Paracaridina meridionalis

Introduction

Morphology

Behaviour & Life cycle

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

Reproduction

Harmless species

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

Natural environment characteristics

• Temperature
  17 - 24 °C
• pH (acidity)
  6 - 6.8
• gh (hardness)
  1 - 6

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
  17 - 24 °C
• pH (acidity)
  6 - 6.8

Characteristics

• Type of maintenance
  Aquarium
• Maintenance difficulty
  hard
• Behaviour
  peaceful
• Robustness
  sensible
• 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 Paracaridina meridionalis

Paracaridina meridionalis is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 17 °C and 24 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 27°C for long periods. Paracaridina meridionalis is sensitive to abrupt changes in parameters as well as to chemicals. Its acclimation in an aquarium must be done with special care to prevent it from developing diseases or weaknesses. Nitrate levels should remain below 25mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

Maintenance difficulty

Paracaridina meridionalis is a species whose maintenance is rather reserved for informed aquarists . It can only be successfully carried out by carrying out a minimum of documentation work. Special husbandry conditions can easily lead to the death of the species.

Precautions on copper

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

Heating not required

As this species is used to living in fairly cool water, the presence of a resistance is not necessary in your aquarium. Also be careful to control the temperature of your tank in summer.

Cohabitation & Environment

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.

Paracaridina meridionalis is a peaceful species that generally does not exhibit behavioral problems in a community aquarium.

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. Moreover, if you want to breed it, it is better to put them in a specific aquarium.

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, Paracaridina meridionalis 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 .

Reproduction protocol

• Maintenance difficulty
  moderate
• egg-laying protection
  No

Reproduction of this species in an aquarium is considered moderate.

Reproduction of this species is feasible in captivity, with the entire process taking place in fresh water. If the water conditions are met, the females will give birth to fully formed larvae that are ready to fend for themselves at birth. Young people are particularly fragile and it will be necessary to be particularly vigilant with all the maintenance parameters

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.

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