Want to add shrimps to my tank. What changes do I need?

[vasishta.sushant]

Here is the pic of my current aquarium and it might see some more changes (addition of few more carpeting plants - dwarf sag/ tennulus. Possibly some anubias nana on the wood). Have 5 mollies, two red eye tetra, four zebra danio, two SAEs, one pleco already in the tank. Also as soon as they'll be available, I plan to add 4 nerite snails in this 29G tank.

Not using any pressurized CO2 but I add Flourish Excel intermittently. Would be introducing EI dosing soon.

FishTank.jpg

Now what changes do I need to make to ensure that the shrimps survive and possibly reproduce as well. Additionally if it possible, help me some place in gurgaon from where I can purchase RCS for cheap.

More Plants??? (suggest me the names please)
Hiding spots?? (Would the tennelus carpeting be enough?)
Removal of any specific fish? (help me with the name please)
Any other addition?

PS: Not planning to add them right now. Possibly after a month or so but needed to do all the preparation within this time and thus the thread.

[apuda2010]

Shrimps are invertebrates. Small defenceless creatures. A shrimp tank is mostly a shrimp only tank.

I don't have one...but this was the advice given to me by my friends on Aquapetz when I asked the same question. I followed the advice.

[vasishta.sushant]

Well lets say I don't want to listen to that advice and still want to have shrimps in the same tank. What are my options?

[SCORPIO]

Mollies, Red eye tetra, Zebra danio, SAEs, all of these are monsters for these little creatures. You can make as hiding places but mollies and Danio will not accept any food while shrimps will be there. With present list of fishes, they will disappear within a few days. Only several fishes are compatible with shrimps. So it is best to make another tank for shrimps. They can live in a 1 foot cube.

[Matrix]

The ONLY 100% shrimp safe fish is Otto. All others will eat shrimps in due course.

[Matrix]

The ONLY 100% shrimp safe fish is Otto. All others will eat shrimps in due course.

[Abhishek]

As mentioned either get Otto or if you can get panda loach are also shrimp safe!!!

[vasishta.sushant]

All the fish that I have are just for initial setup. One of my friends have this group of Cardinal tetras staying comfortably with his RCS. I wanted to have something similar but with Cardinal tetras replaced by some other fish.

Anyway, I am ready to let go all my current fauna, if it's required.

Btw are the Ottos readily available? Never seen them at any LFS around. How much do they generally cost?

(posted with my mobile device)

[SCORPIO]

One of my friends have this group of Cardinal tetras staying comfortably with his RCS

Cardinals always feel comfortable and luxurious along with RCS. Cardinals are predators for RCS. But you can keep them if you have lots of hiding places.

Cardinal tetras replaced by some other fish.

Horadandia brittani, Horadandia atukorali, Boraras brigittae

Btw are the Ottos readily available?

Occasionally they available in Delhi/NCR.

[vasishta.sushant]

Thanks for the detailed reply @scorpio.

I realized that unfortunately I'll have to make a lot many changes to my tank. Honestly the fish that you mentioned (Horadandia brittani, Horadandia atukorali, Boraras brigittae) didn't seem to be so attractive to me. So my bet is mostly on getting the cardinals/tetras probably along with lots of hiding space for the shrimps.

Now that the weather is getting better, I am hoping to see lot many options in the adjoining LFS (gurgaon/delhi) in the next few weeks.

What is the ongoing rate of ottos?