#3 Nerite snails

[photozoi]

In one month the 30 gallon went from this...

to this.

Growth.

(First photo taken with the Canon Rebel, second with the Nikon DS-90)

[oleander-neruim]

Big Sun, Tiny Fish

Inktober 2024 Day 9: Sun

Look i love my small mythologies. Look at nerites. He's gonna get shrimped.

Sketch & Base Lining:

[bonezaw]

IT'S KEBIN (EVERYONE SAY 'HELLO KEBIN')

[dazzelmethat]

Thank you everyone for reblogging and tagging this post with recommendations and comments! This post will make a good resource for me and anyone else that needs help in the hobby!

Fishkeeping is hard.. not because water perimeters is too hard or keeping plants alive or any of that. But because I only ever learn about a common problem a fish has when I'm googling symptoms.

I've been dreaming about a dwarf gourami for 3 years and just now I find out that 70% of them in the market die from a virus they are susceptible to?

It's so hard to imagine little fishes as a cog in the capitalistic machine that doesn't care about the health of those fish when they are just little guys. They are just so little..

Where do the fish people of tumblr get your information from?

[coochiekrab]

can we get a aquarium tour?? :3<

Say less

My 10 gallon in my bedroom

-9 ember tetras

-2 amanos

-a Lot of pink and blue ramshorn snails

-many handfuls of sunkist neocaridina

-3 anubias (idk the variety)

-amazon swords

-a red plant that’s either limnophila or rotala idk

-what i thought was Christmas moss but is looking more like java moss

-Chinese water moss + duckweed

-dwarf hairgrass

-one crypt idk

-some pothos on top

-seiryu stone

My 20 long in my living room, Gently Tannined

-7 neon tetras

-many handfuls of cherry shrimp

-many handfuls of pink and blue ramshorns

-2 amanos

-1 one nerite (her name is Squishy)

-Amazon swords

-2 varieties of cryptocoryne (idk)

-java moss probably

-dwarf hairgrass

-limophila or rotala or even both??

-a very sad lily bulb :(

-anacharis

-java fern windolev

-duckweed mostly

-moneywort i think?

[sleepysak]

10 People I’d Like To Get To Know Better Tag!

Tagged by @annchovi :D yay ty

~~~~~

Last song: Sun & Moon (I Love You Too)

Fav color: Grey-Navy! (it's. basically Grey Warden Blue but i sWear I've liked that color since I picked it out as my favorite pencil when i was like. 9)

Last book: currently reading The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I also have Bog Wife by Kay Chronister haunting my side table bc I haven't started it yet.

Last movie: HONESTLY? I don't remember! I don't watch movies often and the ones I "watch" are often bc my roommate is watching one in the living room lmao.

Last game: Technically shiny hunting in Pokemon Scarlet, but REALLY I've been playing Dragon Age: Veilguard :)

Miravas my beautiful daughter you make so many choices <3

Last show: ... back to the roommate thing of He Watches The Media BUT I have seen several episodes of Leverage and oh I Get It!

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Sweet but specifically like, how fruit are sweet. Mild sweet. I am so particular about this sdfskjfhskf

Relationship: Single but me and the roomie have a platonic thing going on. he listens to me talk about Snail Teeth and he's very nice about it despite the fact He Does Not Want To Know Forbidden Snail Knowledge.

Last internet search: 'what age does a betta start showing its colors' [face in hands] might as well share how I got a Surprise Betta Fish for Xmas and uh. Yeah Holly Chobani the baby betta is living it up in a 10 gallon with two Nerite snails while Im Mad at my family for doing that LMAO But! baby betta fish develop their colors as they mature so holly's got like 3-4 months at LEAST of color change ahead. that should be fun!

Obligatory "I talked about my pet so you get a pic now" tax. She knows every Cuss Word and is a chronic Beggar Of Foods. Also you can see the Snail Teeth Marks on the glass!

Tags if you want to play: (no pressure ofc!!)

@simothys @mushroom-circles @oldsneaks @halohampster @spherekuriboh @jupiterplanetpower

and i already know u fellas REALLY well in comparison but i figured youd have fun: @quaxorascal @subcorax @cantodelcolibri @samusthedude

[daycarefriendpickup]

Well, Well... whale 🐋? If it isn't that time of year!

Hello you lovely ballpit goers! We here at DCFP have been hard at work behind the scenes on events to make sure you have tons of entertainment this mermay to draw with!

Presenting you with... The official Daycare Friend Pickup Mermay Prompt List for 2024!

We've got quite a variety up here for you all to choose and draw from this year! And for us to see it all, you'll have to make sure you tag it as #dcfpmermay or #dcfpmermay2024 !

Here's the prompt list broken down in more order!

Weekly

1. Tardigrade

2. Pinnipeds (Seals, Walruses, Sea Lions etc)

3. Cetaceans (Dolphins, Whales, Orcas, etc)

4. Echinoderms (Starfish, Brittle Stars, Sea Urchins, Sea Urchins, etc)

5. Anthozoa (That's right folks, coral is a sea creature too! Time to pump out the creativity on this week!)

Biweekly Prompts (That means one every half a week!)

•Week One

1. Medusozoa (Jellyfish)

2. Cephalopoda (Octos, Squids, Cuttles, and Nautilus!)

•Week Two

1. Limulidae (Horseshoe Crabs)

2. Nephropidae (Lobster time babes! 🦞)

•Week Three

1. Pantapoda (Sea Spiders) [Istiophoridae AKA Marlins this week if spider things freak you out]

2. Neritidae Aka Freshwater Snails/Nerites [Tetraodontidae AKA Pufferfish if Snails freak you out]

•Week Four

1. Rhincodon (Whale Shark)

2. Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)

•Week Five

1. Muranidae (Moray Eels)

2. Torpediniformes (Electric Rays ⚡)

Bonus week of The Deep

(For if you finished everything else but want to do a little more!)

1. Chaulios (Viperfish)

2. Halosauridae (Halosaurs)

The event will go on from April 28th to June 2nd to give everyone who wants to pump out those mermaid drawings all that extra time to put love and attention into these prompts!

And remember, you do NOT have to do all of them! Just do what you feel comfortable with and draw to your fishy daycare's freedom ❤️.

Get ready folks, because it's going to be a splashing Mermay here at the pickup! 🌊

[bestanimal]

May I submit to you the best mollusk, Merlin the mystery snail. He is a good natured slacker that would rather come up to beg for handouts than actually do any algae eating he does however take care of any uneaten fish food and will dig through the substrate until he gets it. (I got him with some of my corydoras years ago and admittedly I didn’t realize they needed calcium supplements at first so his shell got kinda run down but I know now and I had done my best to make up for that since. My other snails are doing just fine now and the zebra Nerite snail Bee in the photo with him is actually still alive going on 3 years old now.)

Omg hello Merlin

[plaguedocboi]

As an aficionado of aquatic snails can I ask your reccomendation as to a good choice of aquatic snail for a large community tank housing a golden pearl (?) gourami, a bonded pair of angelfish, a male and female pair of spotted silver dollars, 6 glass catfish, 5 banded Kuhli loach, 3 Cory catfish (one male peppered, 1 julii leopard of currently undetermined sex and a truly ancient female albino) and a school of tetras (mostly glolite with 2 older rummy noses and 2 even older cardinals).

The tank is freshwater and kept to 26°C, 2 nano airstones one either side of the tank, multiple hiding places and it’s planted out with live blue stricta (chosen because they grow faster than the silver dollars can eat them…)

Tank also has a canister filter I’ve set up with two different ppm sponges for mechanical filtration, ceramic noodles for biological filtration and a mix of bituminous carbon, zeolite and Seachem Phosguard as chemical filtration.

Ideally I’d be looking for something that won’t breed like it’s trying to create an army for world domination and would be happy to aid in algae and food scraps/waste cleanup.

I’ve kept mystery snails before and years ago attempted bladder snails (😰 NEVER AGAIN) but there’s so many snails to choose from it can be overwhelming and you seem to know your snails so I’d trust your reccomendation more than my guessing. I’ve also kept shrimp before as cleanup crew but I just know in this tank they’d be lunch in no time.

My personal favorite is rabbit snails because they’re so silly looking and they only have one baby at a time, so they reproduce very slowly. Nerites are great algae-eaters and they’re very low-maintenance, and come in a lot of cool shell patterns and colors. Those are my two go-tos for omnivorous aquarium snails because they’re so cute and fairly easy to take care of. Apple snails are also very neat but they get gigantic and breed fairly quickly so they might present some challenges. I’ve never personally owned ramshorn snails but apparently they make amazing clean-up crews and are very pretty but they are definitely fast multipliers so they may not be great if you’re not into that.

[prince-liest]

TIL you guys also like fish!!!! please let me introduce you to the rest of my fishy community!

first of all, these are my fish tanks:

this is a 20 gallon tall tank that I will be upgrading to a 37 long next year when I find out where I’m going for residency. the 5lb pressurized cannister is a CO2 tank that I use to inject carbon dioxide into the water (on a timer)! CO2 is the limiting “nutrient” for plant growth underwater in a tank like mine (with bright light and fertilizers added), so it helps encourage plant growth and more vibrant colors in plants with red and orange tones, as well as carpeting plants.

this is a 6.4 gallon tank that also has CO2 injection, and currently no fish because it is cycling (and will be for about 4 weeks). it will be her highness the betta fish’s new home once it is cycled, because she keeps murdering my shrimp in the community tank. once she is moved, I will probably get a pair of honey gouramis for the community tank.

this is one of the shrimp in question! she is pregnant. (eggnant, you might say.) I love her.

these are my kuhli loaches! I have 6 black and 6 banded. they are technically different species and the banded ones are much more shy. they spend a lot of time swimming circles along the glass and draping themselves over plants upside-down to make me think they are dead. they get very offended when you poke them to make sure they’re not dead.

I have 8 neon tetras. they’re all fat and extremely hard to take non-blurry photos of.

I also have 3 hillstream loaches, which are one of my favorite fish of all time. they’re juveniles that bred from a friend’s tank, and they look like tiny little stingrays that are frequently stuck to the side of the glass. they are aufwuchs-eaters which means they scrape algae and biofilm off the surfaces of things, but they also like sifting through sand and need sufficient protein (aka. not pure algae eaters).

here’s what they look like from the bottom:

I also have snails:

this is the biggest of my three nerite snails! I like nerites because they have bright colors and they don’t reproduce in fresh water. however, if you get a female (like this one), they WILL lay tiny white little sesame seed eggs everywhere, even though they can’t hatch. I used to have “pest” snails in the form of bladder snails and freshwater limpets but, uh, I have a total of 15 loaches in the tank, so. I no longer have pest snails and my loaches are all well-fed. :”)

thank u for coming to my ted talk. I love fish. I love my fish. please come talk to me about fish. I leave u with one last photo of her highness in all her glory:

[photozoi]

Wyatt admiring the inlay artistry in the Nerite gallery.

[wachi-delectrico]

Tank update!

On plants:

I keep having to trim back the rotala rotundifolia because it grows at insane rates and covers all the other plants, the light gluttons. The cryptocorine wendtii are doing much better: one that had completely melted is growing back leaves at really quick pace for a crypt; the one I accidentally cut the leaves of (was trying to cut a bad leaf and accidentally cut that one and the only other healthy leaf the plant had) is coming back and growing a new leaf slowly but surely after I cut its bad-looking roots and replanted it.

I'm fiddling with the amount of potassium I should add as fertilizer, since many plants started showing signs of a potassium overdose - started at 5ml, now 3ml to see if any signs of a potassium deficit show up.

I've also been experimenting with the placement for the CO3 diffuser* (*see: a chunk of aquarium sponge pushed into hose, lol). I've now moved it to where the bubbles rise to the filter's waterfall, so it naturally pushes and distributes smaller bubbles around while bigger bubbles get broken into smaller bubbles. The first location I put it on, one of the corners, worked ok-ish but it wasted a lot of CO2. The second location was right underneath the filter intake, testing if the filter's impeller could maybe break the bubbles and dissolve the CO2 in the water before going back into the tank, but that not only didn't work but also put extra stress on the impeller which made it very noisy and annoying lol. Its current location as previously described seems to be doing the best out of the three, with the plants releasing a lot of oxygen! :3

Lastly, I'm still experimenting with the light fixture. Went from two 325lm 6500k bulbs and one 475lm 2700k bulb, to changing one of the 325lm bulbs for an 800ml 6500k one, two having two 800lm 6500k + one 475lm 2700k, to taking the 2700k out. The two 800lm bulbs have a good reach and colour temperature, buuuut they did leave a darker spot right in the middle where the hygrophilla angustifolia are, so I added one little 325lm 6500k bulb back. Right now, I'm using two 800lm bulbs and one 325lm bulb, all 6500k, with the dimmer one right in the middle.

On water chemistry:

I've gotten the nitrate levels down considerably, from 120ppm (very unsafe and bad) to 20ppm (good :3), turns out the food I was using to up the ammonia created inconmensurable and uncontrollable amounts of waste, gracias Shulet ni para ciclar acuarios servís.

Speaking of ammonia, I'd gotten the ammonia down to 0ppm but these last few days I've noticed it increase up to 0.25ppm - possibly due to a drop in pH caused by the DIY CO2, which could mean the "ammonia" detected is actually ammonium, much less toxic than ammonia, as the API Ammonia test detects both and has no way to distinguish between the two. As An Autistic Guy obsessed with numbers and data and accuracy I'm so happy that the numbers are inaccurate and the test is so vague, I love that so much, it doesn't make me want to pull my teeth out at all (I am in pain).

Despite the "ammonia" issues, things look good rn! Especially thanks to keeping nitrates under control at long last, the presence of visible algae has started to decrease. I've been taking the brown algae out with a stick, and have been dosing hydrogen peroxide locally to the harder-to-deal-with filament algae to weaken it enough for the snails to go at it. I'm happy to report that the hydrogen peroxide has weakened the filament algae to a point where the nerite snail is able to eat it.

(All the little dots floating in the water are planorbis snail larvae that hatched today!! Yippee!!!)

On stocking:

It's still just snails for now. A week or two ago I discovered a bunch of dead or half dead planorbis snails in the filter intake tube, victims of the siren call of all the brown algae within it - apparently - though two adults survived and have laid various egg sacks on the glass, on plants, etc, so their presence in the tank will make a triumphant comeback for sure. The one adult bladder snail I had also fell victim to the filter intake, though that one's babies had been crawling around for a few days before its untimely death; there'll be plenty of snails going around for everyone. Don't worry, I've fixed the issue now and snails with shells that are 2mm thick or more will be safe from now on. The nerite hasn't laid any eggs yet, though when it does I'll probably scrape them off (they don't hatch in freshwater).

I'll be gone from monday til thursday, and though I'm a little worried (as always) I am also confident in that things will be fine once I come back. I'm really excited, I should be able to add the tank's main attraction, a betta fish, very soon. :3

[sea-witcheh]

🐚 My Shell List for Ocean Witchcraft

very long!

Cowrie Shell -- Prosperity, fertility, feminine energy, wealth - where to collect: Africa, Indian Ocean beaches

Scallop Shell -- Journey, pilgrimage blessings, protection - where to collect: Atlantic beaches (USA, Europe)

Conch Shell -- Call to spirits, awakening inner power, amplifying voice - where to collect: Caribbean, warm tropical beaches

Sand Dollar -- Spiritual rebirth, peace, trust in universal cycles - where to collect: Mexico, Florida, tropical sandy shores

Murex Shell -- Royalty, sacredness, defense magic - where to collect: Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific

Olive Shell -- Grace, smooth paths, grounding wishes - where to collect: Southeastern US, Australia

Auger Shell -- Psychic defense, focus, clarity - where to collect: Indo-Pacific, Florida, warm beaches

Wentletrap Shell -- Spirit communication, delicate energy, accessing dreams - where to collect: Shallow waters, Southeast Asia

Babylon Shell -- Abundance, rootedness, wisdom of ancestors - where to collect: Persian Gulf, India, Philippines

Triton’s Trumpet -- Powerful protection, summoning sea spirits, strength - where to collect: Indo-Pacific reefs, coral-heavy shores

Limpet Shell -- Adaptability, steady progress, emotional protection - where to collect: Rocky shores, tide pools worldwide

Nerite Shell -- New beginnings, resisting negativity, safe travels - where to collect: Caribbean, Florida, Indo-Pacific

Moon Snail Shell -- Intuition, hidden wisdom, psychic dreams - where to collect: Pacific Northwest (USA), colder beaches

Top Shell -- Personal growth, creativity, positive flow - where to collect: Mediterranean, Caribbean

Turritella Shell -- Ancient memory, ancestral connection, earth-sea balance - where to collect: Fossil beds, warm shallow waters

Sundial Shell (Architectonica perspectiva) -- Cosmic connection, time magic, spiraling growth - where to collect: Indo-Pacific, sandy shallow areas

Helmet Shell (some of my favorites!) -- Courage, spiritual shielding, warrior energy - where to collect: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean

Volute Shell -- Love, devotion, honoring vows (Great gift for your partner <3) - where to collect: Warm waters, Indian Ocean

Paper Nautilus (Argonaut Shell) -- Creativity, femininity, magical flight - where to collect: These are rarer than most, and they float! Mediterranean, Australia

Angel Wing Shell -- Fragile beauty, spiritual awakening, connection to dreams - where to collect: Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Caribbean

Slipper Limpet -- Subtle healing, balance between giving and receiving - where to collect: European and East Coast shores

Donax Shell (Coquina) -- Energy shifts, playfulness, social magic - where to collect: Southeastern USA beaches

Cockle Shell -- Friendship, love, carrying home’s blessings - where to collect: European beaches, Atlantic shores

Pheasant Shell -- Endurance, adaptability, balance of inner and outer selves - where to collect: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific beaches

Spindle Shell -- Manifestation of goals, swift change, ambition - where to collect: Indo-Pacific region, tropical beaches

Marginella Shell -- Financial luck, small blessings, quick positive changes - where to collect: West Africa, Indian Ocean

Ark Shell (clam) -- Courage to face emotional challenges, opening the heart - where to collect: East Coast USA, Gulf of Mexico

Cat’s Eye Shell (Operculum) (My favorite!!!) -- Spiritual gateway, protection during astral travel - where to collect: Washed up with dead shells (Sri Lanka, Australia)

Button Top Shell -- Inner balance, softening harsh emotions, emotional maturity - where to collect: Caribbean, Indo-Pacific

✨ Tips for Collecting Shells

Respect local laws: Some places protect shells, corals, and marine wildlife! Always check if it's okay to take them.

Ethical gathering: Only take empty, dead shells (never with a creature still inside).

Cleanse shells: Wash gently with water and sea salt before using them in spells or altars.

🐚 Shell Magic Ideas

Use cowrie shells in money bowls.

Sand dollars are amazing for transformation rituals.

Conch shells can be used as literal horns to call spirits or start a ritual.

Tiny auger shells make great protection charms to wear or carry.

Paper nautilus shells (if you can find one!!) are perfect for creativity and dream weaving magic.

other sites to use: Shelling tips , shell hunting in Texas , Where and when to find shells

Note: some shells match certain moon phases! Do extra research before using, and make sure the ones you're taking aren't still alive or home to a hermit crab! that can be a miniature trouble! especially if the snail inside is possibly poisonous or venomous.

[glassboxdiaries]

Shrimp Vs Snails - What's The Best Option For Your Aquarium?

🛒 Check Out My Product Review Videos On Amazon – https://glassboxdiaries.com/amazonpage 💻 Check Out My Fish-Keeping Tutorials On My Website - https://glassboxdiaries.com

My Video On Getting Rid Of Black Bearded Algae - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjXGlPT-ZZs

Shrimp Vs Snails - What's The Best Option For Your Aquarium?

Thinking of adding a clean-up crew to your aquarium but not sure whether shrimp or snails are the better fit? In today’s video, I break down everything you need to know to make the right choice for your tank. I’ve kept cherry shrimp (Neocaridina), Amano shrimp, nerite snails, and ramshorn snails in a wide variety of setups, and I’m sharing my honest experiences with each.

We’ll start by diving into their roles in algae control. Amano shrimp and nerite snails are widely regarded as primary algae eaters—especially when it comes to soft green algae and the occasional bits of hair algae. That said, they often prefer leftover food over tougher algae types, so their effectiveness can vary depending on your tank’s conditions and feeding routine. I’ve had great results using them for maintenance in established tanks, particularly when algae issues are still minor.

Cherry shrimp and ramshorn snails, on the other hand, shine as secondary algae eaters. They don’t actively eat healthy hair algae in my experience, but they are excellent at grazing on soft algae and biofilm. I’ve seen dramatic results in tanks overrun with soft green algae after introducing these two species—especially when nutrient levels were brought under control.

Beyond their utility, aesthetics matter too. Let’s face it—if you’re going to spend hours looking at your tank, you want your clean-up crew to look good too. Amano shrimp aren’t the flashiest creatures, though they may show subtle color changes after molting. Nerite snails come in some patterned varieties like Zebra and Clithon types, but are typically chosen more for their function than flair.

In contrast, ramshorn snails and cherry shrimp really bring the color. Ramshorns are available in a rainbow of morphs—including pink, blue, and even leopard-patterned variations—while Neocaridina cherry shrimp come in nearly every shade imaginable. From bright reds to deep blues, vivid yellows, and even rare orange-eyed strains, there’s a shrimp for every aquascape style.

When it comes to compatibility, I’ve never had issues with Neocaridina shrimp, Amano shrimp, ramshorn snails, or nerite snails bothering tank mates. Just be cautious not to confuse peaceful species with aggressive look-alikes like whisker shrimp, which are often mistaken for ghost shrimp but can be surprisingly predatory.

Breeding is another big factor. If you’re looking for a self-sustaining population, cherry shrimp and ramshorn snails are ideal. They breed easily in freshwater and can quickly build up a colony. Just be aware that overfeeding can cause a snail population boom. On the flip side, Amano shrimp and nerite snails won’t reproduce in a standard freshwater tank, which can be a plus if you're trying to avoid overpopulation—but also a drawback if you're hoping to breed them.

Feeding both shrimp and snails is a breeze. They’ll eat just about anything from algae wafers and fish food to blanched vegetables and decaying plant matter. In planted tanks or Walstad-style setups, they often thrive on biofilm and detritus alone. That said, feeding granules or wafers can sometimes lead to snails crowding out the shrimp, so I’ve started experimenting with flake and microgranule foods that spread more evenly across the substrate.

As for water parameters and care, all four species are surprisingly adaptable. Despite not using shrimp-specific salts anymore, I’ve bred countless Neocaridina shrimp in water with a pH of 6.4, KH of 3, and GH of 4. I’ve also kept them—and my snails—in much harder water without issues, thanks to Seiryu stone gradually increasing the mineral content. Unless you’re seeing failed molts (especially with a white ring around the body), I’d say there’s no need to overcomplicate things. Just aim for stability, and these hardy inverts will thrive.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro 00:23 - Keeping Shrimp And Snails Together 00:42 - Clean-Up Crew 04:52 - Aesthetics 08:08 - Tank Mates 10:12 - Breeding 12:38 - Feeding 14:05 - Water Parameters 16:12 - Plant Saftey 18:45 - Wrapping It Up

Disclaimer: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission from purchases.

[bluedreamshrimpsplashyfish]

Best Tank Mates for Blue Dream Shrimp

Blue Dream Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var. "Blue Dream") are a stunning freshwater shrimp variety known for their deep blue color and peaceful nature. These shrimp are easy to care for and thrive in a well-maintained tank with the right companions. Selecting the best tank mates is crucial to ensure a stress-free environment where your shrimp can flourish.

Ideal Tank Mates for Blue Dream Shrimp

To keep your Blue Dream Shrimp safe and happy, it’s essential to choose peaceful tank mates that will not see them as food or outcompete them for resources. Here are some of the best options:

1. Other Neocaridina Shrimp

Cherry Shrimp

Blue Velvet Shrimp

Snowball Shrimp

Yellow Shrimp

Neocaridina shrimp species share the same water parameters, making them excellent tank mates. However, interbreeding can occur, leading to mixed-color offspring.

2. Snails

Snails are one of the best companions for Blue Dream Shrimp, as they help keep the tank clean without disturbing the shrimp. Great options include:

Nerite Snails

Mystery Snails

Malaysian Trumpet Snails

Ramshorn Snails

3. Peaceful Nano Fish

Small, non-aggressive fish are excellent tank mates for Blue Dream Shrimp. The best choices include:

Celestial Pearl Danios – Tiny, peaceful, and too small to eat shrimp.

Ember Tetras – Non-aggressive and shrimp-friendly.

Chili Rasboras – A tiny species that coexists peacefully with shrimp.

Endler’s Livebearers – Small, active, and compatible with shrimp.

Microdevario Kubotai (Green Neon Rasboras) – Small, peaceful fish that add movement to the tank.

4. Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus (Otos) are algae eaters and extremely docile, making them ideal companions for shrimp.

5. Pygmy Corydoras

Pygmy Corydoras are tiny bottom dwellers that won’t harm shrimp and help clean the substrate.

Tank Mates to Avoid

Some fish and invertebrates are not suitable tank mates for Blue Dream Shrimp because they may prey on them or compete for food. Avoid:

Cichlids – Including Angelfish, Oscars, and other aggressive species.

Bettas – Some bettas may eat shrimp, even if well-fed.

Gouramis – Many gouramis will hunt small shrimp.

Large Tetras – Species like Black Skirt and Serpae Tetras can be aggressive.

Goldfish – They will likely eat shrimp due to their omnivorous nature.

Tips for a Thriving Shrimp Community Tank

Provide Hiding Places: Live plants, moss, and driftwood give shrimp a safe place to hide.

Monitor Fish Behavior: If fish show signs of aggression, remove them from the tank.

Feed Properly: Ensure all tank mates get enough food without outcompeting the shrimp.

Maintain Water Quality: Keep ammonia and nitrite at 0 ppm and conduct regular water changes.

Final Thoughts

The best tank mates for Blue Dream Shrimp are peaceful, small species that won’t harass or prey on them. Nano fish, snails, and other Neocaridina shrimp make excellent choices, while aggressive fish should be avoided. By carefully selecting compatible tank mates and providing a well-maintained environment, your Blue Dream Shrimp will thrive and enhance the beauty of your aquarium.

[mod2amaryllis]

hi mod! you are the person i know who knows and is most excited about fish, and my favorite way to learn is to ask people whose passion and delight i am already familiar with. i know this is stuff i could find digging around on yt or search engines but it is just less fun and often less informative. but ofc feel free not to answer if you don't have the time/energy etc!

i am coming to realize that i would really like fish (after attempting to convince my wife that he would like them and then they pointed out that it kind of sounded like *i* wanted the fish and well). but i am very chronically ill (spend most of my time laying down in bed) and also poor. i'm worried about not being able to take care of them well enough.

assuming i restrain myself (that is don't deep dive into habitat design or breeding or anything beyond just having some guys to spend time with while i'm stuck in bed) what are the daily, weekly, monthly things i'd have to make sure got taken care of? are there ways i can simplify or automate tasks while not sacrificing their care?

OR do you know of good places where people have already talked about this, or other people who love fish a lot and might wanna share their knowledge?

my partner is also suggesting a plant&snail tank instead of fish but i'm even less sure how to approach their care needs!

watching you get into fish reminded me of how much i love them (had some when i was young but was not primary caretaker). it's good to see you make creatures so happy.

well thank you for reading and i hope you are having a good weekend!

ahhh weeee haha fish ask fish ask

there's definitely ways to make mega low maintenance tanks! what you're going for is overfiltering, understocking, and planting as much as possible. I'll go over those points. this got mega long so i'll put it under a cut.

overfiltering basically means bumping your filter up a size. if you have a 10g tank, get a 20g filter. this will reduce how often you need to maintain that filter. I'd recommend sponge filters, they're by far the cheapest option and imo easiest to maintain. you'll need the sponge and an air pump. i see a lot of mega reduced amazon sales for the tetra whisper air pump. depending on how dirty it gets you're looking at every 2-3 months taking it out into a bucket of clean tank water and squeezing out the gunk.

in that vein, you wanna get as big a tank as you can. seems counterintuitive, but the more water you have, the more stability. the less maintenance. so if you wanted a 5g for a betta, consider getting a 10g. if you want a little 10g nano school, get a 20g long. if you want a 20g community, get a 40g breeder. whatever's gonna fit in your space. my best recommendation for tank size is 20g long, it gives you sooo many options without being massive. if you're in America the cheapest way to get a tank is wait for Petco to have their quarterly tank sale. otherwise look for something on the local market.

now onto understocking. basically pick animals that aren't gonna shit that much lol, and put in less than can technically fit in the tank. the snail tank is a definite fun option, as long as you're sticking with pest snails and fewer large snails (big snails have a big bioload, even bigger than most fish). a planted 10g with a variety of big snails (a mystery, a rabbit, a nerite, etc), pest snails, and a few amano shrimp, would be fun and extremely low maintenance. you'd even have the option of trying some fancy shrimp, tho they might breed like crazy. if you want a tank with fish instead, i recommend getting a school of a tiny species like chili rasbora, ember tetras, pygmy corys, basically anything that stays little so you can get as many as possible without a big bioload. for schooling/shoaling fish, the more the merrier. absolutely do not get live bearers. no guppies, no mollies, no platys. that's the opposite of low maintenance. shit machines that will multiply forever, don't do it.

now. you know i love my bettas, favorite fish, but i'm always hesitant to recommend them. they're wonderfully personable but the caveat is that it seems more and more they run into health problems as they get commercially overbred. it's luck of the draw. you might get an easy buddy who can survive anything, or you'll get a sicky. most of the time my bettas are super low maintenance and rewarding, but when they ARE sick, it's hard. it can be daily water changes and treatment for weeks, and sometimes even that doesn't help in the end.

so with that said, my dream low maintenance tank stocking would be 20g long with 4 amano shrimp, 1 mystery snail, 1 rabbit snail, 1 nerite snail, and a school of around 15 nano fish (I'd do either chili rasbora or celestial pearl danio cuz they prettyyy). OR i'd just have a centerpiece in that big old tank, like 1 betta for the whole tank or a pair of sparkling gouramis. fish choice is definitely too much to get into for this post lol.

now third point, planting the crap out of it. this is where things can get expensive. i really do recommend investing in this step at setup, but try to cut costs by buying from local sellers, or even seeing if people are giving cuttings away. the lowest maintenance plants are ones that don't require trimming, like crypts, buce, anubias; these plants are gorgeous but they don't filter water that well. faster growing stem plants and floaters will REALLY help to filter the water, but require more maintenance via trimming and replanting stems (monthly) or removing overgrown floaters (weekly). hornwort and guppy grass are great options for something fast growing that you can just chuck in a tank, no need to plant. what I'd most highly recommend for the sake of lowering maintenance is adding some pothos cuttings coming out of the water. terrestrial plants are much better at filtering water than aquatic plants because of their direct co2 exposure, and I've had the most success with pothos! i also love a spider plant in water.

some other money specific points. for substrate, you can use rinsed play sand and/or pea gravel from a hardware store, but you would need to add nutrients if you have things planted into the substrate. you can add root tabs (api root tabs cost about 8 bucks a pack, but you need to replenish them every few months) or a small layer of aquasoil at the bottom. (aqueon has a little bag of shrimp/plant soil on amazon for i think 12 bucks). and the one thing you shouldn't go cheap on is the heater. their failure is more dangerous than other hardware because they tend to fail ON, aka they cook the water. you wanna make sure you trust it. the cheapest heater i trust are the aqueon preset submersible heaters, also frequently on sale. or you can forgo the heater and commit to only "cold" temperature livestock; the snails and amano shrimp idea would be fine w/o a heater.

labor specific points, once it's cycled (which can take weeks, during which time you'll do literally nothing to the tank) and stocked, it'll depend on how fast those plants eat up your nitrates on how often you do water changes. for me, i do 25% every two weeks on my 20g. it could probably stand to have more since mine is pretty overstocked but fish are ok to sit in slightly higher nitrates as long as they're used to it. when testing, i do recommend the api master test kit. it's more expensive than strips but way more accurate and it's lasted me longer than 2 tubes of strips. if you don't want to buy the test kit, just do water changes as often as you can. every 2 weeks if possible, then you can try pushing to 3 weeks, or even monthly.

get a water siphon to make it as easy as possible. empty water into a bucket on wheels so nobody has to carry anything. you can also look into getting a submersible pump with a long enough tube that you can empty water directly into the nearest drain, then to refill with clean water put a bucket in the sink with tap water, put the submersible pump in that bucket, and run the tube back to your tank, adding dechlorinator directly to the tank beforehand. just be careful with this method if you have small animals at risk of being caught in the siphon.

also, some people with planted tanks don't do water changes AT ALL. they just top off as water evaporates. what i do some would consider overkill, but i'm so frequent with my water changes because i have really hard water and there's this thing called old tank syndrome that can happen if you only top off, and yeah that's this other whole spiel lmao BUT not doing water changes IS possible, people have success. just not me!

so monthly tasks; rinsing sponge filter every 2-3 months. weekly tasks; depends on how often you decide to do water changes. daily tasks; feeding, frequency varies depending on livestock, but i basically feed once a day. if you're going for a self contained ecosystem low maintenance dealio, feed as little as possible. i know of people who do this and sprinkle in food weekly or less. i don't have experience with automatic feeders, but i'm wary of them lol, they could be totally fine, idk. it's better imo to just feed infrequently than risk the auto feeder dumping too much food.

to wrap it up, i'll be real with you, setting up something that's as low maintenance as possible while working with budget constraints is hard (at least in my area). this hobby is notoriously expensive, especially when you're just starting out. you need to see what the local market is like. see if there's fish hobby groups in your area that can help you with spare supplies and plant trimmings. your partner's idea of a plant/snail tank might be the best place to start! as far as other resources, the fish subreddits have soooooooooooo much info.