If the breeding of domestic fish has become widespread, then shrimp for some reason is still a curiosity for many. But they have many advantages that will make your life much more interesting. Firstly, it is not only an exciting hobby, but also a good exotic decoration of the interior. Installed in the right place, an aquarium with crustaceans, will be appropriate both in the classical interior and in the modern studio apartment. It can easily be decorated with different accessories and filled with beautiful plants. Shrimp do not require too much attention, unlike cats or dogs. They do not cause allergies from the coat and do not require walking. In addition, the arrangement of unpretentious but interesting shrimp is an excellent reason to teach children to take care of pets.
Care of shrimp in the aquarium
If you do not take into account a few particularly exotic species, the other shrimp are one of the most unpretentious aquarium creatures. Beginners can buy a small tank of liters for 10 with a simple compressor and a filter equipped with a sponge. The latter device is necessary as a precaution, small creations can easily be sucked inside the unit. Now, without problems, you can buy a fully equipped aquarium with all the necessary devices - a lamp, a thermoregulator, a filter and other things with a volume of 10 or more liters.
The acidity of the water in such an aquarium should be within the pH range 6.5-8.0. A more acidic environment adversely affects the chitinous cover of your crustacean wards. Although it must be taken into account that very soft water with a low calcium content is also harmful to them. Nitrogen compounds shrimps are instantly sensed, so the water needs to be changed regularly (up to 7% every day or about 35% at a time per week). These creatures withstand a temperature fluctuation from 15 to 30º, but this is not desirable, adhering to the average mode of 24-27 °. The cold environment slows down metabolism, and in a very warm liquid they lack oxygen.
Shrimp food
In the wild, these crustaceans are consumed by bacteria, fungi, the remains of fish food, the simplest algae. Their omnivorous aquarists use to clean the tank. Algae Nitchatka is difficult to get out, but if you keep shrimp, then it will be much easier to cope with it. With a separate content from fish, you can buy purely shrimp feed, which is in pet stores. Microorganisms that are suitable for feeding crustaceans appear on rotting wood, leaves, twigs, which can be specially placed in water. There will be a microcosm (detritus) that will supply food for shrimp.
Shrimp in an aquarium with fish
Compatibility of a small shrimp in an aquarium with other inhabitants of this microcosm is an important issue. All creatures that are larger than shrimp in size, not even aggressive, will terrify them. It is most dangerous to place shrimps in a tank with gouras, goldfish, cocks, swords, scalyards, cichlids, bottom fish. Any large creature will want to try a neighbor's taste and quickly wipe out your wards. The optimum is the shrimp content in the aquarium next to the small Boraras brigittae, which are so tiny that they do not even eat the smallest crustaceans. Guppies and neons are also capable of chasing shrimp, so it is worthwhile to provide them with shelters among algae and moss.
If you have an aquarium with small peace-loving fish, then it's worth thinking about shrimp. You lose a lot if you do not get these beautiful water body cleaners here. Although a separate shrimp liter of 10 is also a wonderful find. Beginner aquarists can be advised cherry shrimp, which breed superbly and very unpretentious. Only then, after getting a little acquainted with these creatures, it is worthwhile to get shrimp tiger, shrimp bumblebees and other species that do not interbreed with neighbors and get along with them excellently.