Hey all, just wanted to let you all know that the shrimp have been ordered, and they are on their way! Normally, it is preferred to buy any kind of aquatic pet (or any pet I suppose) locally. Shipping stress and cost aside, shrimp tend to be very sensitive to changes in water parameters, so it’s always better to get shrimp that are already used to the tap water in your area.
I did visit all the pet stores in my area, but unfortunately I was not able to find any that offered the type/quantity of shrimp I was hoping for at a price within my budget. Luckily for me, I was able to get in touch with a shrimp breeder in Calgary (less than a 2 hour flight from Victoria) who was able to offer the shrimp I was looking for. Shipping is expensive for live animals, but it ended up still being cheaper than what I would pay from my local store.
Retrieved from: https://www.aquariumcreation.com/blogs/news/the-neocaridina-trees-aka-cherry-shrimp
I did have a difficult time deciding what types/colors of shrimp I wanted – did you know Neocaradinia shrimp can come in red, blue, green, and more? … But as a student, my budget was limited, and some of the fancier, higher grade shrimp can go for up to $30!!!
After some deliberation, I realized that as a newcomer to the hobby, I found the cheapest, lowest-grade shrimp just as interesting as the highest grade, most expensive shrimp. Therefore, I decided to mostly stock my tank with red cherry shrimp (typically the cheapest, most abundant). To add a bit more excitement, however, I wanted to add a few shrimp of a different color to see how that would affect the color and pattern of future offspring.
On their way are 22 low-grade red cherry shrimp ($1 each) and just 2 medium-grade blue velvet shrimp ($5 each)!
In my next post, I’ll discuss a little more about Neocaradinia shrimp breeding, and hopefully be able to introduce you to the new arrivals!
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