If you think you need a chemistry lab in your basement for shrimp, you're wrong! Most species are very adaptable. Here's how you can approach the topic of water in a relaxed way.
Neocaridina: The relaxed solution with tap water
The good news first: If you choose Neocaridina (like Bloody Mary, Blue Dream or Yellow Fire or others), you can usually keep them without any problems in normal tap water.
- Robust & Uncomplicated: These shrimp get along wonderfully with the water that comes out of our tap.
- Hard water? No problem! Even if your water is very calcareous (hard), this doesn't bother Neocaridinas. On the contrary: they even use the minerals in the water for their shell formation.
Caridina: The specialists for osmosis water
If you later choose the slightly more demanding Caridina (like bee shrimp or tiger shrimp), it looks a little different. These species come from very soft biotopes.
- Osmosis water is a must: For Caridina species, a reverse osmosis system is usually used. The pure water thus obtained is then "salted up" with special mineral salt to the perfect values for these species. This sounds more complicated than it is, but it ensures long-term success with these specialists.
How often and how much water to change?
Shrimp love consistency. You don't have to work on the tank every day.
- The weekly check: A small water change of about 20 % every few weeks is completely sufficient to keep the system fresh.
- Easy and quick: The fresh water should simply be at about room temperature so that the small inhabitants don't get a cold shock. Then pour in carefully – done!
The fascinating molting process
Shrimp grow all their lives. But since their shell doesn't grow with them, they regularly shed it – like a knight's armor that has become too tight.
- Don't worry about "ghost shrimp": If you find a transparent, empty shell in the tank, it's not a dead shrimp, but the old skin (exuvia).
- Recycling in the aquarium: Leave these shells in the water. The shrimp often eat them to reabsorb the valuable building materials for their new, own shell. Pure nature!
