2.4 gallon shrimp tank

I work at petsmart part time and watch for good deals while working there. A while ago we got some picture frame aquariums that were to be sold at 120$ each, which I thought was outrageous for a 2.4 gallon tank. However, last week I noticed those same tanks were reduced to clear for only 40$ so I thought I'd give one a chance. After I got my new tank home, I opened it up and had a good laugh at the background they provide then through it away. I also threw away the gravel they provide. It’s nice they include it all in a package, but I simply don’t enjoy the artificial look. So now I had the issue of making a background, and thought of just using tile found at the hardware store. Took me awhile, thought about using granite, but settled on a stone tile. After an hour with the tile saw, I cut each side to fit perfectly into the little tank. I have a spacer under the gravel and above the water to keep the sides from collapsing in.


At first I decorated the tank with narrow leaf java ferns on the sides only, having them grow into the center. But the super glue did not hold on the tile and the ferns fell off. Then I remembered some fossils that I collected last summer and sized them up to the tank. Perfect fit! Then I super glued the java ferns to the edges of the fossil rock and I think in time it will look great! Over time I expect the java fern to send hair like roots over the fossils and grow in nicely. I’ll trim any java fern that covers the fossils to much though.

Now I need to decide what to put in this tank for movement. I think it’s to small for fish, and I don’t want another tank of fish to feed either. I think this little tank is ideal for shrimp though! I’ve always wanted crystal red shrimp. So I think the future shrimp list will be a colony of crystal red shrimp, 1 female cherry shrimp, 1 female yellow shrimp, and a blue tiger shrimp.  I only want females of the other shrimp so that I don’t get babies from them.