Look what was hiding in a new piece of rock!!!

[rachell321]

A mated pair of Pistol Shrimps!!!! Ive been hearing clicks ever since the feb meeting. So Ive been trying to figure out what rock they were coming from. I pinpointed it, took it out and busted it up. If it was a mantis, I dint want it in my DT. WELL..... both these little guys were in there! Anyone know what type of Pistol Shrimp they are? They are a very pretty blue/gray color. The female is carrying a BUNCH eggs. I know the pic says I think she has eggs, but when I saw her swim, they were there, greenish in color. . Anyone successfully bred Peppermint shrimps before? I could find very little documentation on breeding Pistols, but some have said it may be similar to Peps.

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For size reference, this is a 4inchx 4 inch container.

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The male

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I will try for more pics later.

 

[bobz]

Too cool! Check out the MOFIB site and you can find some onfo on raising shrimp larva .. it's a challenge!

 

[rachell321]

I dont really have the additional equipment needed to set up a breeding tank for these guys. If someone that has experience in raising shrimp larvae would like to try, I wouldn't mind "donating these guys to science".

 

[smoothie]

Great pics and thanks for sharing. There are some great stuff in the breeders section here as well as mofib as mentioned

 

[ichthyoid]

The person that knows more about breeding/raising shrimp is Porter Bets. Last I heard he is working at Warehouse Aquarium (?). Acroholic knows, I think.

FWIW- Porter was breeding peps, skunks and bloods 15 or so years ago.
(in an apartment no less)

 

[merkywater]

Yea Porter works at the Chamblee store

 

[ichthyoid]

Thanks. I need to stop by and catch up. It's been a while.

 

[merkywater]

Smart guy that Porter is. He knows a thing or 2 about fish.

 

[ichthyoid]

Yep, I described him to Smoothie in a PM tonight as a walking Reef Encyclopedia.

 

[rizmaher]

I know and he is always refers to specimens by scientific names.

 

[rachell321]

How much flow do these guys need? What about lighting? I have a small 1.5 gallon tank, one of those Tetra Glo tanks with the LED light that is for aesthetic purposes only and a air driven HOB filter. Can I put them in there with some sand from my tank and a few pieces of rock? I dont want to put them back in the DT and they get lost till I figure out what I want to do with them, and my QT is in use right now, and I have no sump or fuge.

 

[johnmackay70]

I have a spare 5 or spare 10 gallon you can use if you want ( I also have a couple small heaters - 25 watts I think)

the 10 has a glass top - 5 does not

I think I have a really small powerhead land air pump aying around also

I am in East Cobb so I am close

 

[sts04c]

+1 on Porter. From talking with him the shrimp (Pep) need a Kreisel tank, like this http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&q=kryzell+tank&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.&fp=74b51816635ef892">http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&q=kryzell+tank&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.&fp=74b51816635ef892</a>
to raise the larvae, but not sure for Pistols. This makes me want to get a pair of Candy canes and see what they might do. Very cool. I have a small tank ready just for them if you want. LMK, available after 5pm. Sending # via PM in case.

 

[sts04c]

Rachel,

Is there anything else you notice about the difference between the male and female, other than the eggs?

I can see the pistol on the Male is bigger, but I was curious if there is any other ways to sex a shrimp. Interested in learning, just have never had the pleasure of seeing a for sure male and female pistol shrimp. Let us know please.

 

[rachell321]

From what I have noticed, the males pistol is bigger, and the males pistol is on the left side, and the females pistol is on the right. Now about the pistol being bigger on the male, I have read mixed opinions about this, but it is obvious his is the larger of the two. The female has a slightly bigger body. I have not been able to observe these guys a whole lot, when I discovered them, my lights were just going off. I have them floating in the tupperware container in my DT, and changing the water out every few hours. If someone has a DSLR with a macro lens that would like to come take some better, more detailed pics, you are more than welcome.
I have been up all night reading sooo much info on these guys, but there is not a lot about sexing, mating and breeding these guys. I did find a few people that were able to get some eggs hatched but were not able to get past larval stage. I have also read that the larvea need a Kreisel type setup as Scott mentioned. I have seen a few DIY tanks people have built, I might look more into it. Right now I just want to get these guys in there own tank so there happy and safe. I have read that they produce eggs after the female molts, so If I am not ready when this batch hatches, There will be more to come.

 

[ichthyoid]

Check out this link below for a DIY Kreisel tank. Pretty cool, I thought.

http://www.ventralfins.com/diy_kreisel.html">http://www.ventralfins.com/diy_kreisel.html</a>

Otherwise, they appear to be rediculously expensive.