True Peppermint Shrimp Pregnant.

[zero186]

also i think you used a 10g tank is that right and did you make that 2 5gs and if so was that big enough

[cdemeritt]

Day 47: Good new / Bad news: First the bad news: I can't find Tiny, He was alive and kicking yesterday evening after doing a WC, but haven't seen him today. I haven't found a body either so he might be hiding in the same spot Jumbo was the other day. Haven't yet given up hope yet.
The Good news: I think Jumbo is almost done metamorphosis. Today he was a little bit bigger, and had dropped both "scoops", and while still floating in the water colume, he was sticking closer to the edge. As far as metamorphosis goes, I'm a little confused, as everything I've read make note of it being in week 5, however, at midnight on friday, we will have finished week 7, and starting week 8. I haven't been able to find much about how long it takes for metamorphosis, or much else about it other that it is supposed to happen in week 5 and most deaths occur in this time period.

As far as the questions asked, I'll try and get to them tomorrow.

[ChilisREasy]

just a thought, i wonder if you were to feed meat of some sort, maybe fresh fish or something, they would grow faster than just cyclop-eeze.? peppermints are scavengers if im not mistaken.& planktonic food may not be enough energy for the shedding & metamorphosis stage of life.

[cdemeritt]

i wonder if you were to feed meat of some sort

Hmm... How to say this... Cyclop-eeze is a meat product. Check out the analysis page in comparison to Newly hatched Artemia on their link.

CYCLOP-EEZEŽ are a selectively bred, biologically engineered microorganism which are cultured in a pristine arctic lake. The CYCLOP-EEZEŽ are a decapod (10 legged) microscopic crustacean that are instantly characterized by their intense blood-orange coloration. In fact, the CYCLOP-EEZEŽ contain the highest known concentration of the fundamental and critical biological pigment Astaxanthene, accounting for their striking coloration. Complimenting this incredible pigmentation are previously unknown levels of the Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (HUFA's) especially those of the famed "omega-3" family. These highest levels of omega-3 HUFA's are essential for larval aquaculture applications and typically exceed forty times (40 X) those obtained from hatching the highest quality Artemia eggs.

http://www.cyclop-eeze.com/product_info.php

What I will say, is that good nutrition is most likely the key to things. I have read some reports that they have had better results once they switched to live copepods. I do intend to aquire a batch of various pods, to raise in a seperate tank for food, as I'd like to feed a more varied diet.

do you have a tank just for these shrimp besides the breeding tank or they just in your main and does it matter

Well at first I had them in my main system, and I tried moving the female to the hatch tank, and the first time it was fine, the second time I tried, it killed her. You can keep them in the main system, but it becomes difficult to get the larve out of the display. I plan soon to set up a seperate "brood" tank, which will have some specialized pieces of larval collection systems so as not to need to move the adults.
The larger water volume is better for the grow out tanks. I used a 10g this time, and yes I split a 10g to make 2 5g, but plan to hook it up to a overflow system and to have 20 or 30g sump and skimmer system to keep water quality up.

I think that the same arguements zoos use to justify their existance could be used by saltwater keepers.....I doubt the big aquariums have the resources that we do collectively.

While agree, especially about the collective resourses we as a whole can make just about anything possible. I also know however, that the counter arguement will be "But they are the Professionals" which has been used in the past by those who are against. So we must prove them wrong before they get a foothold.

[zero186]

so you keep a tank just for the shrimp and you collect the larve so is that your next plan of attack for breeding these guys

also how would you go about making an larval collection system

[ChilisREasy]

yea i know cyclop-eeze is a meaty product. but i was thinking that fish or brine shrimp, might have different vitamins & nutrients that is required for shedding or metamorphosis, that cyclo's dont have.i may be wrong though.

[cdemeritt]

Day 50: Well I am going say I believe I've done it. Check out these pics of Jumbo taken today:



I believe Jumbo has finished the Larval stage and is now a Juvenial. Lets take a moment to recap:
Day 0: Hatchout: 25-30 young. hard to say as they were so small.
Day 3: Larvae enter second stage of development
Day 9: Larval count down to about 6-10
Day 10: Count down to 6, Some larvae starting to enter stage 3
Day 13: Count down to 5
Day 15: count down to 4
Day 22: First confirmed feeding on brine shrimp larvea.
Day 23: the start of the botched attempt to deal with a second clutch. ended in death to the adult shrimp.
Day 28: Loss of one larvae, 3 remain
Day 31: First reports of some color in the shrimp.
Day 46: Loss of Onearm.
Day 47: Loss of Tiny.
Day 48: Jumbo Apears to have completed metamorphosis. Didn't take photos, for fear of stressing him.

Note that the bulk of the losses were in the first two weeks, and that the last two were in week 6. Metamorphosis seems to have occured towards the end of week 7.

so you keep a tank just for the shrimp and you collect the larve so is that your next plan of attack for breeding these guys

Yep, Keep a Eye for the new thread: "Breeding Peppermint shrimp: Phase two" Going to start a new thread for the next batch and it will include the changes I have in mind for equipment, etc. Will start it tomorrow most likely.

[zero186]

well be keeping a really close eye on the phase two i am hoping to get another one or two peppermint myself tomarrow but i think i am too late since my one i have now molted 2 days ago so i will just get them and see how they get along and hope they get it on next molt.

[ChilisREasy]

Great ! amazing how hes not much bigger than the cyclop-eeze.lol &

on a side note. my peppermint shedded today ! nice to see hes growing !

ill get some pics of him if you wanna see him.

[cdemeritt]

ill get some pics of him if you wanna see him.

Sure... However, after molting, it actually is more approperate to call it "her". but that is only until the new shell hardens. Man, these things confuse me sometimes.

[zero186]

is there like a certain time they molt like every month or something

[cdemeritt]

They molt 2-8 weeks. the more often they are fed the faster they molt.

[zero186]

ahh well its about every 3-4 weeks for mine and she (since she just molted) eats flake food like crazy

[oltemative]

It's great to see that you've gotten one to make it past 50 days!!

Judging by the size relative to the cyclops is it around .5 inches from tail to head (not including antennae)?

I also notice that the eyes are still out on fairly long stalks compaired to my adults that have eyes very close to the carapace. Does your book that lists the stages of development mention when this changes?

How many indivdual cyclops will he eat at a sitting? Is it possible to observe? Also concerning feeding, you said that day 22 was the first confirmed brine shrimp dinner... was the flow calm enough that the PS could attack the BS or did the BS just bump into the PS's arms and the PS just latched on? (Strange question I know.)

Finally, EXCELLENT JOB IN KEEPING US INFORMED! 1662 views on the thread so far!! Must be a few people interested in the topic, eh?

[zero186]

well it seems i talked to fast i came home today to find my shrimp with eggs well lets hope i can get my 5g up and running before i have hatch