Atyaephyra desmarestii

Introduction

Morphology

Behaviour & Life cycle

• Sociability
  living in colonies
• territorial
  No
• Venomous
  No
• Way of living
  nocturnal

Reproduction

Harmless species

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

Natural environment characteristics

• Temperature
  6 - 28 °C
• pH (acidity)
  7 - 8.5
• gh (hardness)
  5 - 15

Biotope presentation

Deontology

Respect for wildlife

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

• Min volume
  20 liters
• Population min
  5
• Temperature
  6 - 28 °C
• pH (acidity)
  7 - 8.5

Characteristics

• Type of maintenance
  Aquarium
• Maintenance difficulty
  easy
• Availability
  rare
• Behaviour
  peaceful
• Robustness
  tolerant
• Environment
  fresh water
• Breeding
  fresh water

General reminders

Before acquiring an animal

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

Freshwater conditions

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Setting up your aquarium

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Testing water parameters

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

Water changes

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Precautions to be taken with chlorine

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for Atyaephyra desmarestii

Atyaephyra desmarestii is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 6 °C and 28 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 31°C for long periods. As its reproduction has not yet been mastered in captivity, the entire available supply comes from the wild. The conditions under which wild origin individuals are bred must be respected in a rigorous manner. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

Maintenance difficulty

Breeding this species is accessible to any hobbyist. It is recommended to follow some basic rules and to be rigorous to achieve a good maintenance.

Rare species

This species is very rare in the aquarium trade. Instead, it is maintained by knowledgeable aquarists who own and breed individuals from wild origin strains. If you want to get this species, we advise you to contact specialized clubs. }Specimens from long time breeding are a bit easier to breed but you have to respect the particular water parameters.

Precautions on copper

Copper is toxic to many invertebrates. Some fertilizers and aquarium foods contain copper sulfate and should be used with caution. Since Atyaephyra desmarestii are sensitive to copper, we do not recommend using these products in any form.

Cohabitation & Environment

Atyaephyra desmarestii is a crustacea which it is advisable to maintain in specific aquarium. Associating it with other species is not fundamentally impossible but a documentation work is necessary for the constitution of the population. Being a living in colonies crustacea, it is advisable to install at least 5 individuals in an aquarium of 20 liters minimum. The maintenance in groups allows to observe its natural behavior within the aquarium. Although sometimes certain groups can "merge", mixing several gregarious species living in the same zone of life is not recommended if the volume is not consequent.

Due to their fragile state during moulting, all crustaceans need an environment provided with hiding places (roots, pebbles, leaves, plants, etc.) to shelter in case of danger.

It should be noticed that this species should not be kept with large crustaceans or fish, as it would become a prey of choice. Smaller species should preferably be inserted in the aquarium some time before the larger ones.

Tips for feeding

This shrimp accepts the majority of foods available on the aquarium market. You can of course feed it with products specially adapted for dwarf Shrimp. Besides artificial food, most of its food needs can be met by elements already present in the aquarium. Indeed, naturally, Atyaephyra desmarestii will feed on algae and microorganisms present in the vegetation and the decor. Adding decaying leaves (oaks, alders...) or a few remains of dead plants will ensure the basis of the diet of this species, these elements constituting the basis of its diet in the wild .

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

• Granules
  SHRIMPS GRANO
• Tabs
  CRABS WAFER

Reproduction protocol

• Maintenance difficulty
  very hard
• egg-laying protection
  No

Reproduction of this species in an aquarium is considered very hard.

Aucune reproduction n'a été à ce jour répertoriée en aquarium.

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.