Mixing Cynops Orientalis with Cherry Shrimps

[stanleyc]

I know species mixing is generally frowned upon, but I was thinking about introducing a couple cherry shrimps into my C Orientalis tank to help with cleaning up debris and algae. The tank is 30 gallons, with lots of hiding spots and is heavily planted (elodea, java fern, anubus, and lots of java moss), so there shouldn't be too big a chance of the newts catching one of these guys, or would there? If they do catch one, would there be a chance of any harm?

Thanks

 

[Azhael]

There shouldn´t be any problems with this mix. H.orientalis are not good with fast prey so they are unlikely to be able to hunt healthy shrimp. They may occasionally get one, specially old individuals. If it happens there´s no reason for concern, they are in fact a perfectly good occasional food for the newts.

If you start out with a group of 10 or so shrimp your chances will be better and they should reproduce faster than the newts can eat them.

 

[stanleyc]

Thanks a lot for the response

Also just noticed you were also a member of of the Flying Spaghetti Monster church, nice one my friend.

 

[Niels D]

I've got shrimp with my H. orientalis. They're too fast as Azhael allready told. I've got Caridina japonica. They clean the tank a little bit together with all the snails in it.

 

[moinkable]

My C. Orientalis live with Japonica shrimp and were living with some "orange bumblebee" shrimp...which I think were just orange cherries. The cherries disappeared after a while, i think they became snacks. From experience, it seems that cherries do best in tanks with heat, so for C. orientalis they aren't necessarily the best choice. I'd recommend some japonica. They're good cleaning crew.

 

[Azhael]

The cherries do best at 25ºC, but will continue to do well and reproduce, albeit slowlier, at temps as low as 15ºC or so. They can surive lower temps but they stop reproducing. If the tank is going to be roughly at room temp, it shouldn´t be a problem at all. Very hardy shrimps they are...

Stanley, glad to see other people who have been touched by His Noodly Appendage. Maybe be i´ll see you in the supersecret global convention where we will be instructed on how to take over the world. I heard Satan is invited as a speaker this year!

 

[l0uiswh0]

Sorry to butt in... if you have a smaller tank, say 10g, what would you guys recommend to help clean it? I wondered about snails, but I heard they can become a bit of an infestation...