available in your tank water... The last CB I had a few years back would molt right after every (monthly) water change... it went from maybe 2" long body to 4" and had a "clawspan" of around 8 - 10" in under a year... You might want to think about getting some frozen food for your CB shrimp, too... I would suggest frozen krill or even scallops (WalMart has a "single portion" sized bag of scallops for only $1 and that will last a long time) to feed a small piece to the shrimp maybe once every 4 or 5 days... that will not only help the shrimp grow but it will keep him from picking on other fish or inverts out of hunger...
------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: taylorwaldron
Date Posted: January 04 2008 at 9:38pm
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I have had peppermint and a cleaner in the past. They lived like i said for about a year or so. Thanks for the tip on the scallops where do they keep them? Frozen foods? Thanks
------------- www.taylorwaldron.com Chuck Norris does not sleep, he waits. Hyv� Suomi! |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: January 04 2008 at 9:42pm
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Yeah the seafood section of WalMart (the SuperCenter ones) it is usually near the bakery and produce depts.
Right now I have a Fire Shrimp. Real Nice color but hides alot. I might get 1 or 2 more because I think they are more "active" in groups (but they are also like $35 - $40 each  )------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: taylorwaldron
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 12:19am
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So it this little bugger going to eat my fish? I read that they are peaceful to other tankmates. is this only true if they are not hungry?
------------- www.taylorwaldron.com Chuck Norris does not sleep, he waits. Hyv� Suomi! |
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 12:30pm
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I'm no expert, but I have heard that a proper amount of iodine in the water will help them molt more easily. I don't know what a proper amount is, but it is very little. Apparently if there is not enough they can have a hard time shedding that shell and can even get stuck in it and then they will die.
Also after they have molted they are vulnerable for a few days until their new shell hardens. If they don't have a place they can hide from predators they are easily eaten, especially by fish. We all know how tastly peeled shrimp are, well fish seem to feel the same way about them.
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Posted By: Gahlenfr
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 7:16pm
| Taylor, I think that if your water parms are fine, then ensure that they are getting food. I put sinking pellets for my fire shrimp and I have had him for 2 years now. My skunk cleaner just eats from my hands so I know it is eating. I have had it for 1.5 years. My problem is keeping peppermint shrimp alive. They don't last over a couple of months with me. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 06 2008 at 9:58am
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CB shrimp are more prone to eating other shrimp in the tank. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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