5 gallon opae ulas journal

[eklikewhoa]

Let's see them already!!!

[Ca Nguyen]

now that i've literally taken my opae, time to continue with this journal. sorry for my lack of manner and or choice of words in the last several posts, hope i didn't offend anyone.


the package as i gotten it. note how the dent is conviently next to the fragile sticker, one of six on each side of the box.


do not deliver, hold for pick up. 6 words to 2 very simple instructions. i don't want to talk about USPS anymore.


inside is everything you need to create a slow death trap for your opae. very very thoroughly wrapped and cushioned may i add.


the star of our show come double bagged inside two styrofoam cups and a third on top., wrapped by hawaiian newspaper.


i immediately did a head count, i got 13 of the up to 15. when i updated the vender with my story, he a said he sent me 15, but 2 might have die on the trip. which explain the 2 exoskeletons. i thought it was odd for them to molt during a a trip.


i did a water test for pH and salinity. pH was 8.0 matching with my tank. specific gravity turned out to be 1.016, double that of mine! not a problem for me... if it was any other day. last week i used all my instant ocean salt and haven't pick up any since. so what to do? i just scooped 3 cups of water from my nano reef, bringing it to 1.012, still .004 short. so i drip acclimated them at 1 drop every 2 seconds until container is full, emptied 2/3 of the container back in tank, and drip some more.


3 hours later, the specific gravity in both tank and container is the same at 1.013. i introduced my opae to their new permanent home, and they all darted for the sponge and start to pick at it. not shy at all i guess.

after 30 minutes of watching them, i noted that they are much more active than our drawf shrimps. they swim alot, constantly moving, and always picking at something. a few are beginning to explore the case systems i made with lava rocks, but they don't go too deep before coming back out again.

unfortunately, from this point on, my point and shoot no longer does the trick. not to worry, i happen to be a photographer, and my next update will have plenty of high quality pictures. stay tuned.

[R_sustaita]

they look really cool.

[madehtsobi]

Looking good!!!

[Ca Nguyen]

just thought i'd do a first 24 hour update.


at 7pm today, i saw this guy struggling to swim and crashed near the rock on the right. i tapped on the glass and he bounced up and started gazing on the rock.


a couple hanging out on a rock


like all dwarf shrimps, they love the sponge filter.


another couple hanging out in the corner


i dropped a tiny hikari shrimp cruisine wafer, and five of them automatically hunt it down.


1 am, i turned on the light to check on my shrimps. the shrimp that was struggling die. effectively pushing my population down to 12.

i've notice at all time, i can get a full head count on my shrimps. they don't seem to be hiding anywhere.

[R_sustaita]

Looking good man, keep us updated.

[eklikewhoa]

Hopefully the death was a fluke, how are they doing nowm

[Ca Nguyen]

seem that way. still got the other 12 alive, healthy, active, lots of swimming. i don't observe any opae with a saddle. hopefully the merchant didn't go through the trouble of selecting only males as opae male.

[R_sustaita]

That would suck man

[eklikewhoa]

Would be the perfect scam to make sure his investment holds strong.

[Ca Nguyen]

i know when cherry shrimps first came around, taiwanese merchant would sell females only as they are red and people would have to keep buying more.

anyways. i can buy 100 opae from the same merchant for 100+ shipping. i imagine in this case, he wouldn't go through the trouble of sexing them. but i've seen 50 shrimps in a bag and i've seen 80 shrimps in a bag and not able to tell the difference before. he could as well send me 80 and say "some may have not make it alive". sadly, there is no live arrival guarantee and the 7 dollars heat pack i paid for is nowhere to be seen.

[R_sustaita]

I would look for another seller.

[Totenkampf]

cool journal Ca, dont think for a second that USPS wont hold packages just because you offended one of them. i get that in my little town office because i used to mail too much stuff and make them work too hard. some of those guys are the coolest red color. very interesting!

[Ca Nguyen]

cool journal Ca, dont think for a second that USPS wont hold packages just because you offended one of them. i get that in my little town office because i used to mail too much stuff and make them work too hard. some of those guys are the coolest red color. very interesting!

thanks, but honestly, i don't think i've done anything to offend anyone. in fact, i was pretty humble about them holding on to my shrimps because my tracking number were not on a "pink slip" right until i decided to take it into my own hand. apparently, the windmill station on the south east side of town get lots of negative reviews.

[R_sustaita]

well its the southside what you expect jk. sometimes i have problems with the postal service here in spring too. just remember postal service people tend to go postal.