In captivity, getting Amano shrimp eggs to hatch is hard, especially if the water conditions are not right. I did some digging online and found some key info on how to care for Amano shrimp eggs.
Amano shrimp eggs need the perfect combination of water pH, water hardness, and temperature to hatch. Though the Amano shrimp larvae require brackish water after hatching, the mother shrimp can’t handle the salinity. So, until the hatching day, make sure the mother Amano shrimp gets everything right.
Then again, other factors like KH, ammonia concentration, etc., play a key role in hatching the Amano shrimp eggs. If you want to know the in-depth process of caring for your Amano shrimp eggs, read below.
Amano Shrimp Eggs Care: Step-by-step Guide
Pregnant Amano shrimp females carry eggs in sacks located underneath their bodies. These eggs can stay there for up to 7 weeks after fertilization. Turns out, a minor ignorance can cause the female to drop all her eggs.
So, how to avoid it? Don’t worry. If you follow the steps properly, all your eggs will turn into baby Amano shrimp. Let’s begin.
Keep The Water Parameters Perfect For Amano Shrimps
An imbalance in the water parameters can stress out the Amano shrimps. A saying goes, feed the mother to feed the child. If the female Amano shrimps are stressed out, they can munch down on the unhatched shrimp eggs.
Here are the water parameters you need to keep steady:
Temperature
The optimal temperature for the eggs to hatch is 64-80 °F. When the temperature of the tank decreases below 64, the female shrimps start to freeze. Then again, tank temperature above 80 °F will increase the shrimp’s metabolism, causing them to crave more food.
It is not uncommon for the shrimps to eat their own eggs when hungry. Try keeping the temperature of the tank to 75-degree Fahrenheit on a regular scale.
pH Level
The pH of the water will determine how acidic or basic the water is for the Amano shrimps. Generally, pH between 6.5-8 is good for them. However, when the eggs mature, make the pH 7-7.5 exact. This range will improve the egg’s health and give it a head start before hatching.
Ammonia Level
Ammonia is generated from the excretion of fishes, shrimp, and so on. The lower the ammonia content, the better it is for the Amano shrimp eggs. Too much ammonia sucks out the life from the water, causing the eggs to die. At the time of Amano shrimp eggs hatching, keep the ammonia content 0, or else all the larvae may not survive.
Nitrate Concentration
Nitrate pollutes the tank water and causes shrimps to stress out easily. Tough eggs can survive in nitrate concentration above 20 ppm, the Amano shrimps can’t. Keep the nitrate level below 20 ppm, or else the mother shrimp can’t lay her eggs in a good amount.
General Hardness
The general hardness of the tank should be between 7 to 8 ppm. Too much hardness will decrease the larvae count and decrease production. Then again, shrimp eggs don’t hatch in too hard aquarium water.
Correct Water Parameters For Amano Shrimp
| Parameters | Values |
|---|---|
| Tank size | 10 gallons and more |
| Optimal pH | 7.0 – 7.4 |
| Optimal GH | 7 – 8 |
| Optimal KH | 2 – 4 |
| Optimal Temperature | 64 – 80 °F |
| TDS | 150 – 200 |
| Minimum size | 1.5 – 2 inches |
| Diet | Algae eater or, omnivore |
| Nitrate | Less than 20 ppm |
| Maturity | 6 months at least |
Keep A Healthy Diet
During the egg production time, the Amano shrimp metabolism increases. So, females tend to eat more food as they produce eggs. Feed them a good mixture of algae and brewer’s yeast. Don’t just wait for the aquarium to produce algae for the shrimps.
Check For Egg Maturity
When the eggs start to mature, you will see a color shift from green to yellowish-brown. The reason is, the zoa are maturing. This stage is common when the eggs are at their peak maturity.
Make a Tank With Identical Water Parameters And Brackish Water
Even before the shrimp hatches, you need to make another tank with identical parameters. However, the water has to be slightly brackish. Newborn larvae can’t survive in fresh waters for more than 12 hours. After the eggs mature, you need to start preparing a tank with saline water.
If the pH of the first tank is 7, keep the new pH at 7. Keep all the parameters like GH, KH, ammonia, etc., exactly the way it was.
Shift The Larvae After Hatching
Within 6-7 weeks, the eggs will start to hatch. Now, you need to shift the newborn to the new aquarium. This should be done as soon as possible, or else the larvae will weaken with time and die.
Frequently asked Questions
Q. How long do Amano Shrimp carry eggs?
Female Amano shrimps can carry eggs for up to 7 weeks with her. However, this carrying time depends on the genes of the Amano shrimp. Environmental factors like pH, temperature, ammonia level, etc., also play a role in how long the Amano shrimp will carry her eggs. If the mother shrimp feels stressed, she might chow down on her own eggs or drop them.
Q. Will my Amano Shrimp eggs hatch?
If you keep the water parameters right and feed the mother Amano shrimp properly, there is a high chance your Amano shrimp eggs will make it. You need to change the water two times every week and keep a steady temperature, hardness, and pH. Consistency is key for hatching Amano shrimp eggs.
Q. Do Amano Shrimp lay eggs in freshwater?
Amano shrimps can lay eggs in freshwater. The eggs can stay in freshwater for more than 6 weeks. The female keeps them in her underbelly until they are ready to hatch. However, after hatching, the larvae can’t survive in freshwater.
Q. Do Amano Shrimp carry unfertilized eggs?
Amano shrimps don’t carry unfertilized eggs after mating. If the shrimp notices her eggs are unfertilized, she will drop them and make a new batch.
Q. What do Amano shrimp eggs look like?
Amano shrimp eggs look really tiny. You can notice them by the green-colored shade underneath female Amano shrimp. Generally, the eggs take about 6 weeks to hatch. During this time, the egg color changes from green to yellowish-brown.
Endnote
With proper care and love, Amano shrimps can produce more than a thousand eggs at a time. However, caring for the eggs is easier said than done. You need to fix the water pH, salinity, hardness, and so on.
If any of the water parameters are not right, the eggs may not hatch after 6-7 weeks. The rule of thumb is, give the mother shrimp proper care to expect a healthy batch of baby Amano shrimps.
