The algae eating capabilities of amano shrimp

[msjinkzd]

Just wanted to show an example of the algae eating capabilities of amano shrimp.

Piece of wood with moss infested with bba:


2 days later after being added to a tank with 50 amano shrimp (subadult/1" my holding tank for sales):

 

[Prince]

Do they eat hair algae to? I need to de-algae-fy some(yeah I made that up) and don't want to go strand by strand extracting algae from the moss like I did before.

 

[msjinkzd]

Yes, they eat hair algae faster than bba as its finer strands.

 

[mscichlid]

How much for 10 of those blickies?

 

[Prince]

I want five for my daughters tank. She has a few RCS and and a pair of Apistogramma Agassizzi.

 

[chris_todd]

Yeah, there's a reason Takashi Amano loves them (aside from the fact that they look pretty cool, and get quite large). I wish they were as easy to breed as Red Cherries...

Rachel, do you know whether the ones you get in are wild caught, or captive bred? I'm not sure I've seen any reports of successful breeding from amateurs... apparently they need brackish conditions to hatch the eggs (a la Nerite snails)?

 

[msjinkzd]

They are farmed in Thailand.

They are $2 each for CCA members.

 

[mscichlid]

I bet Rach could do it. Could you bring 10 for me to the meeting?

 

[msjinkzd]

sure francine

 

[Tony]

Wow. That sure is an impressive before and after shot.

I would love to try some of these guys out, but fear that they'd become expensive rainbowfish food in my big planted tank.

 

[msjinkzd]

at this size that is likely. I keep adult amanos with my adult discus. Amano shrimp get about 2" at adult size and their capabilities only increase with their size. Also, they have a pretty long lifespan of 3 years or so so although they do not reproduce, they do live quite awhile in tanks. I have some that I have had for 3 years already and they are still going strong. They are also easy to supplement should they eat all your algae and are completely plant and fish safe.

 

[Tony]

That's good to know, Rach. I have a 20G planted tank with a group of 1"-1.5" demasoni and a 2" leleupi. This they'd get munched in there?

 

[msjinkzd]

i honestly have no idea

 

[msjinkzd]

and 2 more days later, no visible algae left at all.





For those who wanted me to bring some, please shoot me a pm so I don't forget