Here are the key signs that your cherry shrimp are ready to breed:
- Sexual maturity: Cherry shrimp reach sexual maturity at around 4-6 months old.
- Presence of both sexes: Ensure you have both males and females in your tank. Females are larger and more colorful, while males are smaller and less vibrant.
- Female "saddle": Look for females with a yellow "saddle" on their backs, which indicates eggs developing in their ovaries.
- Recent molting: Breeding typically occurs right after a female molts.
- Hiding behavior: When ready to breed, females may hide and release pheromones to attract males.
- Stable water conditions: Maintain consistent water parameters, with pH between 6.5-8.0 and temperature between 70-80°F (21-27°C).
- Adequate food supply: Ensure a consistent food source, either natural algae or supplemental feeding with blanched vegetables and prepared fish foods.
- Healthy appearance: Look for active, colorful shrimp with no signs of stress or illness.
- Females with rounder, longer tail sections: This can help identify less colorful females that are ready to breed.
- Male pursuit: You may notice males actively pursuing females, especially after a female has molted.
Remember that if these conditions are met, cherry shrimp will breed naturally without much intervention. Once breeding occurs, females will carry fertilized eggs under their tails until they hatch.