Page 10 - lukhaup_pekny_invertebrates
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INTRODUCTION
Back in the eighties, invertebrates were but of variants of one species are usually more or less
exotic guests in freshwater tanks, with the only identical. However, we pride ourselves in showing
exception being a few snail species, which were the vast variability of nature and deliberate bree-
usually introduced in aquaria as uninvited guests, ding in captivity by including a large number of
often on plants, and one or the other shrimp, al- additional photos.
most always called glass shrimp, that was used as
live food for fish. For a few years now, though, in- The basic precondition for keeping any animal
verts have been booming. Today we have a varied in captivity is the exact knowledge of the species
range of crayfish, snails and – most of all – shrimp, and its requirements. Unfortunately, gross mis-
and almost every week a new variant or species is takes keep happening, some of them as early as at
brought onto the market. Some of them establish the importer‘s or wholesaler‘s, and wrong infor-
themselves in the hobby, whilst others disappear mation is passed down to the customer. Admitted-
from the wholesalers‘ lists as fast as they entered ly, it is not always easy even for specialists to define
them. More often than not, unknown requirements a species reliably without performing an exact, ela-
for keeping and breeding them coupled with high borate scientific determination. Some crustacean
loss rates and a lack of offspring are responsible for species are often mistaken for each other in trade.
this phenomenon. Moreover, some invert species Sometimes, shrimp are even sold as crayfish – and
turn out to be quite incompatible with other aqua- vice versa –, and the outlook is not much brighter
rium inhabitants, and thus soon cease to grace the when it comes to crabs or anomurans.
aquaria at the dealer‘s place.
The information provided in the following will
Their great variability makes it hard to describe enable you to differ clearly between the groups of
all known species in detail, however, with this book decapod crustaceans living in fresh water.
we are trying to give our readers an overview of the
most popular and the most common species availa- All decapod crustaceans have five pairs of wal-
ble, and we hope to be able to help prevent mistakes king legs, with which they can support themselves
in keeping and breeding them, and the disappoint- and more. The form of these legs enables us to as-
ment that follows mishaps. We have not described sign these inverts to their individual group, easily
every colour morph in detail, as the requirements and unmistakably.
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