I need Help, Peppermint Shrimp is pregnant.

Asia · 03-16-2007, 05:49 PM

Hi, My name is Asia and I have a 35 gallon salt tank. I went to my local pet store and bought a few inverts to put in my tank and saw a pregnant Peppermint shrimp. I am unaware of how long she has been with eggs, but am scared that she will lay them and I won't be able to raise the babies.

I would like to have someone help me by telling me how to set up a tank for the mom so she can have the babies and then how to feed them.

I have been online for the past hour looking up info on raising and haven't came across much, I did purchase the book "How to raise and train your peppermint shrimp - by: April Kirkendoll", but it won't be here until mid next week.

I was thinking about taking some water from my tank and adding some new salt water to a 10 gallon I have. Adding live rock and a heater so she can stay happy. Feed her some food every day til she lays the eggs and then I am wondering,.... TAKE HER OUT OF THE TANK AFTER BIRTH OR KEEP HER IN THERE? Then what type of food to feed the little ones.

So, if anyone can help me, please reply or im (aol) me at asiakauffman.

Thanks!!!!!!

Asia · 03-16-2007, 05:51 PM

Also, I was going to put an air filter in there.

JY13131 · 03-16-2007, 07:09 PM

Unless you are willing t commit all your free time to raising them, don't try. They are good food for the fish and corals and many will be lost to the pumps.

dobejazz · 03-16-2007, 08:00 PM

Welcome to TRT Asia

Here is a thread from another member attempting to raise baby peps
http://thereeftank.com/forums/http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f186/true-peppermint-shrimp-pregnant-93158.html

oltemative · 03-16-2007, 08:06 PM

Here's a link to another thread of someone (not me) that is a couple of weeks ahead of you in this process.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...d.php?p=943927

I agree with Joanne about the time commitment, but I disagree with the
implied reason. The process isn't difficult, but I find that they are facinating to watch.

I would feed them cyclop-eeze (expensive) if you can find it or frozen "cyclops" (cheap) and after the first week try newly hatched brine shrimp. Just put the eggs (not too many) in with the shrimp. Make sure the light is over a low flow area of the tank so they don't get tossed around too much. They will not be good swimmers for the first couple of weeks.

As for water changes... eh... I think live rock is a good idea for filtration especially if you have a little macro-algae on it.

Finally, as for the "Mother", I hate to tell you, but she's a hermaphrodite. Not a self-fertilizer, but a hermaphrodite none-the-less. I have read all the links in that other thread and several other articles elsewhere on the web and it seems that if you want to kill your "Mother", moving her is the way to do it. I would just be very observant (especially from "lights-out" until midnight) ((the time consuming part?)) and scoop (Turkey baster?) the babies out into the second tank.

Good luck!!

cdemeritt · 03-16-2007, 10:51 PM

Well, since my thread has been pointed to a couple times, I won't link it again but just want to add that the Time involved really isn't a lot more than that required for general good housekeeping, but I do spend about 30 minute to a hr a day on waterchanges, feeding (3 times daily), and overall study. The most important is the 3X feeding (first thing in the AM, as soon as I get home from work, then again before bed).

There are indeed several articals on the web talking about different ways to do this. I hope you give it a shot, but just remember Planning and Preperation are the true keys to success. My first attempt failed rather quickly, because I had not planned or prepaired for it.

As far as moving the mother, I did that the first batch, but it killed her the second time. Better to leave her in her normal tank and move the babies to the other tank.

Good luck!
Chris

Asia · 03-17-2007, 07:58 PM

Thank you all for the help. I don't work, and I'm mostly at home, so I will have the time to watch and feed. I have set up a 10 gallon tank and I am patiently awaiting.

I haven't seen any babies floating around in my tank, but I assume you can see them (when they come), so I can suck them out of the tank?.

I will let you know how I do. Thanks again!

JennM · 03-17-2007, 08:03 PM

Try sending a PM to a member named Aquazoa. His name is Porter and he's quite accomplished at breeding/raising Peppermint Shrimp. He works for a LFS here in town and he's extremely knowledgable.

I don't know what all is involved because I haven't tried them, but I have had a couple of discussions with Porter about Nanochloropsis cultures and other stuff that's involved in rearing fry of one type or another (I used to breed seahorses - actually they did the breeding quite willingly on their own - rearing the fry was another matter completely). Porter is now rearing seahorse babies too.

I'm sure you'll find he's a wealth of info if you're willing to give it a try.

I get gravid Pepps all the time in the shop - usually the fry hatch and become a part of the food chain.

And WELCOME to TRT, Asia!!

Jenn

Asia · 03-18-2007, 02:15 PM

Thanks JennM for referring Aquazoa. I will PM him today.

Phishy · 03-18-2007, 02:18 PM

free fish food, I hope when I get some shrimp they lay eggs all the time

cdemeritt · 03-18-2007, 08:43 PM

Here are some pictures of my babies: 44 days old:

Click image for larger version

Name: onearm_031807_1.jpg
Views: 16
Size: 52.5 KB
ID: 52068

Name: onearm_031807_2.jpg
Views: 109
Size: 50.5 KB

Click image for larger version

Name: onearm_031807_3.jpg
Views: 8
Size: 45.8 KB
ID: 52070

oltemative · 03-24-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asia

I haven't seen any babies floating around in my tank, but I assume you can see them (when they come), so I can suck them out of the tank?.

They look alot like mosquito larvae when they hatch, but they swim with "more intention" and do not need to come up to the surface (though they do because that's usually where the most light is).

So how're the eggs?

Asia · 03-26-2007, 09:44 AM

ok, I received my How to Train and Raise your Peppermint Shrimp book Thursday. I read the whole thing in a matter of hours and learned a lot about the shrimp. I highly recommend the book if you want to learn a lot about the shrimp.

So,...................

My female shrimps eggs turned translucent Thursday the 22nd. I knew from there she would have them within 2 days. I was told she likes to have them in the night. Well, was I lucky this time!!!!!!

Friday night/Saturday morning 2:18 to be exact, I was watching a movie with my husband til 2 am, (I was actually awake for once), and I thought that since I was awake I would go downstairs to the tank and see if she had laid them.

She had, but it took me a minute to really see the little ones. I notice her without eggs before them. I got really excited when I saw them.

I don't think she ate much if she even did. But there was so many that if I get just a couple out of this I will be happy. I ended up pulling her out of the tank before she shed, ( I know she was in a tender stage since they can die transporting them back, but I was willing to take the chance.)

My female shrimp had shed by the time I woke up at 9 am. I have it in a jar and it's pretty cool. She came out last night to say hi to me when I was going to bed.

I am really fascinated by these little guys. I hope they live, but the crucial days are the first 3-7 from what I read, so I hope I do everything right and the next month 1/2 I can actually have some adult shrimp.

I have tried to take photos of them, but they look like specks of dust unless you're looking close, but maybe I'll get that macro lens I've been talking about getting so I can take some photos of their progress and share them with you.

Thanks again for all your help!

TheReefer12 · 03-26-2007, 10:25 AM

Welcome to TRT Asia. I have the same situation but I am going to let the baby shrimp just hatch in my tank and feed everything.

oltemative · 03-29-2007, 03:23 AM

Congratulations on catching them!!

I hope your mother makes it back into the other tank ok!

I wish you the best of luck with this. It is so gratifying to watch them progress through each new development (Today was day 25 at my house for brood 1, day 11 for brood 2,{Brood 3 didn't hatch}, and day1 for brood 4 (about +500 individuals). Expecting B5 by Friday night). I caught myself watching them for an hour at a time after they started to eat baby brine shrimp to try to witness them feeding. First they catch them, but can't hold on to them. Then they're able to hold on, but can't eat the whole thing, so they let go and the BBS sink to the bottom of the tank. Then they eat the whole thing, or at least they chew on it for longer than I can follow an individual shrimp. It's such drama, almost like "Wild Kingdom" in your aquarium.

OK, so now for the onslaught of questions...

How many did you get? What method of did you use to collect the babies? (was that the purpose of moving the mother? I understood you moved it after the hatch, why?) Do you have pics of your grow out setup? What's your feeding plan? Have you noticed the adult with eggs again already?

Is that book as good as everyone says?? I ordered it a 10 days ago and it still hasn't come in yet.

Keep us posted!

I need Help, Peppermint Shrimp is pregnant.

Thanks

I'm a Grandma!