Amano shrimp - feeding question

[giraffee]

We have 5 amano shrimp that are growing like crazy in our 65G. So far 11 zebra danios and 2 tiny BNPs are their only tankmates. Soon the danios will have to make an exit (though I have a feeling they will not be caught easily, the have some speed) and will be replaced by cardinal tetras and rams. When we got the plecos and the shrimp the tank was so green from algae that plecos tummies were green and full. Now the tank is virtually clean and plecos get their pellets to catch up on the eating. Danios are always hungry and clean up what plecos leave behind. So I guess it is time to start feeding the shrimp? They doubled in size in the the two weeks that we've had them and seem to be doing great as it is. Will they even get any food with the hungry horde of danios trying to consume eveything and anything that touches the surface of the water (arms, fingers etc are not safe ) ) Or do they have to survive on whatever is left from the other tank residents?

[wsl]

I don't think you have to worry too much about the amanos not getting enough food. If they're hungry, you'll see them grab a piece of food and dash off with it. My amanos make off with entire hikari sinking wafers in claw if my cories/kuhli loaches don't get to them fast enough, so I don't think danios will be a problem.

[giraffee]

Thank you for the input, will continue to starve poor amanos They look big enough to take a bite out of danios anyways!

[wsl]

Amanos get big, but they're harmless to fish for the most part (unless the fish die, in which case the remains are eaten). They're quite good at scavenging food for the most part, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about them getting enough food.

[trevorhoang]

my amanos are the bullies in my cherry shrimp tank. i would have a ball of RCS around a pellet and then 1 amano dives in and takes the pellet and runs off, leaving the shirmps to garbage pick from the ground!!!

[Kuec]

my amanos are the bullies in my cherry shrimp tank. i would have a ball of RCS around a pellet and then 1 amano dives in and takes the pellet and runs off, leaving the shirmps to garbage pick from the ground!!!

my amanos are the bullies of the fire reds too! i usually split the food pellet into two. Then drop them on either side of the tank so the amano will take one and the fire reds can run for the other lol

[2wheelsx2]

If you get Rams, you may have to worry about the Amanos, as they may start picking off the shrimp one by one. But it doesn't always happen. If you feed your plecos fresh veggies, your Amanos will get their share also. But as others have said, if you feed them too much, they'll stop eating algae.

[giraffee]

Since my husband installed UV sterilizer the algae is virtually gone. Don't know whether that's permanent but so far the water is getting clearer by the day So there is no food. As for the plecos, I haven't given them any veggies yet, but we should probably start now since the tummies are not entirely green now. Thank you for the reminder about the veggies. The shrimp are not hiding any more and scare off the fish with their whiskers That will take some brave rams... Though as I've heard before if it fits in a mouth it's going to end up as food...

[2wheelsx2]

Sounds good. But remember that UV will only take care of waterborne stuff. You can still get stuff on the glass if the glass is touched, or the lamp starts to go off,etc.

As for the rams, they won't eat them whole, but will pick off legs and whiskers etc until the Amano is traumatized and then attack. That's how my Emperor Tetras decimated my Amano population.

[giraffee]

It sounds gloomier by the day Gary! ) On your thread someone mentioned that discus munched on cardinals, now you are telling me that rams will probably make a snack from amanos. Horrors! Well at least discus and rams will be well fed then, right? For now though organic yams for plecos and shrimps.