More blue shrimps evacuated

Yesterday and today, I have evacuated at least 30 blue shrimplets, which was in addition to the first batch I gave away. I am amazed to see so many of them still moving around inside my 1 footer tank after rearranging and trimming the plants inside. Here is the catch for today alone - approximately 20 pcs.

Over populations - blue shrimp

The population of my blue shrimps is growing at an alarming rate, depriving my sakura and snowball the much needed space to enjoy and breed and their shrimplets were not able to feed well too. Thus diminished the population of my more "expensive" shrimps.

I spend two hours netting them until 2am and eventually given away in dawn to someone who has space for them. My remaining shrimps are carefree and feeling homely now, though there are couple of blue shrimplets still being spotted.

Scene inside the forest

Temperature now at 26.8 degree in the late afternoon and I wonder what happened inside the darkest corner of my aquascape. I maneuvered my camera for a quick snap-shot, under the heavily covered driftwood, and found them "sleeping" at this hour.

Many shrimplets

My community tank has finally produced different kind of shrimplets, including the shrimp hybrid that has unattractive dark grey color? The pictures show the slightly grown up lot.

Mosura Excel

I went to clementi today to get new shrimp foods since my current stock is running low. I am going to try this popular brand and it doesn't come cheap. Here is a picture of slab algae with many ingredients inside under the new brand. It is pretty hard to break them into smaller pieces and I need to exert full strength to achieve it.

http://www.assaaqua.com/mosura-shrimps-products/crystal-red-shrimp-food/excel-fast-growth-a-breeder-food

Filter upgraded - Eden 501

My current hanging filter has not been satisfactory because the water flowed out frequently and created small "flood" if the internal sponge is not renewed on time. It can be quite frustrating when I reached home with a wet floor. This time, I invested a small external filter (Eden 501). After much research from the internet and thru aquatic forumners' recommendations, this petite machine is the best choice for my 1 foot nano cube because it doesn't take up space and operate silently too. The suction is good and the flowrate comfortable for my shrimps. No casualty after I put this new filter into immediate operations. I have customised by shortening the suction and rain bars with a saw that make them submerged perfectly inside the small tank. Finally I can sleep peacefully without worrying about flood and wet feet in the middle of the night. Happy!!

My flora has aged...

I have been taking a break in writing this blog because I have stopped buying shrimps due to more production of shrimplets as my tank aged. Here are pictures of my bamboo charcoal fully "consumed" by spikey moss within a span of 4 months and the background Java moss has outgrown many of the plants that it started to consume a third of my tank space. The nana plants are not losing out too and has conquered my driftwood with its extensive and massive roots. It may appear messy but I simply love such natural occurrance due to sudden lazy maintenance.

Sponge filter

Ever since I have numerous shrimps in my tank, quite naturally dozens of shrimplets were borned and it can get quite out of hand. Approximately a dozens were caught swimming happily inside my filter box and I have to spooned them out, individually, into the main tank. It is time to do something sensible to avoid having my shrimplets sucked through the filter into their new "playground" again.

Yellow Shrimp

When there is a dream, there is a mission that sparks the process to achieve that dream. I have done that. My final color of shrimp - yellow - has swam into my community shrimp tank. Years ago, I thought such dream will never be possible due to the complexity of care and tank setup needed to have shrimps as pet. The success of my first cherry shrimp has dispersed the myth of the difficulty & challenge faced. Thereafter, it led to my crave to try keeping other types of dwarf shrimps while monitoring their behaviour and mortality rate. When I noticed they are easy going with my pocket, I added new color or variety and waited to see how they were doing in my tank. The final verdict, all shrimps are happy with cool and clean tank and a lush "forest" to live in, regardless of your tank sizes.

Organising the Jungle

After my previous post, I have decided to spend my sunday organising my jungled tank. I tie the messy Thai Java Moss on the rock, anchor my petite nana on the ornament bridge which will allow both plants more room to expand as they grow. I have also added another pretty candy green spikey aquatic plant....hmmm. My tank should look more reasonable now - not quite near the amazon forest, but much better than the prevous setup with new flora and more hiding places for shrimps & shrimplets.

Jungled Tank

Side of the tank

Front View of the tank

Usually I do not like to shift my plants. They should be left untouched except when they need trimming which explain why they remain healthy. Yesterday, I love at first sight with very fresh Fissiden and "underwater banana" from LFS. I decided to make space in my tank for them without needing to shift my other plants. Hope my new acquisition prosper. My tank is now a jungle but it still has a lot of space for my shrimps to move freely on the ground during feeding. Hey, my snowball is pregnant again and the newly acquired blue shrimp came with berried female which is good excuse to provide more hideout for them. Or am I the one craving to live in the jungle with varied flora - a dream away from citylife every night by the aquarium

Mr Brown

In a bag of blue shrimps, I saw a single brownie in there. It is the odd one in the sea of blue.

Malayan Blue Shrimps

I was shopping for fissiden on a normal lazy afternoon which soon turned out to be a great surprise. I saw BLUE SHRIMPS!!!! To add to my joy, a bag of blue was sold for rediculously low price. Cheaper than many of my other shrimps. It was the last bag which I picked up in the afternoon. They are no ordinary minted or pale blue, it has deep ocean or indicolite color away from light, aquamarine body under bright light. One or two pieces almost resemble those very expensive blue tiger. Again pictures speak louder than words for what I've got today....enjoy!

Amano enjoying a good massage

It is no wonder people said Otto and shrimps are good companion in a shrimp community tank - one serving the other literally. See how my amano keeping very still allowing the otto to glaze along its body from left, right, center and head to tail? It lasted couple of minutes before the otto called it a day while the shrimp remained still, hoping for a 2nd round.

Green Shrimp

This is one beautful shrimp I've never thought I will own because they seem quite rare in most LFS. Surprisingly they aren't really expensive to keep too. Like any other shrimps in my community tank, these greeny are quite easy to keep and resemble the color of my Java Moss. So don't strain your eyes too much searching for them among the "jungle", I have done my very best to capture them closer - for pleasure viewing again.

An Invisible Shrimp

I thought I was seeing "things". On closer look, it was a perfect shrimp shadow perched on rock. The shell looks perfectly unspoilt from head to tail with the exception of a split neck which allows the Amano to come out anew.

Long Nose Shrimp

My quest for shrimps continue...and there are always surprises in the land of the wild. This shrimp doesn't lie to make their nose longer, and they are not as danagerous as a real dart.

Their long needle-like red nose is what I find unique in the shrimp kingdom and they have the tendency to drift vertically most of the time. Thus, this new acquisition added another talking-piece to my shrimp tank.

Overhead Filter

I am upgrading my filter from internal to external. This is to ensure double filtering and cleaness of water. The transparent casing allows me to guage the level of dirts accumulated which is not possible in most black casing internal filter. Taking away the internal filter has created more space inside my 1 footer tank too. Besides, I love the sound of waterfalling, through the overhead filter, which soothes the ears. Such small investment shows my little commitment to the shrimps community and hope that they live as long as their usual lifespan of at least 2 years.

Bumble Bee Horn Snails

I read from THE SHRIMP FARM that most snails are friends of shrimps. This pair certainly add shape and color to my already vibrant tank. Furthermore, horns are sort of auspicious object in the year of ox, and their slow and steady pace provide a sense of calm and peace in our hectic life. Thus I have not only created a shrimp tank, it is a spiritual tank for indulgence on many quiet days. Remember to have such message pin up on that "sticky pad".

Crystal Black Shrimp

I have always wanted to get this type of shrimp but lfs like to wholesale them in big bag of 10 pcs which is quite costly. Besides, I do not want so many pcs of the same type in my community tank. Today I stumbled at a shop selling them per pcs and I bought 3 to become new immigrants in my tank.

Nana Bloom

First time in my entire life, I have an aqua plant blooming on me and in my 1 footer tank!!! I believe I have picked a very confident plant. My Java moss is also growing like they need a standby barber everyday. These two plants are 9cm away from my 14w energy-saver light. The other ground plants are located 21cm away from the light and I hope they are doing fine there - it seems.