Breeding and Life Cycle of Amano Shrimp

Breeding and Life Cycle of Amano shrimp

Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) is one of the most popular species of freshwater dwarf shrimp that is commonly kept as aquarium pets. But, if you want to know more specifically about the breeding and life cycle of these shrimp, you have come to the right place.

On the whole, Amano shrimp go through 12 distinct life stages. They start as eggs and progress from being larvae (9 zoea stages), into being juvenile, then to being adult shrimp. It takes them around 40 days to reach the juvenile stage and another 90-120 days to become adults.

These shrimp have an amphidromous life history. It means that adult Amano shrimp live and reproduce in freshwater environments, whereas the development of their larvae takes place exclusively in seawater. 

Keep reading for everything there is to know about the breeding and life cycle of Amano shrimp. I will go into detail on every aspect of their life and breeding procedures.

I need to start off by saying that, in this article, I will not be talking about how to care for Amano shrimp. If you need this kind of information, read my guide on this species.

Part one: Life Cycle of Amano Shrimp

Mating:

The life cycle of Amano shrimp starts with mating. Although mating itself is a very brief process (a few seconds), it can be done only when the female is ready.

  1. A mature female picks up eggs in the paired ovaries, in which the eggs are produced. The paired ovaries are located at the junction of the cephalothorax (carapace) and the tail (abdomen). In Amano shrimp, it is very easy to see them because the shrimp are Generally, for a characteristic location and a special form, the paired ovaries aquarists usually call a “Saddle”.
  2. Female has to molt (shed their old exoskeleton) prior to mating, which makes fertilization possible.
  3. Next, the female releases a certain chemical substance (pheromone) into the surrounding water to attract males. This signals the males that she is ready to spawn. It will cause the males to go into a frenzy to find her and breed with her.
  4. During mating, the males need to find at a right angle and transfer the spermatophore to a specialized receptacle on the female’s abdomen.

Insemination:

Amano shrimp have external fertilization.

After molting, females become flexible enough to transfer the eggs (squeezing) from the “saddle” to the brood pouch. At that moment the eggs go through the spermatophore and become fertilized.

Stage # 1 – Eggs

After fertilization, the eggs remain attached to the female’s swimming appendages (called pleopods). Amano shrimp use pleopods to keep the eggs clean from dirt and well oxygenated.

The size of the females positively correlates to the number of eggs they can carry. Large females have more eggs.

Caridina multidentata belongs to the small egg group and bears many eggs. Eggs are oval in shape and of dimensions 0.50×0.31 mm (after spawning) and 0.54×0.35 mm (before hatching).

Amano shrimp have high fecundity. According to the study, Caridina multidentata can have anywhere between 747-4391 eggs per brood (an average of 1872 eggs)

Note: By the time of hatching, females lose most of their eggs. This is because the increase in egg volume caused by water uptake limits the availability of egg carrying space, resulting in smaller broods. Therefore, even large females usually have only a few hundred eggs (200 – 400 eggs).

Females hold the eggs until hatching day. Depending on the temperature, Amano shrimp usually carry them for 4 – 5 weeks. For example, fertilized eggs took about 25 days to hatch into larvae at a water temperature of 78 F (25.5 C)

If you can see the eyes of the developing embryos through the eggshell, it means that the eggs will hatch within several days.

Note: Male shrimp do not exhibit parental care for their offspring in any way.

Stage # 2 – 10 (Hatchlings and 9 Zoea stages)

Breeding and Life Cycle of Amano Shrimp - Zoea stages
pictures by K-I Hayashi and T. Hamano

After hatching, they have planktonic larval stages. Basically, they have to go through 9 stages before reaching adult body form. 

Note: Zoea are the free-swimming larvae of aquatic decapod crustaceans 

Zoea stages Size (total length) Period
First 1.55 (1.48-1.76) mm. to 10 days
Second 1.76 (1.59-1.93) mm. 4 to 13 days
Third 2.10 (1.82-2.35) mm. 6 to 14 days
Fourth 2.10 (1.82-2.35) mm 10 to 18 days
Fifth 2.21 (1.89-2.75) mm 12 to 22 days
Sixth 2.76 (2.42-3.10) mm. 14 to 29 days
Seventh 2.95 (2.81-3.24) mm. 15 to 31 days
Eighth 3.90 (3.59-4.32) mm. 16 to 33 days
Ninth 5.01 (4.77-5.35) mm. 22 to 35 days
The first juvenile 4.83 (4.60-5.20) mm. 24 to 38 days

Note: Caridina multidentata does not have megalopa stage. In science, the megalopa is called an intermediate stage between the planktonic (zoea) and the final form of the animals.

Stage # 11 – Juvenile (Growing)

Baby Amano shrimp are pretty small but will grow very quickly. In the natural environment, being small is a huge danger, they can fall prey to almost everything.

At this stage, shrimplets require a lot of nutrition. However, in the matured aquarium, it should not be a problem. In addition, like adults, Amano shrimplets are not picky eaters as well.

They can eat the same food as adults. It just needs to be in smaller proportions. This is an important step in their life.

11.1. Molting (Growing)

Amano shrimp have a hard multi-layered exoskeleton (shell) that protects their internal organs and prevents their growth. However, exoskeletons do not grow as the animal inside them grows. Therefore, they are forced to molt (shed the old exoskeletons) as they grow bigger.

This process is characterized by a complete replacement of the old mineralized exoskeleton with a new one.

The frequency of molt depends on age and temperature. For example, very young Amano shrimp can molt every few days, whereas juveniles usually molt every 1 to 3 weeks. Fully grown shrimp molt every 1 – 2 months. Generally, they do that to restore lost limbs.  

Recently molted shrimp are extremely susceptible to attacks from other animals

Important: Calcium (Ca) is an essential component of the exoskeleton composition. So, growing a new exoskeleton requires a high amount of Ca to facilitate calcification. The process of molting puts shrimp in a vulnerable state.

Related articles:

Stage # 12 – Maturation  

In Amano shrimp, the juvenile stage can be defined as a period before it meets reproductive maturity.

Once the reproduction system starts developing, Amano shrimplets turn into adults. Generally, it takes them about 3 – 4 months to become mature.

From that moment it is possible to differentiate males from females with the naked eye. This completes their life cycle and starts a new one.

Related article:

Part two: Breeding Amano Shrimp

The adult Amano shrimp live and reproduce in freshwater environments. However, their zoea (larvae) need brackish water in order to survive.

The zoea of this species hatch as a planktonic stage. In the natural environment, they are swept by water flow and passively drift into the ocean where they develop. After metamorphosis, juveniles migrate upstream to freshwater habitats from which they originally came.

Replicating this process in home aquariums is not that easy. That is why almost all Amano shrimp are wild-caught.

Breeding and Life Cycle of Amano shrimp - Basic DIY SetupSetup for breeding Amano shrimp (some links to Amazon):

1. Rearing Tank

Some aquarists say that there is no need to prepare the rearing tank in advance.

Nonetheless, I noticed that the survival rate was much lower if I did not prepare anything beforehand. This is probably because of a combination of 2 factors:

  1. It does not stabilize your water parameters.
  2. It does not give phytoplankton and algae enough time to start growing in the rearing tank.

Therefore, I would still recommend doing it beforehand. So, prepare the rearing tank a few days before you are planning to transfer Amano zoea into the tank.

Note: There is no need to have a large tank to raise Amano zoea. A 1 – 2 gallon (4 – 10 liters) breeder tank will be more than enough.

2. Preparing Saltwater

The next step is adding sea salt.

Important: Do not ever use simple aquarium salt or table salt to prepare saltwater! It will kill Amano zoea.

You can use only special marine salt (such as Instant ocean marine salt or similar).

Breeding and Life Cycle of Amano Shrimp - Amano shrimp temp and survival rateAccording to the study, Amano shrimp larvae exhibited an ability to adapt to a wide range of salinity conditions (17 – 34 ppt or 1.0128 – 1.0256 SG). However, most aquarists, including myself, had a better success rate at 30 – 35 ppt (or 1.0226 – 1.0264 SG).

So, our goal is 32 ppt (1.0241 SG). For that, you will need a refractometer to take accurate measurements. Keep the temperature range between 71 – 79 F (22 – 26 C) as well.

  1. Add marine salt into the water.
  2. Stir the water properly for a few minutes.
  3. Let it sit for about 20 – 30 minutes.
  4. Stir again to ensure that the salt is entirely dissolved and evenly distributed.
  5. If the salinity level is high, add more freshwater, and if it is too low, add more marine salt mix.

Should you use RO water or old aquarium water?

Both options are viable. Each has pros and cons.

Old aquarium water already contains microorganisms that will boost the growth of phytoplankton and algae in the rearing tank. On the downside, you cannot be absolutely sure that there are no things that can harm Amano zoea.

On the contrary, with RO water, you will be able to define all parameters to your own specifications. However, it will take longer to establish phytoplankton and algae in the rearing tank. 

How much saltwater do you need in the rearing tank?

I would say that 3 – 4 inches (7 – 10 cm) will be enough. Do not fill the rearing tank all the way.

Actually, it will be counterproductive. In shallow tanks, Amano zoea will have more oxygen. Whereas in the deep tank, you will definitely have to use air pumps.

Note: Air pumps are dangerous to Amano zoea. I will be talking about it later.

3. Preparing Food for Amano Zoea

This is the most important step. I will repeat it again – THE MOST!

Phytoplankton Tetraselmis for aquariumYou will need cultured phytoplankton Tetraselmis sp. (link to Amanon).

Tetraselmis sp. ia  green unicellular algae with 4 distinct flagella. The algal cells of cultured Tetraselmis can move around freely in seawater.

According to the study,  only cultured Tetraselmis can sustain larval survival and development to the juvenile stage in Amano shrimp. Even preserved Tetraselmis do not have the same efficiency.

Do you need to give Amano zoea anything else?

No, you don’t. Amano larvae will be absolutely happy with cultured Tetraselmis until they become juveniles.

This is one of the rare cases when there is no need to diversify their diet. Even more, giving them more food will only risk spoiling the water quality.

How to Culture Phytoplankton - harvesting3.1. Option # 1 (recommended)

  1. Take a few 1 – 2 gallon (4 – 10 liters) bottles for culturing phytoplankton (Tetraselmis).
  2. Add saltwater.
  3. Add algal 
  4. Provide 24 hours of light.
  5. Add Tetraselmis into bottles.
  6. In 2 – 3 days you will see that your water become greenish. This is exactly what you need. Tetraselmis is growing.

Now you can add some Tetraselmis into the rearing tank (1.6 oz per 1.5 gallons or 50 ml per 6 liters).

3.2. Option # 2

  1. Some breeders do not exactly feed the Tetraselmis to the Amano zoeas. Instead, they drop the zoea directly into the algal culture.

The drawbacks of this method include:

  • Risk of losing the Tetraselmis culture will lead to the death of Amano larvae. Do not put your eggs in one basket.
  • Uncontrollable growth rate may reduce the oxygen level in the rearing tank.
  • Tetraselmis also require food (fertilizers) to reproduce. By adding fertilizers into the rearing tank, we can spoil water quality.

When do we need to prepare food for the Amano larva?

The Tetraselmis should be cultured at least 3 – 4 days before the Amano larva appear.

Important: some people make a simple mistake, which can kill Amano larvae. They provide 24 hours of light but they do not do it in advance. As a result, algae do not have time to grow and larvae die without enough food.

Should I feed Tetraselmis? How to feed Tetraselmis?

Tetraselmis also need food to reproduce.

If you are using old tank water (from water changes), it may already have enough nutrients for Tetraselmis. If you are using RO water, you will need to use any hydro fertilizer for that.

Note: Although there are some special algal fertilizers (link to Amazon), we do not have to buy them.

Related article:

4. Hatching day

Amano shrimp larvaeWhen you can see the eyes of developing embryos through the eggshell, then the eggs will hatch within a few days.

Interesting fact: The embryos do not hatch all at once. Some of them start hatching 3 – 5 days before the main group. It will also give you an idea of when to be extra vigilant.

Tip: To trigger the process, do a 25 – 20 % water change.

There are two options here:

  • First. When the female is about to hatch, you need to move her to another tank. After hatching, return her to the main tank.

Important: Use only freshwater. Do not put adult Amano shrimp into saltwater. They do not tolerate it.

  • (recommended) If you do not want to mess with the separate tank for the female. Leave everything as it is.

The eggs hatch at night. Because of their small size, the hatchlings (zoea) can be easily sucked into the filter.

To avoid this from happening, you need to lower (turn off if possible) your filtration and place a desk lamp on the opposite side of your filtration.

Amano larvae are highly sensitive to light. It attracts them.

5. Transferring Amano larvae

Breeding and Life Cycle of Amano Shrimp - Amano shrimp light sensetiveIn the morning, use a turkey baster or a big syringe to catch the Amano larvae. Move them into the rearing tank.

Amano larvae do not require a slow transition into the saltwater. Just drop them there.

During the first few weeks larvae swim in a heads-down position. They are almost transparent and barely visible. Keep in mind that the larvae must go into saltwater within 2 – 3 days or they will all die. Starting from the 4th day you will lose 10-15% of larvae until they all die within 7-10 days.

6. Feeding Amano larvae 

According to the study, Amano larvae start to take food at stage 3. They are potentially lecithotrophic. So, we do not have to feed them during their short stay in freshwater.

Note: Lecithotrophy means feeding on egg yolk or other materials put in the egg by the mother. 

After that, larvae will need Tetraselmis to grow. Therefore, it should already be in the water.

7. Changing salinity   

After 4 weeks you will notice a slight transformation in Amano larvae. So, during the next water change, you can start lowering salinity to 20 – 25 ppt (1.015 – 1.0188 SG).

7. Transferring Amano larvae into freshwater   

After 40 – 45 days, Amano Shrimp larvae will complete transformation into actual Amano shrimp. From this moment, they are tiny copies of adult shrimp. It means that they cannot tolerate elevated salinity levels anymore.

You will see them swimming only forward (larvae can swim in all directions).

So, if you see that they are swimming like crazy non-stop, it means that they are ready to go into your main aquarium. In nature, this behavior says that juveniles are trying to migrate up to the adult freshwater habitat.

Tip:  do not do any sudden transitions from saltwater water to freshwater. Replace half of the saltwater water with your aquarium water for 1 day. Let them accustom a little bit to the new water conditions. After that, drain the water in the bowl down to the bottom. So it will be easier to put them into the main tank.

FAQ about breeding Amano larvae.

The larvae float to the surface and stick to the bacterial film. What should I do?

Generally, this problem arises during the first 3 weeks when larvae are weak and cannot control their movement. The larvae periodically float to the surface, stick to the bacterial film and die. There are several ways to avoid this      :

  • Manually remove the bacterial film. Float a piece of paper over it for a few seconds. Lift the paper off and you will notice that all that protein film sticks to it. Do the same using another side of the paper. Throw away that piece of paper and take another one. Do not reuse it.
  • Manually drown larvae. Use a dropper, a turkey baster, or a syringe. Just drop by drop.
  • Do water change.
  • Increased circulation and airflow. So, a surface film will not form.

Do I need aeration in the rearing tank?   

Strictly speaking, in shallow tanks, aeration is not necessary.

However, if your rearing tank is almost completely filled with water, you will need some aeration. Avoid too much aeration. It should not spin the larvae throughout the tank.

Where should I put the lighting?   

It was noticed that having lighting on top reduces biofilm formation. Thus, Amano larvae do not stick that often.

Do I need filtration in the Amano rearing tank?

No, filtration is not necessary. Amano larvae do not produce a lot of waste.

In addition, filters may suck in tiny larvae.

Note: I used to use filters filtration before. Now I have changed my opinion because of the better survival rate. 

How often should I do water changes?

Generally, your first water change (10 – 15%) will be after first week. After that, you need to do it every 2 – 3 days.

However, if you can barely see the opposite side of the tank due to the excessive growth of Tetraselmis, it would be better to do a large water change. Just do not forget to lure larvae to the corner of the tank.

Also, check your water level. Evaporation will increase the salinity, it will affect larvae.

Note: It is possible to breed Amano larvae even without water changes but it will significantly reduce the survival rate.

Why do I have problems with Tetraselmis?

Some potential problems why Tetraselmis may die out include:

  • They do not have enough food. Use fertilizer. Be careful with overdosing, it can also affect their growth rate.
  • High and low temperature may kill Tetraselmis.
  • The lighting is too strong or too much. I would recommend short light breaks (for at least 3 – 5 hours).

What is their survival rate?

There is a reason why Amano shrimp have a high fecundity (an average of 1872 eggs). Unfortunately, only a few dozen larvae will survive even if you do everything right.

In Conclusion

The lifecycle of Caridina multidentata, also known as Amano shrimp, is typically divided into 12 stages: eggs, zoea (9 stages), juveniles, and adults.

Females carry eggs under the abdomen. Depending on the temperature, the incubation period lasts 4 – 5 weeks.

Amano shrimp develop for a relatively long period (40 days) with complex zoeal stages. After multiple molts (growing curves), they reach sexual maturity in 3 – 4 months and become adults.

Breeding Amano shrimp in captivity is difficult but possible. Multiple experiments have revealed that feeding conditions, temperature, and salinity are the most important factors affecting larval survival.

References:

  1. 曹林泉, 秦政, 姜玉声, 刘鑫, 李晓东, 林源, 黄楷涛, and 刘胥. “Embryonic Development of Caridina japonica and in vitro Incubation of Its Fertilized Eggs.” PROGREES IN FISHERY SCIENCES 41, no. 1 (2020): 145-152.
  2. Hayashi, K. I., and Tatsuo Hamano. “The complete larval development of Caridina japonica De Man (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) reared in the laboratory.” Zoological Science 1, no. 4 (1984): p571-589.
  3. Hamasaki, Katsuyuki, Sota Nishimoto, Masakazu Okada, Asahi Kimura, Kosei Otsubo, and Shigeki Dan. “Dietary effects of phytoplankton and zooplankton on larval survival, duration and growth of four Caridina species (Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae) under laboratory conditions.” Crustacean Research 49 (2020): 225-237.
  4. Kondo, Shuji, Katsuyuki Hamasaki, and Shigeki Dan. “Larval performance of three amphidromous shrimp species in the genus Caridina (Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae) under different temperature and salinity conditions.” Crustacean Research 50 (2021): 41-54.
  5. Klann, Marleen, and Gerhard Scholtz. “Early embryonic development of the freshwater shrimp Caridina multidentata (Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae).” Zoomorphology 133, no. 3 (2014): 295-306.

19 thoughts on “Breeding and Life Cycle of Amano Shrimp

  1. Exactly 20 days ago, the mother amano released the larvae. I put the larvae in 5 separate tanks. Today, only the larvae in 1 tank are alive. (On day 19 I caught larvae still alive from the mother amano’s side.) I aim to be more careful with new babies. I want to prepare the tank 10 days in advance by preparing RO water for the larvae. I still have some questions that I can’t answer please help me.
    1.Question: Should I add a bacterial culture to the new larval tank I prepared with RO water? Example fritz zyme 9-prodibio biodigest- aquaforest bio s vs.
    2. Question : I have live cultures of nannochloropsis , tetraselmis and phylodactylum (diatom). Do you think I should use these three different types at the same time? If I’m going to use one, which one should it be? What would be the ideal food for the larvae?
    Question 3 : Does light have an effect on the development of larvae ? If there is enough food in the water and we turn off the lights, will the development of the larvae be affected? In other articles, you recommended that the light be turned off for 3-4 hours. What exactly should your light period be for 24 hours? Example: 8 hours on 4 hours off 8 hours on 4 hours off or 18 hours on 6 hours off etc. What is your practice?
    Question 4: I have ammonia and nitrite test kits. Do I need to buy test kits for nitrate and phosphate?

    1. Hi Berkcan,

      1.Question: Should I add a bacterial culture to the new larval tank I prepared with RO water? Example fritz zyme 9-prodibio biodigest- aquaforest bio s vs.
      You can but it is not necessary. Larvae do not produce a lot of waste. Just do not forget to do regular water changes.

      2. Question : I have live cultures of nannochloropsis , tetraselmis and phylodactylum (diatom). Do you think I should use these three different types at the same time? If I’m going to use one, which one should it be? What would be the ideal food for the larvae?
      Tetraselmis for sure.
      I have done my research when I was preparing for rising Amano larvae. It seems like only Tetraselmis provides everything they need. In all other cases, the survival rate was extremely low.

      Question 3 : Does light have an effect on the development of larvae ? If there is enough food in the water and we turn off the lights, will the development of the larvae be affected? In other articles, you recommended that the light be turned off for 3-4 hours. What exactly should your light period be for 24 hours? Example: 8 hours on 4 hours off 8 hours on 4 hours off or 18 hours on 6 hours off etc. What is your practice?
      Yes, their activity is influenced by photoperiod. Lighting also affects algae growth. So, yes, it is important.
      24 hours to grow Tetraselmis in separate bottles.
      But when you add it into the rearing tank, you need to monitor how fast Tetraselmis grows in your tank. So, if you have too much – you need to reduce photoperiod.

      Question 4: I have ammonia and nitrite test kits. Do I need to buy test kits for nitrate and phosphate?
      Up to you. This is optional. Because of water changes, you should not have nitrates. If you have them, it means that you also had lots of ammonia, thus, your water is bad.

      Best regards,
      Michael

  2. Hello,.

    I am grom Europe and aan great fan of thuis site. Recentst i have starter my own test to breed my shrimps. I followed al your instructions Aboutaleb the rearal tank. The onlu issue is i cant find the Phytoplankton and the fertilitzer overhere,. So i used a other brand and no fertilizer,. I Sony have a good feelings Aboutaleb thuis because i eant to follow the advise given here,. Van you Plessers help me out for good replacement products or a contant who is able to deliver the products?

    1. Hi Peter,
      Glad to help you!
      I am very curious how it will go in your case. Personally, I have not had any success without phytoplankton.
      Please share your results. It will help other hobbyists as well.
      Best regards,
      Michael

  3. How often should I do water changes?
    Generally, your first water change (10 – 15%) will be after first week. After that, you need to do it every 2 – 3 days. However, if you can barely see the opposite side of the tank due to the excessive growth of Tetraselmis, it would be better to do a large water change. Just do not forget to lure larvae to the corner of the tank.

    Also, check your water level. Evaporation will increase the salinity, it will affect larvae.

    Question about this: Do I need to do a water change if I use a large tank with a cover? My thoughts about this is bigger is better in more stable. What could be the reason the results are less if you dont do a waterchange? Is it the waterquality? I also breed fisch and the only reason why I change water then is because the stop growing if you don’t (not sure how to say but growing hormones)

    1. Hi Peter,
      What do you mean by ‘Large tank’? Do you completely fill it? How many gallons (liters)?
      The point is that in large water volumes there will be less oxygen for the larvae compared to shallow tanks. You will have to use airstones which blow them to the surface where larvae are often stuck and die.
      In addition, you will have to add more Tetraselmis. As a result, it will be harder to control its growth and it can affect water quality.
      I am not saying that it is not possible (or wrong) to do it. It will be just easier the way I described it.
      Best regards,
      Michael

  4. Hi Micheal,

    Update:
    Today is day 20 and I still have life zoea 🙂 4 days to go for possible first juvenile 🙂

    I have a question about testing:
    Wich ones do I need to do: NO2, NO3, NH3 / NH4 & O2?

    Best regards,

    Peter

    1. Hi Peter de Jong,
      That is great!
      I would worry only about ammonia. Even if you get some nitrates, you will deal with them through water changes.
      There should not be too much waste in the tank, or there is something wrong.
      Best regards,
      Michael

  5. Hi Micheal,

    Sadly on day 22 my culture crashed so my water changed from green to yellow/reddish.
    Besided that I noticed almost all zoea where gone.

    I measured nitrate and was zero.

    As you can imagine, questions are raised. What whent wrong, didn’t use RO water but tapwater. Didn’t do waterchanges cause the tetrasemis seemed to be oke. Was it out of control and how do I see that. I didnt use fertilizer because at the moment I started I didn’t have it and when I recieved it I didnt whant it to put it straight into the tank. Do I need to use RO water and when I do do I need more like KH and GH. Im new to that could you help me out on that?

    1. Hi Peter,
      I never mix tap water and salts/minerals neither in freshwater, not saltwater tanks.
      Tap water may contain impurities (phosphates, nitrates, silicates, iron, copper, etc.) that are harmful to saltwater tanks and often lead to outbreaks of nuisance algae and dead animals.
      We do not have control over water quality – this is my number one reason against it.
      As for water changes and tetrasemis, your water should be light green.
      There is no need to change KH, GH, etc. It is already done for us by salt manufacturers. So, when you start adding salt mixes – just follow their instructions to avoid mistakes.
      You were really close. I think that your tap water failed you.
      Wish you luck!
      Best regards,
      Michael

  6. Hi Micheal!,

    Thnx for your help! I did trust the tapwater here cause most of the test I did where oke. I tested on nitrate and amonnia, saw that as the most important ones. I’m knida new to saltywater so that was a mistake I guess.

    Besides using RO, I need to buy more tests.

    After our mail lots have changed again. I cleaned everything and I have now more time to setup the reartank. So I did that, made a spreadsheet with all important point to take care of. What I also took care of is changing the water after 7 days and after that every 2 days. I think this is an critical point aswell. I could take out zoea and maybe the water could be polutated in some whay during the progress. So I came out to do it automatically and bought something for that. Not sure what you think about it but I thought of doing a change of 2% each day.

    As I write this mail I am testing the system how it works out, so far no issues. I hope you had good Christmas days and I wish you and your family all the best for the next year and to be healthy. We keep in touch. 🙂

    Greets,

    Peter

    1. Hi Peter,
      Thanks!
      I see that you are taking it very seriously 🙂
      With this attitude, I am sure that you will do it next year!
      Best regards,
      Michael

  7. Hello Michael,
    I found this great YouTube video that would probably be a good supplement to the info you provided: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3g6mf9acHo&t=8s&ab_channel=AvatarAquatics
    Seems perhaps both of you have attained success with breeding Amano shrimp!

    1. Hi Also Michael,
      Great source. My setup is a little bit different and I am all in favor of phytoplankton (as food), all other options have much lover results if any.
      Best regards,
      Michael

  8. Hi Micheal,

    Quite a time a go, but I’m still a life. At this moment I have a hatch of 16 days old,.
    To keep it simple I say they are at stage 5,. Today I noticed quite a few are seem to float on the
    surface. They seem to be a life, when I read your site about this is should try to manually remove the film. I lured them in a corner and used toilet paper to remove the film. after a few hours I still see quite a few floating in the surface. I added 1200 ml fresh seawater,. they seem to be moving but not as fast as the most i have, so I am starting to drop them with water. To be true this is the first waterchange because i dont really see a film,. do you have any tips?

    After our last contact i changed a few things:

    – Auto waterchanges of 30 ml a day
    – light in the rearal tank is 16 hours on and 8 hours off.
    – I use RO water for the preparation of saltwater.

    I hope your doing well!

    Best regards,

    Peter

    1. Hi Peter,
      From what you have written, I have nothing to offer to improve the process, if that is the case.
      Saving all the larvae is impossible, we can only minimize losses.
      If anyone has suggestions on how to make it even better, I’m all ears.
      I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you 🙂
      Best regards,
      Michael

  9. Hi Micheal,

    I managed to save the zoea now I am working on new improvements keeping them more safe. Meaning I am working on a way to take the film away or a solution to prefent them to swim into the film/surface.

    I was wondering why the zoea are smaller as juvenile than in step nine, as your list says:

    Ninth 5.01 (4.77-5.35) mm. 22 to 35 days
    The first juvenile 4.83 (4.60-5.20) mm. 24 to 38 days

    Thats a difference of 6 mu. I am very interested whats a logical reason for this.

  10. Hello, thanks for your effort. This is the best guide to breed amano shrimp. I have a quetion: I dont have access to tetraselmis as a pythoplankton. However, i can find nanochrolopsis. Does it work to feed zoes? Thanks for your comment in advaced.

    1. Hi Monty,
      Thank you for the kind words! 🙂
      Personally, I have not used nanochrolopsis for raising Amano shrimp larvae, but I mentioned this product as a possible food for larvae based solely on the fact that someone in a laboratory had used it, according to the research I have read. Unfortunately, I cannot speak to how good or effective it is.
      From my own experience, I have only had success with tetraselmis.
      Best regards,
      Michael

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