Raising Cleaner Shrimp - Lysmata amboinensis

[Hellaenergy]

Today picked up some freshly hatched Lysmata amboinensis larvae from kbb0118. I am going to attempt to keep them living.

Here are some photos I took of them this evening:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ei7fmhkF5p0/TCLIm_be6EI/AAAAAAAAAdM/eqM5yH26waQ/CS_3.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ei7fmhkF5p0/TCLIrQNMjqI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/PqoZZflUyRA/s800/CS_1.JPG

Those little dots surrounding them are rotifers. That gives you an idea of how big they are.

Here's their living situation now:

2.5g glass tank w/ blue background - There is a regulated airline tube (pushing air) gently breaking the surface of the water to create a slight surface agitation.
Temp 72-74F
PH 8.1-8.2
SG 1.026
Lighting: Standard Room Lighting.
Substrate: Bare Bottom w/ Very Small Pieces of Red Gracilaria and Chaeto

Live Food: rotifers and artemia.
Dry Food: Pulverized New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula

I will be feeding them two to three times a day with live foods. I will introduce a very minute amount of pulverized NLS every once in a while as well.

I am planning to do water changes daily in the amount of %25-%50. I will adjust as I go accordingly.

[kbb0118]

WOHOO! Go Nick!

[Hellaenergy]

Thanks Kate :) I'm not sure any of them made it through the night, though. I think I may have seen two of them this morning. If their in there they are defiantly not as active as they were last night. I'll do a definitive check later this evening.

[Hellaenergy]

Well I've confirmed that there are in fact two left.

There is now a question of whether they are cleaner shrimp or not. I believe cleaner shrimp larvae are around 2mm and these are at most 1mm (thickness of a dime). I guess someone told Kate that they may be hermit crabs. Having said that, I'm not giving up until the larvae do :)

[Sandro]

Good luck!! :beerchug:

[Chad Vossen]

Well I've confirmed that there are in fact two left.

There is now a question of whether they are cleaner shrimp or not. I believe cleaner shrimp larvae are around 2mm and these are at most 1mm (thickness of a dime). I guess someone told Kate that they may be hermit crabs. Having said that, I'm not giving up until the larvae do :)

i mentioned they looked a little crabby. if the eyes are not stocked by 48 hours, i'd go ahead and say hermits for sure.

[Hellaenergy]

The two little guys are still alive. No show of growth what so ever (to my naked eye). They are still about 1mm.

I may have added too many baby brine shrimp and rotifers. I regret doing that. Live and Learn...

[Hellaenergy]

They are still alive and active. I do not see any noticeable growth to date. I am still observing them with just the naked eye. They are very hard to see this way. I attract them with a shop light to the corner of the tank. Not too long because I don't want them beating themselves to death against the glass. Or even wearing themselves out. I need to find a better way to observe them in a magnified manner. I am very reluctant to scoop them into anything because they are so small and fragile. Perhaps a hand held magnifying glass is in order? I know I have one somewhere around here...

[Hellaenergy]

Still going...

Some folks over at MOFIB think they could be Mysids based on these photos :nuts:

http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=260&t=7517

[Chad Vossen]

mysids vs hermit larvae. the truth will be in how they swim.

do they swim around forward at a consistent speed? do they swim upside-down and twitch a lot? any other observations on behavior you can tell us about?

[Chad Vossen]

I attract them with a shop light to the corner of the tank

this suggest hermit larvae.

[Hellaenergy]

mysids vs hermit larvae. the truth will be in how they swim.

do they swim around forward at a consistent speed? do they swim upside-down and twitch a lot? any other observations on behavior you can tell us about?

There are two different answers on that thread. I think Jim is sticking to his ID there and on my thread as well. I don't know if mysid larvae are attracted to light or not. Amie's comment about that is the first I've heard.

They swim tail forward like a lobster. Their swimming orientation isn't specific but mostly head up. And they are still very attracted to light.

Good questions ;) And thanks for your input.

I'm still trying to find that magnifying lens...

[Chad Vossen]

* They swim tail forward like a lobster.
* And they are still very attracted to light.


hermits!
better go sift through some crushed coral for some tiny shells :)

if you still have the babies around 15-18 days, add your shells. depending on the species, they might settle around day 19 or so. kinda gotta watch them.

[Hellaenergy]

If they are indeed hermits I wonder if those tiny little white snail/worm swirly shells that coat my reef thank will do? They seem like they'd be the right size. I'll sterilize a few and see what happens.

[DamselDebbie]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting Nick. Keep the updates coming.

[kbb0118]

I have spare teeny tiny cerinth shells that would do for little hermits if you end up needing them.

[Chad Vossen]

sometimes your astrea snails have parasitic snails on them. those are the smallest shells i've been able to find ever.

[mpedersen]

FWIW, when I saw them, I thought Hermit Larvae. Go seek out my Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab breeding log - there's pictures of them in there.

Matt

[Hellaenergy]

Day 13 and they are still alive. I discovered a third specimen today. I named it Jack Tripper.

[Hellaenergy]

Day 15. I think I see some small legs forming. I put some tiny snail shells in the tank today.

[Hellaenergy]

Day 20 and there is one left.

Last night my air supply popped out of the water leaving it without aeration for about 12 hours. The one left is still actively swimming in the water column. It's about 2mm+ in size. I think this specimen is a bit too large for the shells I have. I need to find some shells that will fit the little guy quick...

[lizmomdad]

rock on Nick, go for it!

[mpedersen]

One of the larger size life sands is composed primarily of tiny shells. Find yourself a bag of that and you'll never need a shell again.

[Hellaenergy]

rock on Nick, go for it!

Thanks for the encouragement, Ken :biggthumpup:

[Hellaenergy]

One of the larger size life sands is composed primarily of tiny shells. Find yourself a bag of that and you'll never need a shell again.

Thanks for the tip, Matt.

[Hellaenergy]

Well I think around day 23 or so the last one disappeared. It was fun while it lasted.

The End

[kbb0118]

A little update on my end. I turned the tank lights back on tonight to feed before everyone fell asleep. I actually witnessed the cleaner shrimp "giving birth". HOLY COW! My tank is full of thousands of tiny shrimp! I'd catch them but I'm too lazy. I'm also too lazy to take video. Maybe next time if anyone wants to give raising them a shot. Let me know. Nick has first dibs.

[Hellaenergy]

Lazy or tired? :) Your Bangers must have been quite happy. If you do get more let me know. I'd be down to try the real thing this time.

[Thle009]

I'd love to try some as well.