Caridina Dennerli Research Setup

[willw]

Hello everyone,
I'm a Biology student writing a dissertation titled something along the lines of "How to Breed Caridina Dennerli in Captivity - An Attempt to Conserve Wild Populations". I've been researching these critters for some time but I'm now going to document what I do based on my research.

My setup has been running for a week so far, I'm currently cycling it with 5 white cloud mountain minnows (Tanichthys albonubes) and hope to acquire a population of 10-20 cardinals in mid-september.

Here's a picture of the tank today:


Keeping the tank simple will make it easier to identify any variables that cause problems I encounter.

• Notice the surface is being well agitated by the output from my external filter; according to numerous sources these shrimp require high oxygen levels (avg. 6.93 mg/L).

• The tank floor is being kept bare based on a precaution that there might be a presence of some microorganisms which can block the shrimps gills and suffocate them to death (an observation made by billb - he had a link to a paper about it somewhere...). It also makes the tank a lot easier to keep pristine.

• A bit of rock will give the shrimp cover to retreat to if stressed but not enough so that they become impossible to observe.

Current Water Parameters (achieved with a laboratory made recipe):

pH: 7.9
GH: 2°
KH: 2°
Electrical Conductivity: 166 μS/cm
TDS: 179 ppm

All of the above are increased when I add more of the Matano salt solution. The only source of I can find that agrees about my current GH and KH values is UK Shrimp (but that webpage is relatively old and was published nearer to when this species first came into the hobby) whereas many other credible and up to date sources state Matano conditions / C. Dennerli's requirements as GH: 7, KH: 5, pH: 8-8.6, Conductivity: 224.
Fortunately, all but one of these conditions are higher than my own; the simple solution: ADD MORE SALT MIX. Although the TDS is going to increase futher away from the values of that in Matano - I've heard that C. Dennerli can tolerate and successfully breed in TDS values MUCH higher.

Oxygen Concentration: High (person who had test kit lost card but knew roughly by colour)
Temperature: 27.1°C


The solution of distilled water and salts I use to treat the water - I shake the bottle thoroughly and immediately dose to ensure insoluble suspended particles (due to saturation in such a highly concentrated solution) are as evenly spread as possible and therefore the RO water is correctly dosed:


A fraction of the MgO won't dissolve in the water:


I've realised that my intake is probably going to suck up the shrimp; anyone know a good material to act as a grill / mesh around the strainer?


Feel free to ask questions and make suggestions

[Frits]

The tank is far too clinical: bright, little shelters and too few places where they can graze.
Below is a picture of my tank (54 liters)
In recent years i have raised hundreds of Dennerli's in this Juwel Record60.

[willw]

Thank you for sharing! I've never seen a tank of that size with so many cardinal shrimp

Right then,

1. I'll decrease the brightness on one half the tank (the side with the rock / heater).

1. I'll increase the grazing area by putting a custom fitted tray (6cm deep) to go in the bright half of the tank - in here will be a bottom layer of sand covered by lava rock, into which some species of plant will be placed. Would it be worth getting a native species of plant from lake Matano I wonder?

1. I'll give the shrimps more hiding spaces by putting some ceramic tubes under the slanted piece of rock

What do you think?

[plisboa]

I'm probably the guy who has these shrimps for less time in this forum but I believe I can help you with some tips from what I've learned with other shrimps.

Regarding the intake issue, you've got two solutions.
1. Use a foam (like we use inside the filters). If need, use a scissor to shape it, making a hole in the middle. Beware it is thigh enough so that any shrimp cannot pass between the plastic tube and the sponge.
2. Use a lady sock. Maybe this is not the correct name for it but you can use one of those socks women use. They are transparent and have very small holes, granting that no shrimp is swallowed by the strength of the water flow.

Is you need, just ask me for a couple of picts.

Regarding hardscape, I also believe that you might have a problem there.
These shrimps are really shy! If you do not provide hiding places for them, I believe stress might be a problem!

Any way, best of luck to you!

[Frits]

@Willw good improvements and I look forward to your next photo.

@plisboa I am also using the foam to foreclose the inlets and this work fine. Lady socks would sometimes clog.

[Jamiex09]

These guys need alot of biofim and algae to graze on. Adding more rocks and a moss ball may be better. I'm not sure about the bare bottom, but I use coral sand to buffer the ph and gh to more to a higher side somehow.

[Frits]

"How to Breed Caridina Dennerli in Captivity - An Attempt to Conserve Wild Populations"

Any answers yet?

no breeding problems here:

[imke_j]

@Will: any news from your findings? Did you speak to other, successful breeders of this Sulawesi shrimp and did you consider their consults? As you perhaps know some people now work on special SLW mineral salts; do you think the water conditions are the most important point for breeding?

[Jovel]

"How to Breed Caridina Dennerli in Captivity - An Attempt to Conserve Wild Populations"

Any answers yet?

no breeding problems here:

amazing population you got there! great tank by the way, If its possible, care to share how do you maintain your parameters? I don't see any coral base substrate or rocks that raise PH. My tank is filled with lava rocks as well, but i'm getting troubles on pushing my PH higher without risking a raise in my GH levels. Please do share your knowledge

[Frits]

Thanx!

The PH is 7.8 and the EC is 550 ms.
I don't use any extra products, just 100% tapwater.

Once a week a 30% waterchange, that's it.