Aquarium shrimp is an omnivorous crustacean with great endurance. This species of inhabitants of the underwater world is so beautiful and graceful that more and more people are engaged in its reproduction every year. The unique shape and color of the shrimp in all colors of the rainbow makes it a favorite of the home aquarium.

How they work

The body of these crustaceans consists of several segments, each of which has its own limbs, designed for different kinds of activities. The first three parts are covered with a shell (it is a kind of protection) and spliced ​​with the head. Their limbs are whiskers, jaws and legs.

The mouth apparatus of the shrimp is very complex and has a fixed size. It consists of 3 pairs of jaws, grinding food, and legs (the first three pairs of chest limbs), holding it at the mouth. For grasping prey and crawling, the shrimp use the remaining 5 pairs of chest limbs. For swimming and bearing eggs (in females), they have the so-called pleopods (abdominal legs). In males, their first pair was reborn into a copulatory organ.

Area

In the wild, shrimp can be found in almost all salt and freshwater bodies of the world. Moreover, each species of these arthropods has its own place of "birth". For example, the red-nosed shrimp lives in the rivers of Venezuela, where there are a large number of deciduous trees. In the waters of the Pacific coast of Panama, you can find the American fan-shaped species of these crustaceans. And the Amano aquarium shrimp in nature prefers mountain shrimps flowing into the Pacific Ocean.

Care for these inhabitants of the domestic underwater world is almost the same as for the rest of the invertebrates. One of the most important rules for keeping them in an aquarium is to install an aerator in it, since they need oxygen for normal life.

Optimum water degrees are from +15 to +30. At the same time, it was noticed that when the temperature drops to 18 ° C, the aquarium shrimp becomes inactive. But it is worth making the water warmer, 26-30 degrees, as it regains its activity. By the way, with sharp temperature fluctuations, these animals can die.

Aquarium shrimp, the maintenance of which does not require much effort, is unpretentious either in filtering water or in the presence of light. Although both will be necessary for better growth of the plants that these crustaceans feed on. But it is worth considering that they are very sensitive to the chemical composition of water, and even with a low chlorine content in it, shrimp will die. For the same reason, it is unacceptable to use air fresheners or other similar sprays in the room where the aquarium is installed.

Nutrition

Aquarium freshwater shrimps are unpretentious in food. Eat everything. Bloodworms, cyclops, aquatic insects, dead plants (such as algae), daphnia, and more are all great shrimp food. Therefore, in the aquarium where they are kept, it is necessary to plant a variety of live plants (pistia, hornwort, they need to be fed no more than once every two days.

Aquarium shrimp: reproduction

The process of breeding these arthropods does not require any effort from a person, nature does everything by itself. During the breeding season, the female releases a special substance, thanks to which the males learn about her "readiness". The mating process itself takes place quite quickly - no more than a second. It is simple to determine that a female is fertilized - a kind of saddle is formed on her back (different species have a different color), inside of which there are eggs. After a while, it moves under the abdomen, and after 3-4 weeks fry appear. They begin to feed on the food of their parents immediately, so they do not need special care.

Attention! All of the above applies only to some species (for example, special, cherry). Many populations of these arthropods require special care during breeding.

Peculiarities

Aquarium shrimp, the content of which, at first glance, is very simple, can bring a lot of trouble. So, for example, if you forget to close the aquarium at night, then crustaceans can escape from their home. And on land they are not residents - they die in a matter of minutes.

During transportation, it is necessary to take care of the safety of the shrimp, as they can injure themselves on the walls of the vessel. To prevent this from happening, it is enough to put any plant in it, which, if something happens, they could grab onto.

If the water temperature rises above 30 degrees, the shrimp can be adversely affected. Therefore, in the summer season, this parameter must be monitored more carefully, increasing the aeration of the water.

Shrimp types

Before buying these arthropods for your aquarium, you should understand their types, otherwise problems may arise. For example, an aquarium shrimp, becoming an adult, may turn out to be too large or, even worse, a predator.

A beautiful and non-aggressive shrimp with red stripes on a white background. Very whimsical in content (water pH from 6.2 to 6.8, temperature - up to 26 ° C, etc.), does not like overfeeding. Due to closely related crossbreeding, her body is slightly weaker than other species.

Harlequin. These shrimps are very small (up to 1.2 cm), have a red-white color and are very shy. They are also a little whimsical to the quality of water - pH from 7.0, temperature - from 25 ° C. Breeding without larval stage in fresh water. The time for bearing offspring is up to a month, after which 10-15 tiny shrimps are born.

Amano. Light green arthropods with a light stripe on the back and brown spots on the sides. They are "aquarium cleaners" that kill harmful algae and other plants. Quite peaceful with many types of fish. There are many problems with home breeding. For example, to obtain offspring, the female is placed in a separate container (30 liters), where the water temperature is kept around 23 ° C, aeration is arranged, there is a lamp and a sponge filter. It should be borne in mind that the main condition for the larvae is brackish water and a separate container, into which they must be moved 2-3 days after birth.

Red-nosed. This is also a kind of "cleaner" of the reservoir. Such aquarium shrimps, the species of which can be distinguished by their way of movement (they do not run, but swim), can live in both fresh and salted water. Their maximum size is 4 cm. They do not like keeping in a reservoir where there are aggressive and predatory fish species. They have a pretty pretty color and a nose with a red speck.

Red cherry. This type of shrimp is one of the most popular. This is largely due to their brightly glowing red color and ease of reproduction. Aquariums are unpretentious in maintenance and feel great even when the aquarium contains a huge number of their counterparts. Males are about 2 cm long, which is much smaller than females (an adult reaches 45 mm).

Shrimp compatibility

Before purchasing these wonderful aquarium dwellers, keep in mind that many of the species can mate. The result is an undefined type and color of shrimp, which is generally not very good. Therefore, it is worth taking care of this in advance and buying only those species that cannot have a common offspring. For a better understanding, we present to you the table "Aquarium shrimp: compatibility".

Where "+" - pairing is possible, "-" pairing is impossible, "+ -" - not studied.

Aquarium shrimp: compatibility with fish

These arthropod creatures lead a very secretive life. Which is not surprising. After all, aquarium shrimps, the species of which are diverse, are very attractive as food for a large number of inhabitants of the home underwater world. In the wild, they are a common food source. In their natural environment, these arthropods have a nondescript color, thanks to which they are saved from death. When purchasing a red or bright yellow shrimp for your aquarium, you should prepare for the fact that over time it will lose its color. The reason for this will be her nocturnal lifestyle, which she will switch to after a while.

In order to save shrimp from death, it is worth assigning them to those aquariums where non-aggressive fish with a mouth cavity are smaller than these arthropods. After all, if they fit "in size", then with almost a 100% guarantee they will be absorbed. The most dangerous types of fish with which shrimp cannot be kept together:

• cockerels;
• swordsmen;
• scalars;
• fighters;
• bottom fish;
• platies;
• gurus;
• viviparous tooth-toothed;
• molinesia;
• cichlids;
• loaches.

Diseases

The second major nuisance is fungal infection. She, too, can cause the death of crustaceans, as it is able to suck out all the nutrients from their body and poison it with its toxic substances.

Shrimp are also affected by viral infections, which, unlike bacterial ones, are not very treatable.