Ryanjuds Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 I'm trying to decide on what type of shrimp to get for my tank, I like cards but I have heard that they are more difficult to breed? What makes them more difficult and do you have any tips that can help me out with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 They have a smaller range of acceptable parameters, so generally people like to get some experience taking care of a few dozen neos- which are more hardy- before they drop a couple hundred on cards just to have them all die a couple weeks in. Experience tends to be the best measure of preparedness in situations like these, no need jumping the gun. It's also easier to take care of cards if you spend a few extra bucks on equipment, accessories, and chemicals- like an RO/DI unit, TDS and pH meters, active substrate, foods, and remineralizers. If you were to jump straight to cards, I would recommend Mischlinge (TB x CRS/CBS), which tend to be exceptionally hardy for cards. I have mayphly's mischlinge in 6.8 pH, 1 KH, 5 GH, TDS around 160-180. Edit: note, for an idea of how wide the range of parameters are, I believe he breeds his mischlinge in pH 5.3-5.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Yepper. If not familiar with what to look for in params in shrimp, cards can die pretty quick leaving nothing but a hole in your pocket book. Hell, I know what to look for and I've still lost cards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaj Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Aside from water parameters, they also breed and grow much slower, and deaths in the colony require more recovery time, compared to neos, which can bounce back nicely from disasters, at least in my experience. I've only just started getting my first caridina babies this month, since my shrimp just hit maturity recently , but I can tell that I even though I have 8 berried caridinas, I won't be running out of tank space soon. On the other hand, my neos are starting to clog up the 5 gallon tanks I keep them in. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Temperature is often advised on the cooler side for cards as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanjuds Posted August 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 I would prefer neos but it seems I've made the mistake of getting an active substrate for them and from what I've read they won't do well with that. I have a ph and a tds meter coming in tomorrow morning though so I guess we'll see how that is and go from there. Soothing Shrimp and oem 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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