Tropical Invertebrates
Help and advice on shopping for: Tropical Invertebrates
What kind of freshwater invertebrates can you keep in an aquarium?
There are many different kinds of invertebrates that you can keep in a freshwater aquarium, from shrimps to snails. Some of the most popular varieties are Cherry Shrimp – small, colourful shrimp that make for fantastic breeding projects – and Amano Shrimp – some of the best algae eaters in the fishkeeping hobby. There are lots of different types of snails that, like Amano Shrimp, are also great at keeping your aquarium free of algae.
How long do freshwater invertebrates live for?
It ultimately depends on what type of freshwater invertebrate you have. If properly cared for, Cherry Shrimp can live for one to two years. Amano Shrimp, on the other hand, can live for upwards of three years! Most aquarium snails aren’t quite as long-lived, though several types, such as Golden Apple Snails, Zebra Snails, and Red Onion Snails, can live for over a year.
How do you look after freshwater invertebrates?
A lot of freshwater invertebrates are easy to care for and can happily live alongside small, peaceful fish. As long as you supplement their diets with some specialist shrimp and snail foods, they should get on just fine – they may even breed! It’s important, however, that you avoid adding anything to your aquarium that contains (or may contain) copper. This metal, even in trace amounts, is deadly to freshwater invertebrates and can wipe out large colonies of shrimps and snails overnight.