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Ceramic Shelter | Monkey Head

Ceramic Shelter | Monkey Head

Regular price $12.95 AUD
Regular price $10.00 AUD Sale price $12.95 AUD
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Ceramic Shrimp Cave – Aquarium Hide, Shelter & Breeding Cave

Give your freshwater shrimp a secure place to hide, rest and explore with this Ceramic Shrimp Cave. Designed with multiple openings and a natural, rustic appearance, this aquarium hide provides extra shelter while adding a unique decorative feature to your aquascape.

Ideal for Cherry Shrimp, Neocaridina, Caridina and other freshwater dwarf shrimp, the cave creates small sheltered areas that shrimp can explore throughout the day. It is particularly useful in community aquariums where shrimp benefit from additional places to retreat away from fish and other tank inhabitants.

🦐 A Perfect Hideout for Freshwater Shrimp

Shrimp naturally seek out caves, plants, rocks and small crevices when they feel threatened, during moulting, or when they simply want somewhere quiet to rest.

This aquarium shrimp hide provides multiple entrances and sheltered internal spaces, giving shrimp plenty of opportunities to move in and out while exploring the aquarium.

It can be especially useful for:

  • Cherry Shrimp

  • Neocaridina Shrimp

  • Caridina Shrimp

  • Crystal Red Shrimp

  • Crystal Black Shrimp

  • Blue Dream Shrimp

  • Yellow Cherry Shrimp

  • Orange Shrimp

  • Amano Shrimp

  • Other freshwater dwarf shrimp

🌿 Great for Planted & Natural Aquariums

The earthy ceramic finish blends beautifully with aquarium plants, moss, driftwood, rocks and natural substrates.

For an even more natural appearance, place Java Moss or other aquarium moss around the cave. Over time, biofilm may also develop on submerged surfaces, providing additional grazing areas for shrimp.

The distinctive design makes this cave both a practical shrimp shelter and an eye-catching aquarium ornament.

🏠 Extra Shelter for Moulting & Baby Shrimp

Shrimp are particularly vulnerable after moulting while their new exoskeleton is still soft. Providing plenty of cover throughout the aquarium gives them more opportunities to retreat from other inhabitants.

The cave's openings and sheltered spaces can also provide shrimplets and juvenile shrimp with additional cover.

Please note that no aquarium cave can guarantee baby shrimp survival when they are housed with fish or other animals that may prey on shrimplets. Dense moss and plants are recommended alongside shrimp hides when breeding shrimp in a community aquarium.

🥚 Useful Addition to a Shrimp Breeding Tank

Creating plenty of structure and hiding areas is an important part of setting up a freshwater shrimp breeding aquarium.

This ceramic cave can be combined with moss, botanicals, plants and other shrimp hides to create a more complex environment for berried females, juveniles and adult shrimp.

Rather than leaving the aquarium floor completely open, adding caves and shelters gives your shrimp more areas to explore and helps create a natural-looking shrimp habitat.

🐟 Suitable for Shrimp & Small Aquarium Inhabitants

Although designed primarily as a shrimp cave, it may also be used as a small aquarium hide for compatible nano aquarium inhabitants, depending on their size and behaviour.

Always ensure that any fish or aquatic animal using the cave can comfortably enter, turn around and exit without becoming trapped.

✨ Product Features

  • Ceramic aquarium shrimp cave

  • Multiple entrances for easy access

  • Provides additional shelter and hiding areas

  • Excellent for shrimp tanks and planted aquariums

  • Suitable for adult shrimp and shrimplets

  • Useful during moulting

  • Great addition to shrimp breeding setups

  • Natural earthy appearance

  • Easy to incorporate into an aquascape

  • Suitable for freshwater aquariums

  • Can be paired with aquarium moss and plants

  • Unique decorative aquarium ornament

📏 Approximate Size

5.5 × 4 × 8.5 cm

Please check the measurements before purchasing to ensure the cave is suitable for your aquarium and livestock.

💧 How to Use

Rinse the ceramic shrimp cave thoroughly with clean water before placing it into your aquarium. Do not use soap, detergent or household cleaning chemicals.

Position the cave directly on a stable area of substrate where your shrimp can easily access the entrances.

For a natural shrimp aquascape, try placing the cave amongst Java Moss, Subwassertang, Bucephalandra, Anubias, rocks or driftwood.

Why Add a Shrimp Cave to Your Aquarium?

A well-designed shrimp aquarium should contain more than just open swimming space. Shrimp spend much of their time grazing and exploring surfaces, plants and sheltered areas.

Adding a ceramic shrimp hide or breeding cave increases the amount of structure available in your aquarium while creating an attractive focal point for your aquascape.

Whether you're setting up a dedicated Cherry Shrimp tank, breeding Neocaridina, building a planted nano aquarium or simply looking for a unique freshwater aquarium decoration, this shrimp cave is a practical and attractive addition.

Ceramic Shrimp Cave Australia

Looking for a shrimp cave in Australia, a ceramic aquarium hide, or extra shelter for your Cherry Shrimp and Neocaridina? This compact shrimp cave is designed for freshwater shrimp aquariums, planted tanks and nano aquascapes.

Its small footprint makes it easy to incorporate into many aquarium layouts while providing useful additional cover for your shrimp.

Please note: Product colour, texture, shape and measurements may vary slightly between individual pieces. Aquarium livestock and plants shown in photos are for illustration only unless otherwise stated.

 

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More Information

How to Take Care The Shrimps

Taking care of Freshwater aquarium Shrimps (Neocaridina and Caridina) involves providing them with a suitable environment and proper attention to their specific needs. Here are some essential care guidelines:

1. Tank Setup:

  • Shrimp are relatively small and can be kept in tanks as small as 5 gallons (19 liters), but a larger tank allows for more stable water conditions.
  • Provide hiding spots with plants, driftwood, and rocks. Live plants like Java Moss and Java Fern are ideal as they serve as both hiding places and a food source.

2. Water Parameters:

For Neocaridinar (Cherry Shrimps)

  • Temperature: 72-78°F (22-28°C)
  • pH: 6.5-7.5
  • GH (General Hardness): 6-10
  • KH (Carbonate Hardness): 3-10

For Caridina (Taiwan bee, Crystal Shrimps)

  • Temperature: 72-78°F (22-26°C)
  • pH: 6.0-6.5
  • GH (General Hardness): 3-5
  • KH (Carbonate Hardness): 0-10

3. Filtration:

  • Use a sponge filter such as Qanvee filter or a gentle flow filter to avoid strong currents that can stress shrimp.

4. Feeding:

  • Shrimp are omnivores and feed on algae, biofilm, and commercial shrimp pellets.
  • Supplement their diet with blanched vegetables like Mulberry leaves, spinach or zucchini.
  • Offer a varied diet to ensure proper nutrition.

5. Water Changes:

  • Perform regular water changes (10-20% weekly) to maintain water quality.
  • Use dechlorinated water at the same temperature and parameters as the tank.

6. Molting:

  • Provide a calcium source, such as our shrimp mineral products or crushed coral, cuttlebone, to support molting.

7. Tank Mates:

  • Shrimp are generally peaceful but can be preyed upon by larger fish.
  • Suitable tank mates include small, non-aggressive fish like guppies or endlers.
  • Avoid aggressive or predatory species.

8. Breeding:

  • Shrimp breed readily in captivity.
  • Provide moss or other dense plant growth for shrimp to hide their eggs.
  • Maintain stable water conditions to encourage breeding.

9. Health and Observation:

  • Regularly observe your Shrimp for signs of stress, illness, or abnormal behavior.
  • Quarantine new arrivals to prevent introducing diseases.

10. Patience:

  • Shrimp keeping can be rewarding but requires patience. Allow your aquarium to mature and stabilize before adding shrimp.

By following these care guidelines, you can create a thriving environment for your Shrimp and enjoy their vibrant colors and fascinating behavior in your aquarium.

How to Acclimate New Shrimps & Fish

Acclimating new aquarium shrimp/fish is crucial to ensure a smooth transition and minimize stress. Follow these steps for proper acclimation:

Materials Needed:

  • A container or bucket.
  • An airline tube or a slow-drip system (optional).
  • A net.

Procedure:

  1. Turn Off Lights: Dim the aquarium lights or turn them off completely to reduce stress on the shrimp/fish.
  2. Float the Bag: Place the sealed bag containing the shrimp on the surface of the aquarium water. This allows the water inside the bag to gradually adjust to the tank temperature.
  3. Drip Acclimation (Optional): If you have an airline tube or a slow-drip system, set it up to provide a gentle flow of water from the tank into the bag. This method is slower but provides a more gradual transition. Adjust the flow rate to about 2-4 drops per second.
  4. Monitor Temperature: Ensure the water temperature inside the bag matches the tank temperature after about 15-20 minutes. This step is essential to prevent temperature shock.
  5. Open Bag and Add Tank Water: Carefully open the bag without allowing shrimp to escape. Using a net or your hand, gently transfer the shrimp into a clean container or bucket. Be cautious not to introduce water from the bag into the container.
  6. Gradual Water Exchange: Over the course of about 30 minutes to an hour, gradually add small amounts of aquarium water to the container with the shrimp/fish. This helps the shrimp adjust to the tank's water parameters.
  7. Net Transfer: After acclimation, use a net to transfer the shrimp from the container into the main aquarium. Avoid adding any water from the acclimation container into the tank.
  8. Dispose of Bag Water: Safely dispose of the water from the bag. Do not release it into your aquarium, as it may contain contaminants or pathogens.
  9. Observe and Monitor: Keep an eye on the newly introduced shrimp/fish for the next few hours to ensure they adapt well to their new environment. Monitor their behavior and look for any signs of stress or illness.

Proper acclimation helps reduce the risk of shock and ensures a smoother transition for your new aquarium creatures. It's an essential step in ensuring their health and well-being in your tank.

Shipping & DOA Policy

  • Concerned about purchasing livestock online? Rest assured, we ship shrimps and other livestock to every corner of NSW, VIC, QLD, and SA weekly, ensuring their safe and healthy arrival. Our Dead on Arrival (DOA) policy is applied to all orders, guaranteeing your peace of mind.
  • Shrimps are carefully packed in a styrofoam box and shipped every Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday early morning to avoid weekend delays. Delivery times generally range from 1 to 3 business days depending on your location.
  • To initiate DOA claims, we kindly ask buyers to contact our dedicated support team either via email at aushrimphome@gmail.com or directly through our website's chat feature. In order to expedite a swift resolution, which may involve resending a new package, issuing a refund, or providing credit for a future order, we kindly request that buyers submit a clear photo of the deceased shrimp(s) inside the unopened bag within a maximum of 1 HOUR from the moment of Australia Post delivery. Your timely communication is pivotal in enabling us to promptly address any concerns and uphold our unwavering commitment to ensuring your satisfaction.

Important Notes Before Buying

  • Please note that our ornamental shrimps are small, with a maximum size of around 2cm. When purchasing, you'll typically receive juveniles or sub-adults measuring approximately 0.8-1.5cm, which may display less vibrant coloration than adults. However, rest assured that they originate from the same colony and offer excellent value for your investment.
  • To ensure the well-being of your shrimp/fish upon arrival, please follow the tracking number and acclimate them by slowly adding tank water to their bag/container for about one hour. This gradual transition helps them adapt to new water parameters and temperatures.
  • The images featured on our website showcase the exceptional individuals and actual shrimps/fish thriving at our facility. However, please keep in mind that as living organisms, we cannot guarantee that the shrimp/fish you purchase will be identical in color and size. Keep in mind that shipping stress may temporarily affect the shrimp's coloration, especially neocaridina species, which can become pale and translucent. However, their colors will return to their vibrant state within a few days under suitable water conditions.
  • Our pricing is based on current stock levels and market rates in Australia. We regularly adjust our prices to provide our customers with the most competitive rates available.
  • If you encounter any issues with the color or quality of the shrimp/fish, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are committed to assisting and resolving any concerns. Thank you for your trust and support!