Hey fellow aquarium enthusiasts! Today I’m gonna share everything you need to know about cherry shrimp egg carrying and breeding. As someone who’s kept these adorable little critters for years I’ll break down the whole process in simple terms.
Quick Answer
Cherry shrimp typically carry their eggs for 2-3 weeks (around 14-21 days) before they hatch. However, the exact duration can vary based on water temperature and tank conditions.
Understanding the Cherry Shrimp Breeding Cycle
The Pregnancy Journey
When a female cherry shrimp becomes “berried” (carrying eggs), she goes through several stages:
- Saddle Formation
- You’ll notice a yellowish or greenish patch behind her head
- This is the development of eggs in her ovaries
- The saddle looks kinda like a tiny backpack!
- Mating & Fertilization
- Female releases hormones to attract males
- After mating, eggs move from saddle to under her tail
- She’ll carry about 20-30 eggs at once
- Egg Development
- Eggs start clear/yellowish
- Gradually turn darker brown/black
- You can even see tiny eyes in the eggs near hatching!
How to Care for Berried Cherry Shrimp
Water Parameters
Keep these conditions stable for healthy egg development:
- Temperature: 64-77°F (18-25°C)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Hardness: 5-15 dGH
- Ammonia & Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: Less than 20 ppm
Pro Tips for Success
- Feeding
- Offer varied diet including:
- Sinking shrimp pellets
- Blanched veggies (zucchini, spinach)
- Algae wafers
- Tank Setup
- Lots of hiding spots
- Live plants (moss is awesome!)
- Sponge filter (prevents baby shrimp getting sucked up)
Common Problems & Solutions
Why Do Shrimp Drop Eggs?
Sometimes your shrimp might drop her eggs Here’s why
- First-time mom inexperience
- Stress from poor water conditions
- Unfertilized eggs
- Sudden parameter changes
Signs of Healthy Eggs
- Eggs get darker over time
- Female regularly fans them with her legs
- No white or fuzzy appearance
My Personal Tips for Success
After keeping cherry shrimp for years here’s what I’ve learned
- Don’t Panic!
- First-time moms might drop some eggs
- It’s totally normal and they’ll get better with practice
- Keep It Stable
- Avoid big water changes during breeding
- Don’t mess with the tank too much
- Let nature do its thing!
- Feeding Schedule
- Small amounts 2-3 times daily
- Remove uneaten food after an hour
- Happy mom = healthy eggs
FAQs About Cherry Shrimp Eggs
Q: How often do cherry shrimp lay eggs?
A: Healthy females can breed every 3-5 months in good conditions.
Q: Can I move the eggs if the mother drops them?
A: It’s super tricky and usually unsuccessful. Best to let mom handle it!
Q: How do I know if eggs are fertilized?
A: Fertilized eggs darken over time and develop visible eyes.
Final Thoughts
Breeding cherry shrimp isn’t rocket science, but it does need some patience and attention to detail. Keep your water parameters stable, provide good nutrition, and create a stress-free environment. Before you know it, you’ll have tiny shrimplets swimming around!
Remember, every shrimp keeper was a beginner once. Don’t get discouraged if things don’t work out perfectly the first time. Just keep learning and adjusting, and you’ll be a shrimp breeding pro in no time!
Have you had success breeding cherry shrimp? Drop your experiences in the comments below – I’d love to hear your stories and tips!
Mating of the Red cherry shrimp
When the eggs “ripen”, the female starts molting. They always molt before mating because at that time new female cuticle is soft and flexible, which makes fertilization possible. The molting process happens very fast and takes no more than 10-15 seconds.
After that, the female releases a certain chemical substance (pheromone) into the surrounding water. It is the signal for the males that she is ready to mate. The “smell” attracts the males and allows them to find the female in the water column.
If you notice that some shrimp rush feverishly around the aquarium from corner to corner, this means that one of the females has just molted. That is him responding to the hormones and he will try to find that female and mate with her.
The mating occurs rapidly as well – about 10 seconds or less. In order to start mating, male and female should face each other. The male leaves sperm into the genital opening of the female Neocaridina shrimp using its appendix masculine.
After that, the female starts moving the eggs from the “saddle” to the brood pouch and at that moment the eggs go through the sperm and become fertilized. Therefore, it is certain that any shrimp carrying eggs have mated. A female carrying eggs under her abdomen is said to be “berried”.
Maturity and Mating of Neocaridina shrimp
Red cherry shrimp usually reached maturity at around 75 days old with a length of about 2.3±0.2 cm. When they reach maturity, we can see:
- Orange-colored ovaries through the cephalothorax region of the females ( 1).
- That the males have an appendix masculina on the second pleopod ( 2).
A mature female picks up eggs in the ovary, which is located at the junction of the cephalothorax (carapax) with the tail (abdomen). For a characteristic location and a special form, aquarists call the ovaries a “saddle”. The mating process usually takes place in 1-3 day(s) after the introduction of male and female into the same tank.