freshwater shrimp to clean detritus

[Michelle Silva]

Gina (Green Acres Organics) and I were talking this morning and she mentioned Friendly Aquaponics using Gammarus as a great addition to raft tanks.. I was just researching suppliers and found out our local tilapia supplier has  something commonly called grass, glass or ghost shrimp.

According to this link, sounds like it would do similar thing in clearing out dead stuff and adding to a more natural ecosystem, possible adding more nutrients?

They grow to about 1" in size and are clear..hence the name.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=1075+1468&...

Has anyone used these in their raft systems?

[TCLynx]

Just kinda wondering how many can get along in a given space since I know most shrimp are a bit territorial.

[Chi Ma]

They don't care

[AlbertF]

I have some malaysian prawns in my raft system... about 10 inches long.  i had 5, now down to 2...

[TCLynx]

I think I need to get some cherry shrimp.

Once I get some air to my raft tank I'll start stocking that with cherry shrimp I think.

[sheryl fletcher]

Where did you get them Albert?  Are they difficult to cultivate?

AlbertF said:

I have some malaysian prawns in my raft system... about 10 inches long.  i had 5, now down to 2...

[Averan]

prawns are not the same as shrimp. totally different behavior and diet.

[matt]

My local pet store sells cherry and ghost shrimp. They are both amazing cleaners in freshwater environments. I wonder if anyone hast tried Yamato shrimp in AP.

[David Waite]

Chi you made my ribs hurt.

[chuck]

funny you shoud mention, i just made a new topic in the forum regarding this. i know the shrimp you are talking about. if you go to any cannal in s florida ( probably other places too) walk out into the shallow area ( crock alert) and ram a noodle strainer under the weeds and grass at the edge and lift you will have quite a few of those shrimp. they love to hide in rooty warm calm areas. tilapia wont eat them but perch, oscars, cats and bass think they are candy. Had a bas in a tank and thats how i fed him. 

[Michelle Silva]

interesting..thanks for the info

clay hartwig said:

funny you shoud mention, i just made a new topic in the forum regarding this. i know the shrimp you are talking about. if you go to any cannal in s florida ( probably other places too) walk out into the shallow area ( crock alert) and ram a noodle strainer under the weeds and grass at the edge and lift you will have quite a few of those shrimp. they love to hide in rooty warm calm areas. tilapia wont eat them but perch, oscars, cats and bass think they are candy. Had a bas in a tank and thats how i fed him. 

[Ellen Roelofs]

The red cherry shrimp (RCS) can be stocked more densely than glass shrimp.  I have seen a bit of cannibalism in glass shrimp.  Both are easy to breed and have not disturbed my plants in aquaria.  RCS are smaller, making them really good feeders; they also sell for about 10 times as much as the glass shrimp in pet shops here (33c vs $3). The glass shrimp are a cool choice for floridians, though, as they are native. (At least, I think it's cool).