Sexing Cherry Shrimps

I think I'm right in saying that the yellow saddles are eggs, which move down to abdomen over a couple of weeks. You could always try leaving it that long to see if the females become properly berried. If they do become berried and have shrimplets, then you will get some males in the offspring.
However, there's no harm buying some males either. The breeder i get my shrimp from does recommend adding shrimps from different breeders from time to time, in order to freshen up the gene pool of your existing shrimp population.

Good idea Sue, I didn't think of that! Shrimps are really fascinating, aren't they?
Skittler, whatever you do, it's very exciting when you see the first shrimplets!

Hello Shrimpers,

I failed at the "new" LFS. They didn't have any suitable. However, my local MA will have 200 Fire Reds ready this w/e, so that will do.

I have now counted 17 babies. They are about 10 days old, and about 3mm long. Fascinating to watch them. The "adults" will "argue" over the food, just like the Amanos in the 125L,  but tend to ignore the little ones. They do seem to be growing rapidly. So far the stocking over the filter inlet seems to be effective. (God bless Amazon - no embarrassing purchase - "you want what?"  )

                                                                  Skittler

Thanks Sue,

On reflection, I think that you are right. The babies do seem to be growing quickly, and I suspect now, that there have been at least two separate "deliveries", as I have two different sizes. One group being noticeably bigger than the somewhat paler, smaller ones. Considering all the issues I had with bacterial bloom, hydra, etc., it does seem now that things are on the right track.
Maybe whatever I killed during those issues has created a tasty dinner for the babies!

Also, I have had female shrimps successfully moult on each of the last two nights. Both had been displaying a noticeable white band across the back, and looking somewhat "crusty". Both have been charging around the tank the next morning as if on a mission. Looking for a male perhaps?

Thanks again,

                                        Skittler

Hello Anne,

Yes, Sue has said the same about the Amano's which she had. I have 6 in my 125L, both M & F, I think, but I have never seen that happen. I have never seen an exoskeleton in there, even though they have probably doubled in size since I bought them. I would imagine that the Oto's and Cory's would make short work of such a snack!

The two Cherries in the shrimpery had very definite saddles before moulting, but they are not so obvious now ........ perhaps with the lack of males they are not too sure .......

                                                 Skittler

Hello Shrimpers,

As it's 2 months since the last post, I thought I ought to let you know what's happening. I am now down to 2 of the original 8 RCS, but the 25 or so babies are absolutely thriving. Of the remaining two "adults", one is probably a female, as she has a rounded "undercarriage". The other is much smaller, and has a flatter
"undercarriage", so is possibly a male. Neither of these two has had an obvious saddle for the last two months, and I have not seen any recent youngsters.

Just as Sue predicted, the largest baby, about 12 mm. long, now has a very clear yellow saddle, and is receiving some attention from some of the smaller ones. So I will watch her with interest. (I have yet to see a female carrying eggs in the "undercarriage", even though I have had at least two births).

Also, whilst about half the babies are "all red", the rest seem to be a mixture of red and white or clear. I have assumed that these are probably males? One of these is definitely striped at the moment, with a red head, middle, and tail. As a Stoke City fan, I find this very loyal!

Due to a minor algae outbreak on the glass, I added a Zebra Nerite snail yesterday - what a stunning animal - and he immediately went to work on the front glass! Bless him! He has already explored the limits of his new home, and is currently working his way along the top of the back glass, half in and half out of the water. There are some whitish deposits just above the waterline  there, due, I think, to evaporation. I suppose it could be that he is enjoying some calcium - or, perhaps he is already planning his escape?

Keep on shrimping,

                                         Skittler

I must be misunderstanding you Sue; This makes no sense to me! If you kill off, sorry cull, the palest specimens, or the males, whilst preventing the "pale" genes being passed to future generations, you also prevent any other genes being passed.