Sulawesi shrimps have always been a heartbreaker for many hobbyists. They are notoriously delicate, and sometimes, despite doing everything seemingly right, they can suddenly die for no apparent reason.
Just last month, I had the opportunity to meet a professional Sulawesi shrimp breeder from Taiwan. Through our conversation, I gained a much deeper understanding of what it really takes to keep these beautiful shrimps successfully and some of the things I learned completely changed the way I approach Sulawesi shrimp keeping.
Here’s what I learned about the key to successfully keeping Sulawesi shrimps.
The Long Journey of Wild Sulawesi Shrimps
From the moment they are caught, wild Sulawesi shrimps are often kept in temporary containers with little to no aeration, sometimes with just a single air stone.
The conditions are far from optimal. After being brought back to the collector’s home, the shrimps may be held for several days, sometimes up to a week, while different species are collected from the three main lakes in Sulawesi.
This means their long and stressful journey has already begun well before they even leave Sulawesi. During this period, the shrimps are usually not fed. However, naturally occurring microorganisms in the holding water and containers may provide a small source of food for them.
Once the shrimps have been collected, they are transported from Sulawesi to Jakarta, which typically takes about a day. From Jakarta, depending on flight schedules, it can take another 1.5–2 days before they arrive at our facility.
From the moment they are caught to the time they finally reach us, the entire journey can take a week or even longer. Throughout much of this journey, these delicate shrimps are kept in less-than-optimal conditions, making the experience extremely stressful for them.
Sulawesi shrimps are generally not as difficult to keep as many hobbyists believe. However, the long and stressful journey can leave them severely weakened, and unfortunately, some may struggle to recover from the intense stress of transportation.
Captive-bred Sulawesi shrimps have a much shorter and less stressful journey. From the breeder’s original tank to our facility, they typically arrive in less than 24 hours.
As a result, they arrive in excellent condition and, after proper acclimatisation, are healthy, stable and ready for their new homes.
Healthy shrimps come out to eat
When Sulawesi shrimps are healthy and well-adjusted, they will usually come out of hiding and actively search for food. Regular shrimp food pellets generally work very well for them.
Wild Sulawesi shrimps, however, tend to hide much more due to stress. When they remain hidden for prolonged periods, they may not feed sufficiently, becoming progressively weaker and, unfortunately, may eventually die.
The right minerals for them
Wild-caught Sulawesi shrimps are accustomed to water parameters that can be challenging to replicate and maintain in a home aquarium, particularly their preference for a higher pH.
Captive-bred Sulawesi shrimps, on the other hand, have been acclimatised to a much more manageable pH range of around 7.2–7.6. This makes suitable conditions significantly easier to achieve with our local water, often with something as simple as adding coral chips to help maintain the pH.
However, unlike their Neocaridina and Caridina counterparts, Sulawesi shrimps benefit from a different mineral profile. This is where our new Sulaeasy comes in.
Sulaeasy is designed to make preparing water for Sulawesi shrimps much simpler. Just dose 1ml per 1L of tank water, allow the tank to stabilise for about a week, and you’ll have a much more suitable environment ready for your Sulawesi shrimps. Don't forget to add some of the MADFU Nitrifying bacteria.