Crystal Red Shrimp FAQ
 

Crystal Red Shrimp FAQ

1. What is the water parameter required by CRS?
CRS can adapt to and survive in wide range of pH. The optimal pH range is around 6.3 to 6.8 to show the color well. GH is best keep at around 3 to 6 dH. Nitrite(NO3) best kept within 25ppm.

2. What type of filtration should I use in a shrimp tank?
Usually low flow rate canister filtration is a better choice. Good filter medias (like Biohome, Substrate pro, ceramic rings) are also needed for bacteria colonization. These bacteria will help to break down ammonia and nitrate into less harmful substances. Undergravel filtration is recommended if u have no intention to have root plants in the tanks.

3. What should I feed my CRS?
Simplest form is sinking fish food. Fish food with high plant content is recommended. Plant content is good for CRS to show color and “meat” content is good for growth, Sera Premium Spirulina Tabs meets this requirements. Hikari Algae wafer and Crab Cuisine are the other 2 popular shrimp food. Boiled spinach is a good food for CRS too.

4. What do you recommend for a simple tank setup?
A canister filter with good filter medias, driftwood and moss, any soil type, a fan or chiller and a good light set.

5. What is the best temperature range for CRS? Is chiller a must?
CRS is best keep at 25C, a good compromise of color and electricity for the case in Singapore and other tropical countries. To achieve this temperature, a chiller or aircon is needed. CRS shows best color at 25C or lower (down to 22C, best color). At higher temperature, their color will start to run. A fan can achieve a degree or 2 lower than ambient which may not reach ideal temperature of CRS.

6. Anything to take care when I want to breed CRS?
A stable tank with no ammonia and no nitrite is the best. Other than that just hope your males are able to fertilise the eggs properly, usually will be the case if you have enough males in your tanks. Hiding places are also a must for them to create a stress free environment for gestating females. Filter inlet has to be protected with sponge so that shrimplets will not be sucked into the filter.

7. How to tell male CRS from female?

Male Crystal Red Shrimp
• shorter abdomen
• longer atennules (the shorter pair of antennae)
• straighter carapace near rostrum

Female Crystal Red Shrimp
• thicker abdomen
• shorter atennules (the shorter pair of antennae)
• rounder carapace near rostrum

8. Are driftwood and plant a must in breeding CRS?
They provide hiding place for shrimps that molts and small shrimplets. Plants do take in nitrogenous wastes.

9. What other shrimps can be kept with CRS?
All the algae eater class shrimps can be kept with CRS as they are gentle among the same species and others. However, only neocardina species (cherry) is recommended to keep with CRS as they are not known to cross breed with CRS. Having said this, not all from cardina genus can cross with CRS. For example, Yamato will not cross with CRS and bee shrimp may cross. In a shrimp community tank, the more aggressive species should be keep in lesser number.

10. What's the minimal recommended tank size for CRS?
Tanks 2ft or bigger will be better. It will be difficult to manage water parameters due to smaller volumes. There is some degree of success to use a 20l+ tank for some hobbyists.

11. My CRS is pregnant now, what should I do?
No special care is needed for pregnant CRS. There is no need to put pregnant CRS into separate tank, basically leave the female in the tank where it got pregnant. She needs some hidding place in the tank, driftwood and any boardleaves plant are good for this purpose.

12. What should I feed with my baby CRS?
No worry, they will find the food in the tank themselves. Microorganism or algae found inside the tank are the best food for them.

13. What gravel is recommended?
Soil based gravel like ADA Aquasoil Amonzia is highly recommended. It helps to keep water in acidic range and it is provides CRS “out of the box” water conditions. It provides a good contrast between the black soil and the CRS too.

14. How long do the eggs take to hatch?
At 25C, it takes about 22 days.

This FAQ is done by nbx and I, these FAQ addresses the basic questions for beauitiful CRS keep and rearing. In near term, we will come out with set of FAQ for intermediate and advance CRS keep. :)

Hope newbies in CRS here can benefit from this.:)

i already have.
good thinking silane. considering how popular ur sales are..more and more people are picking up the hobby!
i have a question tho. when you talk abt tank size.. 2ft and up better cuz of water parameters or because the shrimps just prefer a bigger ground area to roam about?? i observed my crs liking the ground gravel more than the DWs and Mosses.

i using US ground gravel from NA is it good to set up a 1.5ft X .5 X .5 tank 10gal tank for shrimps?
Need anything to start a proper Moss tank for shrimps?

Allow me to contribute a few Emergency + Intermediate FAQ.
(Correct me if i made any wrong points, Quite free now btw:)

Crystal Red Shrimp Emergency FAQ

1. What should i do if CRS death appears?

If dead CRS is found in the tank, immediately remove the dead shrimp from the tank and check on the shrimp for signs of injury. If no physical injury is determine, check the other shrimps for stress syndrome visually to identify root of problem. There is chances the shrimp had reached it's long journey and make peace from the world or, it is cause by changes in water parameters.

2. What are the sign of stress in CRS?

CRS shows sign of stress usually when they are in bad water conditions like moderate to high ammonia, very high and unstable water movement in tank/bags, extreme high/low pH/temperature. The stress can be determine by the fade in colors (e.g. red to transparent pink), highly agitated movement of CRS in tank( when u add something) and lastly, sign of lethargic ness in the shrimps (shrimp stay at same position for a day long).
Note: Female CRS will show sign of stress when being chase by a large number of males. Male CRS will be highly agitated when they are in the mating mode. Sometime sign of lethargic ness maybe due to pregnancy / when the shrimp is about to shed the skin or they have already sheded.

3. What are the immediate treatment for my CRS when death/stress occurs.

If CRS die one after another, it is highly recommended for you to check the water parameters first before transferring the shrimps to other places. Before you proceed to check your tank, remove any left over food and planted plants if the plant is planted recently.

Checking water parameters
1) Check your water temperature. Is it higher then 29 degree??
[if answer is yes, try lower it. If no, proceed to 2)]

2) Check your pH, is it in recommended range?
[if answer is higher then, try add in ketapang leave juice first to control the situation. Other chemical made ph solution is not recommended. If answer is lower then, add in some tap water to increase it back. Sg tap water is ph 7.6. Else, proceed to 3)]

3) Check for ammonia. Is it at high level?
[if answer is yes, dilute your tank water with 1/5 tap water and see if improvement is made on the shrimps or not. if answer is still no, proceed to 4)]

4) Check for Gh. Is it at high level?
[if answer is yes, make sure you check the Gh level in the recommend range guide. If higher then range level, dilute the water. (Gh increases with some chemical input. SG tap is at 1 GH. If Still no...go to 5)]

5) Check tank physically for any missing equipment or spoiled equipment like Filtering system not running, air pump not pumping oxygen, worst case is you find a dead cockroach that you just killed with insecticide.
[if answer yes, remedy the problem, if answer is still 'NO', proceed to transfer guide.]

Transfer guide.

This is worst case scenarios. Something is wrong with your water and you can't determine it. Sickness in shrimp or water problem and you will need to transfer them.

1) Use back up age water. I always have a small bucket of age water with ADA soil back up in my room for such cases (for water changes too). Cool the pail and transfer the shrimps. Make sure the pH in tank and bucket almost the same.

2) If no back up is available, no worry, prep a small bucket (as small as possible for small numbers), filled it 4/5 with tap and 1/5 directly from filter/canister. Add in minimal chloride remover and add in bact solutions. (Ask friendly LFS uncle for good brands). If you have ada soil, wash a bit and slowly add it in. Else If you have Shikaru shrimp food, drop about 5-10 piece in to lower the ph. Cool bucket, pump the bucket with air for an 1hr. Critical part here is to lower the ph and try not to use back the tank water. Shikaru shrimp food is an expensive brand but is very useful for lowering ph incase you didn't notice. 1hr to let the food/soil to slowly adjust the water ph. Wash filter thoroughly and add in to the bucket. Now transfer the shrimp over.

3) If you do not have any of the above mention right equipment, i will suggest you get the age water directly from any shrimp keeper in this forum. But you will need to prepare a big plastic bag and a bucket to aid you in carrying the staff. More friends the merrier! Can trade for genes too.

-If death stop in the bucket after a day or more, there is some problem with your tank. What to do is up to your imagination. :(

-Else, if death still occur, there is chances you are late as the shrimp have already reach critical stages. Or, something wrong with the bucket method..

Note: The bucket method is use through my experience with my early batch of CRS when i turn the entire tank because of pH crash while using ph lowing solution. It contain high metal...

I seriously encourage solution 3). Fastest and safest method.

Waa bro, if i wrong correct me ma, minus my reputation.. :(

above quote from some aynomus clicker.

My suggestion.
Use ketapang leave also can. But i see not enough time. If that is the case any better suggestion?? Throw apple can't lower ph. Ketapang leave can. And CRS eats them too.

Trade genes is a yes and must once u single breed the crs for 10+ generations. Else the future generation of you shrimp will die easily - "bad genes" or become darwf crs -"never grow up genes". This are info open to public long ago.

Shrimp Skeleton Found
 

Hi everyone,
overnight , i found empty skeletons of shrimps in the gravel. May i know if the shrimps are dead and eaten by other shrimps or do shrimps shed their shell?
sorry for the ignorance but i really need to make sure
thanks

Skeletons?? Is it the shell or head ??

The so call empty skeletons is the shell of the shrimps. This is call molting where the shrimp will drop their old shell because they are growing. So don't worry when u see those skeletons.

Ok. Thats for information. I'm relieved..

Sorry wanted to ask is there any problem when the shrimps swim at the water surface once in a while like they wanted to crawl of the tank. I have started this tank with shrimp for abt a month before that I was keep tetra. Very new to keeping shrimp.:confused:
Temp 25-26deg
PH 6.2-6.5
GH 4-5
Water change done every three days 10%

You water quality is bad, lower the water level so they will not crawl out, at the same time, try to improve the water quality.

If they try to crawl after a water change, that could mean you do not use decholrinated water.

Water level now lowered 10%. For WC always the water will be added with miniumum amount anti chlorine and aged for one day before using. Is it nitrofin anti chlorine bad for them?

I am using Nutrofin Plus, it is fine.


Also like what betta_zoid87 said in another thread, your water parameter may be at the extreme end, you may want to check that/

Sure thanks for the advice:)

Any one using Nutrafin Clear Particulate in tanks with CRS? My new tank with ADA Amaziona is always smokey on the top part.

anyone has algae/dirt bits in the outlet pipe dat makes the output once in awhile spit out the dirt??? wonder if crs likes them.. cuz dey r an eyesore for me.....

Very interesting thread.:)
May I ask how to increase gH to about 4dH if our tap water is only 1dH while maintain tank water pH unchanged @6.7?

Tank pH=6.7, dH=2 (TDS 110), kH=4
Tap water pH=7.8, dH=1, kH=2
What will happen doing 50% WC?

If adding limestones TDS of my tank water increased from 110 to 118 within an hour and I noticed kH also being pulled up.

Thank you.

Have a newbie question, if the PH is 6.2 to 6.4 and ammonia is zero, what would be the possible reason if cherry shrimp keep disappearing in the tank?

Ok, I have 2 apisto Tri in the tank with some tetra and pencils..

I think you open the stomach of the Apisto and find the skeleton inside !!!

I like your answer:D

But I have never seem the Apisto chasing after the shrimp leh..:confused:

If you do not see any carcass of shrimp in the tank and yet their number is dropping, then they must have been eaten by the fishes. The other possibility is that the fishes eat up the dead shrimps so no carcass.

Decided to remove that Apisto, is it safe to have guppies and cardinal tetra with CRS?

Chances are that ur apistos are wacking ur shrimps. They are cichlids afterall and u noe how aggresive they can be. Keeping adult crs with cardinals and guppies can be done. but if u intend to breed ur crs then ur fishes will be having expensive baby "lobsters" as meals. If u want to keep crs, best is focus solely on it. Mixing them all might pose problems in the long run.

I am a newie in CRS. Possible to provide some information how to grade CRS with picture. Saw some selling in LFS like C,B,A , S,SS, hino etc. How do you grade it ?

check this out.

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/s...egradingguide/

Thank for the link. For the newbie, can't really tell the different between A, S,SS or hino . Any description will help.

My favourite CRS grading guide website :D

http://www.tonina-forest.net/tonina/crs/crs08.htm

Thanks Kensk for the url. But I think its in chinese font.

Does any one know if there's a site in English? Thanks

Go to the same website by using Google translate, u should be able to get in done in English font.:)

http://translate.google.com/translat...rs%2Fcrs08.htm

Thanks Hoesay.

Hi' All Bro & Sis May I Ask If I Put B grade & A grade CRS
In The Same Tank Will They cross breed ?
As I Am New In Keeping CRS
Many Thanks

Yes they will as they are both the same species.... as long as it is not different species.... Grade A n B only differs in their quality (color intensity red/white). More white or solid color will mean higher grade (I m still learning to differentiate grade, so correct me if i m wrong).

I thought I would answer this as I've asked this before...

The higher the volume of water you have in a tank (50l vs 100l)

If your tank has accumulate let say Ammonia then with a higher volume of water this would be less in terms of percentage & thus easier to control or lower...

Temperature will also be less likely to change as much as there is a higher volume to water to heat / cool... This results in a more stable tank...

So the bigger the tank the better it is to control the water parameters...

Life span of CRS
 

Hello fellow crs lovers,

am curious to find out wad is the life span of a crs? say, like it grows old and die of natural age..

anybody know?

1.5 years, usually shorter

Let us put it this way.
If you manage to breed it, its life span is unlimited.:D

Can someone shed some light on what is hino, single hino, no-enry sign hino and double hino?

which is more valuable? And which is harder to breed out.

I tot with your nick, you should be an expert?:p