How many shrimp do you recommend for breeding?

[blubird101]

Hello! So I have two ecosphere survivors that have been in a 3 gallon tank for several months now, and I'm looking to get some new friends for them. With the tank being 3 gallons, I know I can have quite a few in there and would love to have them breed over time! Supershrimp are quite expensive with shipping and everything, so I can't afford much more than 20 shrimp, though my wallet would prefer a little less.

Is there a minimum number of shrimp I should shoot for to make sure I can have my population reproduce? I assume no one is able to pick out and guarantee gender when I order, so is it just a matter of having enough that the chances of having both males and females are good? Would 10-15 suffice? I'm assuming the two shrimp I have right now are both the same gender since I've never had berried shrimp in the 4 years or so I've had them. (but I assume the ecosphere might have inhibited that as well) Thanks in advance!

[Varanus]

I started with twenty and have hundreds now, so I know that twenty at least is enough.

[Dylan]

I started with 20 too - now have lost count.

[blubird101]

Awesome! How long does it take before you saw some babies?

[i<3Opae]

How long does it take before you saw some babies?

That's a very interesting question. We should have a thread for that! I'm curious too.

[Varanus]

Many keepers get babies within a few months, it seems to depend on how good the environment in the tank is.

[Dylan]

It took my tank about 3 1/2 to 4 months before I saw the 1st shrimp carrying eggs.

[sbube]

If you get 10 shrimp, the probability is only 1 in 1024 that they're all the same gender.

For 15 shrimp, it's 1 in 32,768

For 20, it's 1 in 1,048,576

So how many you should get depends on how lucky you feel!

[SailorFromRI]

If you get 10 shrimp, the probability is only 1 in 1024 that they're all the same gender.

For 15 shrimp, it's 1 in 32,768

For 20, it's 1 in 1,048,576

So how many you should get depends on how lucky you feel!

#math!! =)

[blubird101]

that's awesome! haha. Thanks for the math, that really helps. I'm thinking I'll stick with 15 for now. Thanks guys!