Shrimps in the aquarium

The delicate shrimps are not only easy to keep, but also especially beautiful to look at. Their bizarre physique and colorful appearance always make for lively activity in the aquarium. The following article deals with the topic shrimp and what to pay attention to when keeping them.

Shrimps as a new trend in the aquarium

No other trend has managed to establish itself in such a short period of time as the keeping of shrimps. These easy to keep animals have meanwhile made it into the hearts of numerous aquarists. But even for people who have never owned an aquarium before, the colorless vertebrates are perfectly suited.

Watching these small, lively animals is not only relaxing, but also a welcome help in the fight against annoying algae. Moreover, they are relatively inexpensive, require only little space and are therefore especially popular in nano aquariums. But also together with fish, these delicate animals provide a true color miracle – however, it is important to make sure that the animals really harmonize with each other.

Variety of shrimps

The popularity of shrimp has of course left its mark: Innumerable breedings meanwhile provide for the most different color combinations. From the special Red Fire Shrimp to the striped Bumblebee Shrimp to the Large Arm Shrimp, they present themselves in the most diverse colors and shapes.

In aquariums mainly freshwater shrimp are kept, which together with the fan shrimp belong to the suborder of the Caridea. The species generally do not grow larger than twelve centimeters, although most freshwater shrimp only reach a size of two to at most three centimeters and differ from other species due to their great variety of colors. Their transparent body is particularly striking. This is divided into three different areas: Head, breast and abdomen. Like all crustaceans, shrimp also have an outer skeleton consisting of chitin. In contrast to their conspecifics, dwarf shrimp have only very small claws, which they use for feeding. Particularly striking are their antennae on the head, which vary in length depending on the species.

The Caridina belongs to the species-richest genus in the freshwater shrimp range. Neocaridina are also included, but they are separated from the Caridina because of their different sexual organs. The dwarf shrimp belongs to another species within this genus, similar to the fan shrimp. The latter, however, grows larger and is, unlike Caridina and Neocaridina, not as sociable.

Socialization of shrimp

A particularly important topic is the socialization of the animals. Shrimp are extremely social, which is why they are always kept in larger groups of ten to 15 animals. Only in this way do they feel comfortable and generally reproduce relatively quickly. Also in nature, the transparent animals live together in large groups of up to 1,000 specimens or more. If they are held alone or in too small groups, they retreat and even wither in the worst case.

Whoever now thinks about a possible overpopulation, his fear is unfounded. Should the population become too large, shrimp will decimate completely by themselves. In most cases, they stop reproducing by themselves or become cannibals by incorporating weak and sickly animals.

It is basically possible to keep shrimp together with crabs or fish. However, aquarists should make sure that they are not predatory or too large fish. Otherwise shrimp will quickly end up as fish food. If you still want to socialize the transparent crustaceans with fish, you should preferably choose small and peace-loving fish.

Requirements for the aquarium

Another important point is the purchase of a suitable aquarium. In principle, shrimp can already be kept in a tank with a capacity of five to ten liters. Especially compact nano aquariums with a capacity of 10 to 20 liters are popular in this case. It should be noted, however, that the smaller the tank, the more the internal balance can quickly get out of hand. In other words, the tank can easily “tip over” if the water values are not permanently observed. This in turn leads to a rapid increase in algae, which in most cases means the death of the inhabitants.

Ideally, shrimp are kept in an aquarium with a capacity of 20 liters or more. It offers enough space for the animals and the care is comparatively easier than in a nano aquarium.

Before the purchase, the tap water should also be tested for heavy metals – especially copper is very important for the z