The Puffer Forum

I realize this may be a long shot but figured I'd ask. I am trying to find out if there is any shrimp that can live in light brackish with my 3 fig8 puffers? Or more specifically can Atyopsis moluccensis, aka wood/flower/bamboo/singapore shrimp? I have read that thier fry need brackish water to survive, but no specific references for the adult shrimp living in brackish water? I have read also they are one of the largest freshwater shrimps at up to ~3.5"-5", and are filter feeders. I bought a pair of these a few days ago (about 3" long) and put one in my 75G planted and one in the 45G bowfront with BB Gobies that will be slowly acclimated to light brackish. I have 3 Fig8 puffers that will be put in the brackish tank once its sg is brought up. I was going to chance it and see what happens (the Fig8's are about 2" long right now). But if there is very little chance the puffers wont bother the shrimp I'll put the shrimp in the 75 with the other before the sg starts going up.

They would definitely make a really good meal for your puffers, but I wouldn't put the shrimp in there if you want them to live.

Even if the shrimp could live in brackish water, I'd bet a fortune they'd be gone within an hour or two

Well I figured as much, just was thinking since the shrimp would be larger than the puffers maybe they would leave it alone... I'll probably put him in my freshwater tank but That has clown loaches so I guess I'll be taking a chance there too, but I think clowns would be much less likely to eat a shrimp of that size. But the switch will have to wait since I have recently had a full on attack of BGA and will probably be doing a blackout here shortly.

I have had 10-12 ghost shrimp in my 30g bw fig8 tank for 2 months now and they are still thriving (those that escaped her wrath). I've even seen two carrying eggs so far. I originally put them in for food for her, but she can't catch them, lol. It's fun to watch =p

Hachi wrote: It's fun to watch =p

It sure is, ghost shrimp are quick little fellas...its almost like they teleport out of the way of the when a puffer goes to take a bite..

Even though the bamboo shrimp are larger than the puffs I still think they will be ripped apart piece by piece. Just like how a GSP will rip the legs off of a fiddler crab. Like the others mentioned, ghost shrimp are really fast and can live in BW. With enough decorations you might be able to keep some alive in there with your puffs.

And if not, ghost shrimp are only 20 cents a piece whereas bamboo shrimp are $10 each (at least around here).

That is very true. But ghost shrimp seem to be pricey too last I checked (but not as much as the bamboo shrimp). I might try them to see what happens (at the very least a nice snack for them) but one of the reasons I got the bamboo shrimps was for their cleaner ability... I don't know much about ghost shrimp perhaps they would be just as well suited... I'll have to look up the facts on ghost shrimp.

For what it's worth anything living that's been put into the tank with my two F8's never lived to see the light of the following day. As far as they're concerned snails and river shrimp are just nutricious and delicious and probably "... taste just like chicken"

This is funny...

This weekend we went to the lfs for some new fish for a couple different tanks we have. I was getting some little cleaner shrimp for my community tank. While pulling them out my fish guy spotted a troublesome prawn. He said he'd give him to me as he's a hassle. The colors were striking so I thought, why not, I can put him somewhere. On the ride home, my wife and I decided the best place for him was in the 55 g tank with our fugu. He's in the tank solo- so we need something else to liven the tank up. We added the shrimp and he was pleased as can be- his colors looked great on the coral substrate. "Chompers" investigated but didn't do anything.

We went to let the algae shrimp go in the community tank and returned 10 minutes later...to a leg here and an antenna there... Chompers was fat and happy- So we know he likes prawns now.

This prawn was 3.5-4" long, Chompers is only 3". Not sure how he did it, but it was quick I presume.

[quote="crazy loaches"]That is very true. But ghost shrimp seem to be pricey too last I checked (quote]

We get ours from the lfs for 4 for $1.. Petsmart sells for cheaper, I think..

Hachi wrote:

crazy loaches wrote:That is very true. But ghost shrimp seem to be pricey too last I checked (quote]

We get ours from the lfs for 4 for $1.. Petsmart sells for cheaper, I think..

My lfs sells them 20 for a dollar.

!!!! That's cheap!!!!!

I havent looked for/at them in while... we got some about a year or so ago and it seemed like all the sudden they were rare. A lot of lfs didnt have them, and the ones that did were over $1 per ghost shrimp. But I'll definately check next time I am in a lfs... maybe it was just a temporary price hike I happened to see.

On a side note, its interesting what range of traits figure 8's have with different people. Some seem like viscous killers and others completely passive.

The guy I got to has them in a 5' by 5' pond...thousands are in it.