Can I use zucchini to feed red cherry shrimp?
Moderator: Mustafa
Can I use zucchini to feed red cherry shrimp?
Getting a shipment of red cherry from mustafa this coming monday/tuesday and I want to know if its a good idea to feed them zucchini. I try to avoid flake food as it foul the water. Any ideas/thought on a food that doesn't foul the water?
Pretty much all food will foul up the water if you overfeed and leave it there.
Often if you have an established tank there will be plenty of algae for the shrimp to feed off. If you're really concern I would recommend grabbing some Collards. They're cheap (99 cents for a huge thing of em) from the local grocery/supermarket.
You want to steam the collard leaves. Don't boil them. You don't want to over steam either. THe goal is not to cook, but to soften. I typically will do this for abotu 30-50 seconds. Some people use the microwave to steam, btu I prefer the double pot steamer:)
Once they have been steamed put them into a plastic bag and freeze. Wait a good number of hours you want them frozen solid nearly. Then take the frozen steamed collards and smash em up. It should be fairly easy. Once smashed, put them in the microwave for a very short period (15 seconds depending on your microwave) you want them defrosted a bit. Then shove into the freezer to harden and repeat the smashing process.
To feed sink a few pieces into the tank. Shrimp will typically eat these within a few hours. I remove anything not eaten after 8 hours.
Often if you have an established tank there will be plenty of algae for the shrimp to feed off. If you're really concern I would recommend grabbing some Collards. They're cheap (99 cents for a huge thing of em) from the local grocery/supermarket.
You want to steam the collard leaves. Don't boil them. You don't want to over steam either. THe goal is not to cook, but to soften. I typically will do this for abotu 30-50 seconds. Some people use the microwave to steam, btu I prefer the double pot steamer:)
Once they have been steamed put them into a plastic bag and freeze. Wait a good number of hours you want them frozen solid nearly. Then take the frozen steamed collards and smash em up. It should be fairly easy. Once smashed, put them in the microwave for a very short period (15 seconds depending on your microwave) you want them defrosted a bit. Then shove into the freezer to harden and repeat the smashing process.
To feed sink a few pieces into the tank. Shrimp will typically eat these within a few hours. I remove anything not eaten after 8 hours.
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badflash
- Master Shrimp Nut
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Welcome to the group! Glad to see you here.
If flake food fouls the water you are using WAY too much. I have a bunch of shrimp and they only need a little pinch, and I mean a LITTLE pinch.
I second the motion on collards. I think the process listed here is a bit overboard though. I take a batch and microwave it for about 5 minutes, then freeze in very flat so it is easy to break off a chunk. When I use it I break off a small piece and drop it in. What the cherry shrimp don't eat the apple snails get. It never lasts more than a day.
Be sure to do weekly water changes of at least 20%. I don't care how good your filter is. Also stay away from phosphate based buffers. If it doesn't say it is phosphate free it isn't.
Get some java moss. The shrimp love to hide in it and it reduces their stress level. This make them reproduce like anything.
If flake food fouls the water you are using WAY too much. I have a bunch of shrimp and they only need a little pinch, and I mean a LITTLE pinch.
I second the motion on collards. I think the process listed here is a bit overboard though. I take a batch and microwave it for about 5 minutes, then freeze in very flat so it is easy to break off a chunk. When I use it I break off a small piece and drop it in. What the cherry shrimp don't eat the apple snails get. It never lasts more than a day.
Be sure to do weekly water changes of at least 20%. I don't care how good your filter is. Also stay away from phosphate based buffers. If it doesn't say it is phosphate free it isn't.
Get some java moss. The shrimp love to hide in it and it reduces their stress level. This make them reproduce like anything.