Amano Shrimp

[angelminx]

Back before Petco had their limited-location fish/plant sale I purchased 2 Amano Shrimp.  They had 3, but 2 of them were nearly 1/2 the size of the other.  I took a risk and purchased one of the smaller ones, along with the larger one--I was hoping it wouldn't become a snack for one of my angels.    I named them Mano (the largest) and Emano.  After a few days I never saw Emano again (and there are stretches when I don't see Mano either).

Here are a couple photos of Mano:
  

Here you can gauge "his" size by the Cory in front of him (since I'm not sure of the species the Cories are, I don't know if they are full grown or not, in this pic they are a fraction under 2"TL):


More pix will follow after I get them downloaded (I have a couple more)/taken.

[Carl]

Your really becoming quite the picture artist, great pics!

Carl

[angelminx]

I wish I was better at taking them, tho; I have problems with focusing at times. Although not always, sometimes it's the camera and/or fish that's the problem. I've tried taking some (in succession) where the camera will: immediately snap the shot--sometimes with out taking the time to focus; followed by one where it either doesn't register that I've pressed the shutter button, or takes so long to actually snap the pic, that the fish starts to/has moved on. Of course getting the fish to pose can be a problem in and of itself!

[devonjohnsgard]

Focusing is one of the hardest for me too. It helps to have a camera that snaps right when you push the shutter release, but still is hard. One thing you are going is making me want snails and shrimp. I have the small snails, but it would be pretty cool to see some larger ones crawling around in my tank.

[parker002]

Focus is always and issue because of the refraction and reflection of the both the glass AND the water. I would encourage you to do an internet search for aquarium photography. There are some great tips about things you can do (if you have a quality camera) to get better pics, like adjusting ISO.

As for fish moving, take VIDEOS. It's much easier to take a 30 second video and then use a video editing program on your computer to grab the perfect still photo.

[angelminx]

Thanks, Parker!

Unfortunately the camera is probably a cheap one: Nikkon Coolpix. I haven't figured out videos yet. I'll try to take a look at the search you suggested as soon as I can.

Angelminx

[angelminx]

Here are the pics of Mano and Emano (and Lou) that I promised:


     

If I ever catch more of the "boys", I'll post them, too. 

Angelminx

[angelminx]

Well, now I'm not sure if they are "boys" or not .  I've gotten a couple of glances of them in the last couple of days--usually not together (or 2 "whole" shrimp, anyway).  And they can be so quick at darting out of sight when they notice you looking at them that I can't confirm whether they are both berried or not.  I haven't managed to get any shots of them recently, either.  I can confirm that one of them looks like it might be carrying eggs--it is looking is looking very thick about the middle, and "lumbers" along like it is carriyng a great weight .  I'll let you know what I "find out".

Angelminx   

[Deleted]

Hi Angelminx,

Just spotted this thread.... Your cory cat is an Agassizi. Some stores just sell them as spotted cory (my first came from Meijer's so I was on the hunt on the Internet to find out who he was when I brought him home... Love the "adventure"!
Here are some links:
www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=309
www.seriouslyfish.com/species/corydoras-agassizii/

I have three full grown ones (I got Jack's Pets to start carrying them after my first one died) -- all almost 3 inches (the Three Amigos)... I have another new one from Meijer's - just a youngster (a little over one inch now). I have better luck with fish from Meijers that I do with fish from the national chain store in my town. I haven't even looked at their fish in several months. All I buy there now is cat litter (grin).

A similar cory is Melanistus -- but their spots are finer/smaller. Many stores mix up the names. Another spotted/masked cory is Punctatus cory which looks a lot more like the Agassizi. Punctatus spots are smaller than those of the Agassizi, but not as fine as Melanistus. My big Freshwater fish book calls the Agassizi something else... can't remember now what it is (it could just be a similar cory that is shown in the book -- Corydoras ambiacus)

[angelminx]

Hi, Judy! I have books with various pictures (including "The World of Catfish", mentioned in my thread on Banjo catfish) that show similar cories, and the Ambiacus, Agasssizi and Melanistius cory's pictures are all "mixed up"...with the "same" picture, with any one of these names. I've mentioned this elsewhere quite a while ago (can't remember where for sure...I think I have a thread on cories). I'll look for the thread and give some more info there an a bit.

Angelminx

[angelminx]

Well, I finally got some more pics of the  "Amanos", but they aren't particularly good.  I'll post them anyway.

This 1st one is of the"baby":
All of these photos were taken at night--I had a heck of a time holding the flashlight and trying to keep the camera steady and take pics at the same time.  I missed some good pics because of this--and the fact that these guys are camera-shy.

All the rest of the pics are of the adults:
    

[angelminx]

The following shots are from the same night (all of the adults--I missed a good one of the 3 together ):

  ("She" has an API Bottom Feeder pellet in her clutches)  

[angelminx]

The final 2 in the series:

 

[angelminx]

These next 3 were taken in the morning (before the tank lights came on):

     

If anyone knows of somewhere to check on shrimp species info, let me know.  As I mentioned earlier, when I got them (because they were younger?) they matched the photos I have of Amano Shrimp, but look different (mainly darker, and in the abdomen) now.  And of course, because of the mystery baby, I would like to know what I've actually got.

Thanks.
Angelminx

[angelminx]

Another thing, when they (both of them?) fan "their bellies" you can see the whole (yellowish in the photos) thing moving back and forth in "sections"--it doesn't look like the swimmerettes are what is moving, but rather individual sections of the carapace.

[angelminx]

I almost got a picture of all 3 together yesterday, but they were too quick for me, and scattered before I could get the shot....ended up with just substrate and plants !

[angelminx]

Just a "quick" note:

I wasn't thinking a while ago, and to stem a possible Ich (? or something else) outbreak in my 55G aquarium, I dosed it with ParaGuard* (a couple of doses, actually).   I had had a couple of "itchy" fish, but hadn't seen anything physically.  Anyway, the ParaGuard did not affect any of my shrimp (ghost, or Amanos) or my plants (an unknown sword, an Ozelot sword, and a Kleiner Bar sword, Anubias barteri and A. coffeeefolia, Cryptocoryne balansae, C. wendtii and C. lutea, fine-leaf water sprite, water wisteria, hornwort, and a moss ball). 

After I had done this (*), I was afraid the Amanos wouldn't make it...the next morning I found what I thought may be a molt from one of the Amanos at the front of the tank, but thought it might also be what was left of one because one of the SAEs was nibbling at it, and shortly thereafter one of the ghost shrimp joined it.  There was no sign of any of the Amanos.  The evening after the 2nd dose (I figured if the Amanos were dead there was nothing I could do about it, so I might as well dose the tank again) I thought I saw "Little Mano" disappearing behind the driftwood, but couldn't see him any more to tell for sure.  I don't know if anyone else has noticed or not (or if it's just mine) but the Amanos' tails seem to tilt upward from their bodies (compared to the ghosts, which point more drastically downward because of the hump in the back half of their bodies"), and I was sure that's what I saw disappearing.  The next night I fed everyone some peas, and almost immediately both Mano and Emano showed up to grab a piece.  They are all still doing great, so I guess ParaGuard is safe for them .

[Carl]

Interesting observation!

I have generally used Medicated Wonder Shells for Ich prevention and have found few issues with most aquatic life, however I have never used one with Amano Shrimp

Further Resource:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Ich.html


Carl

[devonjohnsgard]

I wonder if someone would have a problem if they were maintaining poor water conditions, then tried to treat. This is what I've been seeing. A medication can have no bad affect on the tank, if maintenance is being done. It could have a poor affect if there's other issues in the tank.

[angelminx]

I wasn't thinking straight the other night (about the Amano Shrimp, or plants), so after I finished the "preventative" ParaGuard treatment, I added (on the 13th) a large Medicated Wonder Shell to the 55G.  {There is now between 2/3 to a half of the shell left.}  The next evening, almost immediately after I dropped some Paradagim Graze into the tank, both Mano and Emano popped out from beneath the driftwood.  The next day, before the light came on for the day, I caught a quick glimpse of Little Mano.  Today I saw one of the adults peeking out from behind one of the clumps of Cryptocoryne balansae, in front of the piece of wood.  Both plants and shrimp seem to be handling it well .  There may be a little bit of "melting" of the Jungle Vals, but that could also be from the normal dying of older leaves.  I have noticed that when the blades erode in spots at the surface, and I end up having to trim them, they have the tendency to start eroding towards the bottom of the individual blade that I trimmed.  I know Vals don't like to be trimmed, but sometimes it just can't be helped .