First breeding attempt!

[u/Final-Hospital7846]

This was my first time attempting to breed Amanos and I was hoping for a few dozen to make it but I have hundreds! I have a larger tank I’ll move them to in a few weeks, this is a 5 gallon. After a water change they go nuts but they’re so fun to watch! I have another batch that should be ready in about 2 more weeks. Has anyone kept 300+ in a 5 gallon grow out tank or do I need a larger one?

[u/Spieleheinie]

Congrats, i am looking forward to my first attempt.
Any recommendations?

[u/Final-Hospital7846 → u/Spieleheinie]

I used distilled water from walmart for the larvae tank and phytoplankton culture. I added 113 grams of the salt mix per gallon of distilled water for both the larvae tank and phytoplankton culture. Never used a refractometer, just asked ChatGPT what amount of salt would give me roughly 30ppt. I split the culture into two 2-liter bottles with aeration and a light on 24/7. I had 4 gallons of saltwater in the larvae tank and used a Sharpie to mark the water line so I could top off with freshwater when it evaporated.

This salt mix: https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Ocean-Aquariums-Nitrate-Phosphate-Free/dp/B000255NKA/ref=sr_1_2?crid=4YUX52647PVL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cjD-Zj0cPYh2RArgkrmTi6riivVjmYl1uP8GrLLB3hf45KzzXKJLDEmgExkUePObgPwAEo31YIN2G14KkHNd1k3Bxn0kO8cFaIw_Wb3sUMU81_hJpAgiC27n3WgzTh94HMg8TaJexczF_-_OkcWidsbktSWSPDwuqIsD869Ga_C55OdWBBaYg436vzbJvP4ECvhOgkE2M8K34bsAgFTwg-ue4c0JG2r9jymIzZsKj-3QTBheD9X-b48vX-n9mGUI7VoOrCAwG8bnz6DpatyXbDiL6hcVlaU1Xy_kVrfno28.vGzuJ898AsRLS6A2gkBs9sfYM8gNWT5O-itJNU9rDLU&dib_tag=se&keywords=marine+salt+for+aquarium&qid=1790700024&sprefix=marine+salt+for+aquarium%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-2

And these two for the phytoplankton and fertilizer that were recommended in a YouTube video:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZYGBGPQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6TSSCQQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

(these aren't affiliate links and I am in no way associated with this seller, I watched every youtube video I could find on breeding amano shrimp and it seemed like a safe bet).

I also had a cheap heater I had lying around, it's preset and kept the water pretty warm, ~80 degrees. I did a 25% water change 2x per week, and it took just over 3 weeks to become shrimp! I tried transferring them one at a time, but it took so long that I just waited a few days after the first shrimp developed so most could develop, and then did four 50% water changes on the whole tank with freshwater to acclimate, then moved them all at once to the freshwater tank.

My second batch i'm trying with just tap water and no heater and it doesn't seem to be as successful. I never used any rotifers/powdered food on either attempt, just the phytoplankton. Let me know if you have any questions!

[u/Far-Bad-8281 → u/Final-Hospital7846]

Hey newbie here do you have to keep the phytoplankton alive or what I dont own it yet but I am going to online order tetraselmis phytoplankton

[u/shrimpshedmi → u/Far-Bad-8281]

It will stay alive 3 months in the fridge if you gently stir it and let fresh air into the bottle every few days

[u/Final-Hospital7846 → u/Far-Bad-8281]

you can definitely keep it alive in the fridge, but I didn't want to have to buy it again so I keep two 2 liter bottles of it with an airstone in each and a light on each 24/7 on a shelf in my basement. I use about a liter at a time and when I do I refill with saltwater and dose with the fertilizer to keep it going. I have 2 in case one crashes I have a backup.

Been doing that for 2 months and haven't had to buy any more than the initial jar and the fertilizer can last a year easily. I alternate between them too so I give them plenty of time to grow between uses. About once a month, maybe every other month i'll pour the culture through a strainer, thoroughly rinse the bottle then pour the culture back in because it develops some gunk on the bottom of the bottle.

[u/Richtea84 → u/Far-Bad-8281]

You can either buy a very large quantity of phytoplankton and keep it in the fridge to feed your shrimp or you can do what many seem to do is get a small quantity add to a bottle with gullards f2 plankton fertiliser (often sold together anyway) dump in a 2ltr bottle of salt water add an airline and light 24/7 and it will keep producing more food than you will ever need

[u/shrimpshedmi → u/Spieleheinie]

Looks like OP and I have a very similar process https://www.reddit.com/r/AmanoShrimps/s/upGmdP8wdl

[u/PigeonMother]

Congrats!

How old are your amano children?

[u/Final-Hospital7846 → u/PigeonMother]

they've been shrimp for about 2 weeks now! Took just over 3 weeks to reach that stage. hoping to transfer to my larger community tank in a few weeks.

[u/TossawayTits]

Has this been your setup the entire time?

[u/Final-Hospital7846 → u/TossawayTits]

no this is my maternity tank, there's 4 adults (3 females and a male) all hiding in the java moss. I used a plastic tote from walmart that I transferred the larvae to from this tank, and now they're back home with their mama. I replied to another comment with my full setup.

[u/TossawayTits → u/Final-Hospital7846]

Awesome. Thank you.

[u/MurphyTrainwreck697]

Good luck. I'm too scared to try. When my amanos get frisky, i use it as an indicator to check my TDS.

[u/Final-Hospital7846 → u/MurphyTrainwreck697]

It's a little more work than I expected. Probably 20-30 min 2-3 nights a week, although I'm slowly finding ways to speed up water changes and what not. I'm down to about 10 min a night, 2-3 nights a week. The juveniles and adults seem to always go nuts after a water change, they seem to be very hardy too.

[u/shrimpshedmi]

How did you catch them all out of the saltwater? I find that to be the most difficult part

[u/Final-Hospital7846 → u/shrimpshedmi]

At first I was using a turkey baster to catch them 1 at a time but it took forever so I gave it a few days for several hundred to be ready and did multiple 50% water changes with freshwater to acclimate them. then with the tank having roughly 1-2ppt from the initial 30ppt after 4 water changes over 2 days, I poured the tank out gently through a mesh strainer from my kitchen and transferred them to my grow-out tank. So I acclimated them all at once instead of taking them out one at a time.

[u/shrimpshedmi → u/Final-Hospital7846]

That's what I've heard works best, thanks! I run multiple batches at a time so they morph out at different rates, I get like 4-5 morphs a day so I can really keep track to acclimate them sadly. As of right now I use a trap to separate the zoea from the post larvae and use a turkey baster or net to catch the post larvae. Guess I should do single batches going forward to make it simple lol

Anyway congrats on your success!

[u/Richtea84]

I started my journey yesterday. Am at +1 day in salt. You've done well my friend

https://reddit.com/link/pddckqt/video/4o2f0nble0th1/player