Soothing Shrimp

I'll get one for ya...

Most of my concentration for the past several years has been on neocaridinas. For years I've been under the mistaken assumption that White Pearls are the same as Snowballs. But guess what? I learned otherwise. There IS a distinction, but the name is often used interchangeably not knowing any better because genetically White Pearls are so rare to find as a strain. The difference? Snowball is see through. The shell is flat clearish white. White Pearl is a selectively bred strain from Snowball x Blue Pearl. The result is a white see through shrimp that retains shine like a pearl. (I'm unclear whether that may be because of an extremely light blue tint, or the way the light reflects of a glossy shell.) Yet another good reason to keep your eyes and ears open about shrimp from other parts of the world.

I just opened a fresh bottle of purigen. This is my first experience with it. Is it supposed to be wet?

That's an awesome TT!

I had a friend who used to breed them. Do you breed yours?

As for a top, you could try clear corrugated plastic sheeting http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plaskolite-30-in-x-36-in-Corrugated-Plastic-Sheet-1TW3036A/202084502 or a clear polycarb roof panel? http://www.homedepot.com/p/Suntuf-26-in-x-6-ft-Polycarbonate-Roof-Panel-in-Clear-155030/206166246 I know some hardware stores also have small glass panes, so you may be able to get by using multiples for covering your top. Some people have had luck with plexy sheets for covering their top as well.

Good catch on the food Sarah!

Well, I kinda cheat. LOL I dip a bamboo skewer in the water, dip it in the ae, then swirl the stick in the water. I do this every feeding. What floats usually falls down rather quickly for me.

My card tanks had deaths until "seasoned." Took about a year. I have no idea why, but after that things slowly got better. But I now use ae to help build biofilm. Don't know if that makes a difference or not.

May seem like an obvious answer, but what kind of shrimp?

Where did you get yours?

How did you acclimate the test neo, or did you plop and drop?

I use the forum search quite frequently, myself.

Deta, this may be yet another example of if not bred in captivity, extinction may happen.

They're some of my favorite inverts.

Nice set up. And welcome! How long did you cycle the tanks, and how did you acclimate your shrimp? Do you remineralize your water?

"Also what happens if you mix n match rili shrimp?" Wilds. Different genetics.

While pitting occurs in snail shells due to water params, I don't think I have seen it happen in shrimp. I have seen pics of people having black spot disease though. Despite the name, not all holes turn black before the shrimp die. I hope I'm wrong for your friend's sake...

Check out this thread for a possible lead on cures. Most people say that nothing works though. http://shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/topic/5052-shrimp-diseases-and-diagnosis/

Black spot disease. (Chitinolytic Bacterial Shell Disease)

Either that or good luck that you found it on one before it spread.

Snowballs are see through. They get their name from the white eggs looking like...well...snowballs. heh You can pick up ro or distilled drinking water in jugs from the local grocery store if you don't want an ro unit. Neos *may* do okay in your tap, but cards will be tricky.

Sometimes computers or phones are funny.

Vpier, looks for a clear ball with a white dot inside.

Both look very nice in different ways. Neos tend to be very adaptable. However being adaptable doesn't mean that they always breed in ranges they're not used to. If you ask around, you may find some snowballs that have been bred in the ph you need.