How to Breed Cleaner Shrimp

Breeding the type of shrimp known as the cleaner shrimp is not an easy task to accomplish. It may take several attempts before you are able to grow a shrimp population successfully. The most difficult part to breeding these saltwater aquatic bottom feeders comes right after the eggs hatch, when the new shrimp larvae are very delicate and high mortality rates are common. But there are things you can do to increase your chances of success. You can keep their water clean and at the right salinity level, for one thing. And you can make sure they are fed a high-protein food right after they hatch until they grow into miniature shrimp and are stronger.

Things You'll Need

  • pH meter
  • Thermometer
  • Specific gravity meter
  • Aquarium
  • pH buffer
  • Aquarium heater
  • Nitrate liquid test or nitrate test strips
  • Dechlorinator
  • Live rock reef
  • Newly hatched brine shrimp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Test your water for pH, temperature and specific gravity by using a pH meter, a thermometer and a specific gravity meter. Your water needs to have a pH between 8.1 and 8.4. The temperature needs to be between 72 and 78 degrees F. The specific gravity, or the salinity level, of your water needs to be between 1.023 and 1.025. Cleaner shrimp, like all marine animals, are very susceptible to parameter changes. A stable tank with constant parameters is vital for breeding success.

    • 2

      Add pH buffers or marine salt as required to reach the required tank parameters. Increase or decrease the tank heater as needed to maintain a steady temperature between 72 and 78 degrees F.

    • 3

      Test the nitrate levels of the water on a daily basis by using either a nitrate liquid test or nitrate test strips. The nitrate levels should never go above 10 ppm. If you see the nitrate levels approach 10 ppm, perform a water change with premixed and treated marine water at the required specific gravity. Treated marine water will have dechlorinators added to remove chlorine and chloramines.

    • 4

      Maintain a cleaner shrimp colony of at least four shrimp. A reef tank of at least 40 gallons is recommended for a colony of four shrimp to provide each shrimp sufficient territory and feeding grounds.

    • 5

      Look for eggs being carried by the shrimp after they have paired off. Shrimp carry their eggs on their legs. The eggs are green at first but will turn light brown as they get closer to hatching.

    • 6

      Feed newly hatched brine shrimp to the cleaner shrimp larva as soon as they hatch. Ideally, the newly hatched brine shrimp have been fed themselves so the cleaner shrimp larvae get more nutrients from the meal. This, again, is the most sensitive period, and mortality rates of the larva can be high. Feed often. After 11 days, your larva will begin to look like miniature shrimps.