BROCHUREJBL9 What - Why - How ? Crustacea and shrimp in freshwater aquarium JBL JBL 2 3 Contents Page Preliminary note ............................................................. 3 Preconditions .................................................................. 4 Equipping the aquarium ................................................. 4 The right water ............................................................... 6 Food .............................................................................. 8 Care ............................................................................... 9 Communities ................................................................. 10 Overview of species - shrimp Dwarf shrimp ................................................................ 11 Fan shrimp ..................................................................... 12 Large-clawed shrimp ...................................................... 13 Overview of species - crustaceans Dwarf crayfish ................................................................ 14 Large American crayfish ................................................. 15 Cherax from Australia and Papua New Guinea .............. 18 Photo overview: Dwarf shrimp ................................................................ 20 PRELIMINARY NOTE Large-clawed shrimp ...................................................... 23 Fan shrimp ..................................................................... 23 Dwarf crayfish ................................................................ 24 If you are just becoming interested in fresh- crabs, has become a firmly established sec- water shrimp and crustacea or are thinking tor of aquarium-keeping. More and more American crayfish ........................................................... 26 about acquiring some, this information has people are fascinated by these creatures come at just the right time. We want to make and are interested in keeping them. Although Cherax ........................................................................... 27 you more familiar with these ten-limbed some aquarium stores only have a small se- creatures (decapods) and at the same time lection of species, importers and wholesal- Published by describe some of the basic principles of suc- ers are offering new species or forms almost JBL GmbH & Co.KG cessful care. every week, so there is absolutely no lack D-67141 Neuhofen/Pfalz of variety. www.jbl.de What began as a fashion about ten years 1st revised edition 2007 Texts: Friedrich Bitter, Heiko Blessin ago, namely keeping shrimp, crustacea and Photos: Friedrich Bitter, JBL Archives JBL predators, which, in the case of crustacea, strate is of secondary importance. If root- JBL even include their own species! Caves and growing plants are to be included, a fine, PRECONDITIONS crevices are therefore vital as they provide washed quartz gravel from a specialist 4 hiding places. aquarium retailer is recommended. In order 5 to provide the optimum living conditions, There are as many different sorts of deca- taceans spend hardly any time in the open The aquarium should also be well-structured we recommend using a long-term nutrient pods as there are differences in their temper- water, but live mainly on the bottom or on in other aspects, so that the aquarium in- ground covering material (JBL AquaBasis ament and requirements. There is one fact or under decorative objects such as rocks, habitants can avoid each other if they wish. plus), placed in the empty aquarium as the which new keepers usually don’t like to hear: roots, caves and aquatic plants. It is important particularly when keeping first layer and then covered with the washed, the best for all these creatures is freshwater shrimp that the decorative mate- fine quartz gravel. This provides the aquatic to keep them in a single-spe- rial provides hiding places, as many of these plants with all the nutrients they need for vig- cies tank. But no need creatures react aggressively if they constant- orous, healthy growth. Strong plant growth to groan! That doesn’t ly meet other inhabitants of the aquarium. in turn ensures healthy water, as vigorously mean that there aren’t Avoid high water growing plants extract harmful nutrients temperatures any other options. Aquatic plants are also important in shrimp from the water. The plants should be given aquariums or for dwarf crayfish. If you only additional fertilizer such as JBL Ferropol Higher temperatures definitely Since floating shrimp stimulate the metabolism of crus- want to keep floating plants, mosses and (plant-based fertilizer) and JBL Ferropol 24 are not important taceans, shortening the intervals epiphytes like Java fern, the ground sub- (daily fertilizer). in aquariums, the between molting. Unfortunately main priority when the possible life expectancy is choosing an aquar- also affected. Freshwater crusta- ium is to select one ceans, with very few exceptions, with the largest pos- originate from cool, oxygen-rich Soaking newly acquired sible floor ground area. waters. Being kept at room tem- aquatic plants Most shrimp and all crus- perature with cooler temperatures at night is not bad for them at It has become apparent that newly purchased all, quite the contrary. groups of plants may cause symptoms of poisoning in shrimp and crustaceans. It is not so much the plant fertilizer which causes this, but rather the insecticides used in the culture of emersed plants. Soaking the plants in water for several days before placing them in the aquarium will help. The short-term use (12-24 EQUIPPING THE AQUARIUM hours) of a very good active carbon such as JBL Carbomec activ will remove insecticides and pesticides. Crustacea and shrimp do not grow in the same way as fish, but have to molt to sud- denly change their size. Each molt is an enor- mously decisive and dangerous experience in the life of these creatures, since for a peri- od of time ranging from hours (dwarf shrimp, young crustacea) to days (adult crustacea), their otherwise protective shell is soft, leav- ing them practically helpless against hungry Remember to keep the water cool JBL In long hot summers the water temperature of JBL THE RIGHT WATER an aquarium may increase alarmingly, espe- cially in apartments under the roof. For small 6 shrimp aquariums, special ventilators directed 7 at the surface of the water use the principle of Shrimp, like other crustacea, breathe safely set using a heater- cooling through evaporation to reduce the tem- through their gills, covering their oxygen stat (JBL ProTemp). North perature of the water by 2 to 4° C compared to the ambient temperature. Larger aquarium requirements primarily out of the water. What American crayfish of the for crustacea can be connected to commercially currents and waves create in nature, namely species Cambarus and Or- available cooling units. Daily changes of water oxygen enrichment of the water, is produ- conectes need a temporary and an improved supply of oxygen make the life ced in an aquarium by a motor-driven filter drop in temperature to be- of the invertebrates more tolerable at this time. (JBL CristalProfi), an air-driven internal low 15 °C if they are to breed successfully Biotope of the Caridina japonica filter (JBL CristalProfi Air40) or aeration. The the following spring. Constant water temperatures not desired animals react to a lack of oxygen by trying to seek refuge in higher layers of water, where For the majority of species, the recom- (pH level below 7) (for example Procambarus In nature, the water temperatures change in they sit almost motionless. In such situations mended pH level of the water should pygmaeus) or alkaline water (pH level above a day/night rhythm and over the course of the more agile crustaceans will even attempt be in the slightly acid range (pH 6.5) to 7) (Cambarellus patzcuarensis) feel comfor- the year. The metabolism of the crustacea has to escape from the hostile environment by slightly alkaline (pH 7.5). Using a JBL pH table at levels around neutral (pH around 7). adapted to this. Changing temperatures prolong leaping out of the aquarium. Test Set, the pH level can be measured pre- life-span, a good reason for controlling the cisely in a few minutes - and you don’t have The situation regarding water hardness is heater (JBL ProTemp) with a time switch. The water temperature can be precisely moni- The water temperature is a further important to be a scientist! The attractive bred forms similar. It goes without saying that inverte- tored using the JBL Premium Aquarium Ther- criteria in the successful care of these crea- of the bee shrimp and bumble bee shrimp brates have to absorb hardening consti- mometer, which shows exact readings to 0.5°C! tures. Even species from apparently tropical display much brighter colours in a slightly tuents from the water in order to build up or subtropical regions prefer lower tempera- acid environment. their shell. In principle, this is possible even tures: they often originate from waters at hig- in soft water, although water with a medium her altitudes or are accustomed to seasonal In nature, many species have adapted hardness is better (carbonate hardness bet- of the water with a reverse osmosis system variations. Most species can be kept at a to suddenly changing conditions, so that ween 5 and 10 ° GCH). If you have particu- (JBL Osmose 120). In some circumstances temperature ranging between 19 and 25 °C. practically nothing unsettles them. This larly hard water, you should either keep more dwarf shrimp may cease