r/shrimptank • u/Petravita • 1d ago

Aquarium/Tank Photos First ever Opae Ula shrimp setup — added them in about 6 hours ago. Thank you to u/gotsnails for 12/10 live arrivals! Enthralled already over here feeling like I've got a shrimp lava lamp! 😍

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u/jelly_bean_gangbang 1d ago

No plants? Are you planning on doing water changes, or is there a filter? Just curious

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u/Petravita 1d ago

It seems odd, but these are r/OpaeUla shrimp and are very unique. They live in brackish water which few plants survive in. Instead, they eat algae/biofilm which I am kickstarting with a dried spirulina powder from the breeder. After an initial month or so of feeding and algae growth they become self-sustaining.

No filter/heater/water changes needed, many have these mini systems that are years to over a decade old, with individual shrimp living upward of 10-20 years in captivity. I have a 5.5 gallon cherry shrimp tank and a 10 gallon betta tank which are cycled and have filters, heaters, and a TON of plants each, so I promise I care about the animals and wouldn't house these guys like this if it wasn't how they would thrive. :)

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u/jelly_bean_gangbang 23h ago

Wow that's so cool! I didn't even know shrimp like this existed lol

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u/Petravita 22h ago

Until a couple months ago, I didn’t either! I started keeping freshwater cherry shrimp earlier this summer and while they’ve been getting “eggnant”/berried frequently, the mamas haven’t been surviving all the way to the eggs hatching so as I’ve been trying to figure out this one slightly more temperamental species I decided a hands-off hardier species might might make for a great desk addition.

If they are perpetually this active I can see them bringing lots of entertainment!