requirements of baby shrimps

[35ppt]

Trying to increase the survival rate of my RCS babies.
Wondering -- what is most important factors on survival of the little ones? Food particle size, food content? Specific water parameter? Hiding places, even in a shrimp only tank?

My tank is overall stable and healthy and mature.

My first guess would be that it is feeding related. I assume biofilm takes care of them for a while, but the once a week protein and twice a week veggie that I feed may need to be adjusted, perhaps?
As the bigger shrimps eat all these foods, I was assuming the little scraps they generate are then utilized by the smaller/baby shrimps.
Is the special powder baby food I have seen worth a try?
I imagine I could increase the protein feedings, but I am not sure how much they should actually be given.

The other most likely factor, I think , could be temperature. I do have a heater, but have a couple of logistical reasons for not using it. But I could try to bump the temp up a few degrees.


Tank specs:
10 gal.
Tap water.
No heater. currently ~68F
Black Diamond Substrate.
2x13W CFL (horizontal).
Light duration: 6hrs
Plants: mosses, java ferns. Riccia. Assorted other floaters. Mystery stems.
sponge filters


 

[metageologist]

Your temprature is fine. Alot of people don't use heaters at all in shrimp tanks. Do you know what your GH KH and TDS is. Also you say you use tap water us it well or municipal.

[Soothing Shrimp]

most babies feed on biofilm.  GH can contribute to survival or death as well.  Is it a shrimp only tank?

[35ppt]

Yup, shrimps only. Not counting the unwanted snails, of course. 

 

I knew you guys were gonna ask about params

Which I don't know.

Tap is municipal water from a lake. I believe TDS and hardness are on the low side.

I am generalizing by thinking if the params seem good for adults, they should be for babies, as well.
Perhaps this is not accurate?

[Soothing Shrimp]

Not accurate, but the reasoning many people use who are not "in the know." heh  High gh and adults can survive, but the babies will disappear one by one.

[metageologist]

Do you know what lake. Where do you live there may be other from the area here who will know the areas general water peramiters.

[aquariumlover10]

+1 aboves, also alot of moss helps.

[35ppt]

update, and more questions.

 

My tap is gh 2 kh 3

Shrimp tank is gh 7 kh 6

My tank is covered, so I am not sure why my params are so much higher than tap.

 

So... gh is in the range of 6-9, that Soothing has previously mentioned being a good range for his neos. Perhaps my neos want a lower gh?? (which I still don't understand)

 

I did just pick up some baby shrimp food powder, and will try that.

[JamesHe]

Water parameters.

 

GH 8 is good for noes.

 

You never know what's in your tap water, and they may change over seasons.

If you have issue with tap water, I will suggest to switch over to RO water and remineralizer (SS GH+). adjust the GH to 8. that's all you need.

Add some crashed coral under your substrate.

 

Regarding juvenile food, MK-Breed shrimp baby food is great one to try.

[Dukendabears]

Shrimp nature has 2 baby foods, a baby bio, and a baby veg/animal protein. Both are great foods for babies and i use them in my own tanks.

[35ppt]

I feel like this is a new issue for the tank, so yeah, maybe my source water is variable.

I have always used aged tap water, but I do have a carbon block filter for my drinking water. Starting to wonder if it would be a good idea to use it, or not.

 

My other thought is that maybe I need a bit of a tank-redo, since it is a year old. With only sponge filters, I always have dead moss bits on the substrate, altho I do of course try to vac them up.

 

I really do not want to go the RO route.

But I would like to know more about the crushed coral. How much do you use? Where do you get it?

And how would it mesh with my existing black diamond sand??