I understand how stressful it can be when you’re going to get a new aquatic pet like cherry shrimp and learn something new. Cherry shrimps are one of the most sensitive aquatic animals you’ll find in the aquarium. And when it comes to shrimp-related breeding situations, many of us are clueless.
Like most other shrimps, cherry shrimp lay eggs. They’re not livebearers. However, unlike those egg-laying fish, you will not see their eggs floating in the tank. “Berried shrimps” is thus the name as shrimps use their swimmeret legs to hang on to their eggs.
Sounds a bit complex, right? When I first started keeping shrimp, I remember being frustrated as I had no idea how cherry shrimps actually breed.
In this article, I will discuss what to do if your cherry shrimp is pregnant, how to breed them easily, and what to do if your cherry shrimp are not breeding.
So, Keep on reading!
Do Cherry Shrimp Lay Eggs or Give Birth?
There are two categories of animals in the animal kingdom—layers of eggs and livebearers. Cherry shrimp are known to lay eggs. They do not produce baby shrimp.
Most of us are not that familiar with the fact that cherry shrimp lay eggs and deposit them under their tail. They’re kept there until the eggs hatch. This is done to keep the eggs safe, clean, and oxygenated.
It is because they are unfertilized that they lay their eggs. They do shift them around now and then. You might want to look for the eggs in the tank to verify this, but you won’t be able to find them easily.
Cherry Shrimp Reproduction Process:
Cherry Shrimp Carries the eggs in their saddle:
Cherry shrimps do lay eggs, but unlike other aquarium fish, they do not drop them in the tank. Until they mate with the male shrimp, the eggs remain in the shrimp’s saddle.
The Male Fertilize The Eggs:
Male ones deposit their sperm in a tube between the saddle and her belly. When they mate, the eggs in the saddle fall to the bottom of her stomach.
Female Carries the Fertilized Eggs:
The eggs will fall to the female shrimp’s bottom, where her swimmeret legs are located. They use their small swimmeret legs to carry the fertilized eggs.
Berried shrimp earned their name from the posture and way in which shrimp hold their eggs as if they were a small clutch of berried.
The Fries Lacks Larval Stage:
When the eggs hatch, the immature juvenile shrimps resemble their adult counterparts in look.
They lack larval stages, which are found in most saltwater and much freshwater shrimp. You can feed your young Red Cherry Shrimp the same things that you feed the adults.
How to Know if Your Cherry Shrimp Has Eggs?
It’s simple to identify whether or not your shrimp is carrying eggs. The development of eggs in the female’s ovaries can be seen as a green or yellow triangular “saddle” marking on her back.
She sends pheromones into the water to announce her availability to males when she is ready to deposit the eggs, which occurs after molting.
So, is your Cherry Shrimp Pregnant or Not?
Most shrimp have transparent bodies, so it’s pretty simple. Males and females have the same amount of body time before they reach maturity.
Once they’ve matured, you’ll be able to tell the difference between male and female, making it easy to determine whether or not they’re pregnant.
Then females start laying small, spherical, typically yellowish or green eggs behind their tails.
Because they have a translucent body, you can easily recognize the eggs inside the female’s body and determine if she is pregnant or not.
Why Is My Cherry Shrimp Dropping Her Eggs?
Your cherry shrimp might drop her eggs under the following circumstances:
- The water is too acidic
- The Temperature is high
- The Cherry Shrimp is Over Stressed
- The eggs are not fertilized properly
What to Do if Your Cherry Shrimp is Dropping Her Eggs?
- Fix The Water pH: Cherry shrimp don’t do well if the water is acidic and the pH falls below 6.8. They prefer a pH of 7.5 or 7.6. Try to increase the pH of water by adding crushed coral to your filter.
- Keep the Temperature Stable: Use a heater and keep the temperature around 80 Degrees.
- Make Sure Shrimps Are not Stressed: The presence of predators, overpopulation, and lack of hiding space can stress them out. So, you will need to make sure the females are not too stressed.
- Introduce More Male Shrimps: If the number of male shrimp is too low in the community, it is common to see that most eggs remain unfertilized, and the females ultimately have to drop unfertilized eggs. So, bring on more male shrimp to solve this issue.
Should You Keep Pregnant Shrimp In a Separate Tank?
When it comes to breeding your cherry shrimp in an aquarium, I recommend keeping them in a separate tank.
Pregnant shrimp are in a distinct situation since they do not drop their eggs into the tank. Instead, they’ll stay berried and bring the fertilized eggs with them.
If you have bullying fish in your tank, though, the situation can be quite different. They might dump the eggs in the tank because of the bullying and stress.
Why won’t my Red Cherry Shrimp Breed?
Water Parameters:
The exact figures will differ from aquarium to aquarium, but you should aim for a pH of 7.5 and a water hardness of 100 to 200 ppm in general.
The water should be between 80 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a total alkalinity of 30 to 90 meq/L.
Incorrect Male-to-Female Ratio:
It is best to keep three females for each male in order for them to reproduce. This will allow the females to fully mature eggs and produce an abundance for you to harvest.
If you retain too many males, they will fight and hurt one another, making it impossible for them to reproduce.
Females who are coupled with too few males are also anxious and produce fewer eggs.
Feeding Routine:
Shrimp, like many other invertebrate species, can’t breed if they’re fed improperly. Rather than feeding your cherry shrimp once a day, feed them 4-5 times a week.
The cherry shrimp’s diet must also be adjusted in order for them to obtain the correct amount of nutrients.
Aquarium Design:
When cherry shrimp are breeding, the height of your aquarium needs to be considered since they prefer to make their nests and reproduce at high places in the tank.
Simply place some algae-covered rocks on the bottom of your aquarium to give them with this. This will provide them with a breeding ground.
Lack of Oxygen:
The inappropriate type of filter, clogged air vents, and even dirt in the water can all contribute to a shortage of oxygen.
And if your shrimp aren’t getting enough oxygen, they won’t be able to breathe correctly, which is why this is such a high priority for shrimp breeders.
Wait Longer:
Within 3-5 months of being introduced to the aquarium, cherry shrimp usually reproduce. However, they might not deposit eggs within that time frame, so be patient.
If they’ve only recently been introduced to the tank, it normally takes them longer to breed.
Which Shrimp Is The Easiest To Breed?
Breeding shrimp in a tank can be difficult, but Red Cherry Shrimp is one of the most popular shrimp among both beginners and advanced aquarists.
They’re simple to keep in the tank and don’t cause a mess when it comes to aquarium life. These are quite resilient and can adapt to a wide range of water conditions.
How Often Do Cherry Shrimp Lay Eggs?
Cherry shrimp can reproduce at any time of year. In 3 to 5 months, it can begin breeding.
An average-sized female red cherry shrimp lays at least 25 eggs each time.
In the case of red cherry shrimps, they take 2 to 3 weeks to hatch. Shrimps that are larger can generate more shrimplets than shrimp that are shorter.
Related Questions:
How Fast Do Cherry Shrimp Grow?
At the age of 120 to 150 days, a cherry shrimp reaches sexual maturity. Each week, an adult cherry shrimp gains 2.60 grams of weight.
What Do Cherry Shrimp Eggs Look Like?
Depending on the color of the saddle, the eggs are either green or yellow. After about three weeks, they get deeper and darker until the young shrimp hatch.
Final Thoughts:
If you know how to properly care for shrimp, they will lay eggs and give you little shrimplets. If your female shrimp is berried with eggs, do not be scared.
If you follow the directions properly, you’ll have a little shrimp party in your tank in no time. After laying eggs, your shrimp will be frail and vulnerable, so take extra care with them.
Ascertain that they are well-fed and that they are housed in an aquarium with the highest possible water quality.
