Starter Setup
40-60L planted tank with sponge filter. Temperature 23-26°C. pH 6.5-7.5. GH 6-10. KH 2-6.
Start with 10-15 shrimp (5-7 of each sex, visible as saddled females or larger bodies).
Breeding Triggers
Small water changes weekly (10-15%) with slightly cooler water trigger breeding. Mimics natural rainy season.
Feed protein once weekly (blanched spinach, shrimp pellets) plus vegetable-based daily food.
Fry (Shrimplets) Survival
Newborn shrimp are 2mm — easy meal for any fish. Keep shrimp-only tank or with otocinclus/corydoras only.
Provide moss (Java, Christmas) and Indian almond leaves for hiding. 90% of shrimplets survive in shrimp-only tanks.
Colony Growth Stages
Months 1-3: first generation matures. Months 4-6: second-gen breeding, population 30-50. Months 7-12: population explodes to 200-500+.
Harvest monthly — sell, trade, or cull excess to prevent overcrowding.