Ava Mitchell

About the Author & Expert

I’m Ava Mitchell, a dedicated aquarium author and writer with a passion for shrimp, snails, plants, and the small invertebrates that beautify tanks and make them really interesting.

Ava found her love of aquariums when trying to learn how people manage to keep such a delicate balance within their aquatic ecosystems. While fish normally take the center of the stage in this hobby, she also became fascinated by shrimp, snails, aquatic plants, and different tiny processes occurring inside the aquarium.

My fascination evolved into a greater appreciation for the care of freshwater invertebrates. Over the last eight years or so, I have accumulated a fair amount of hands-on experience with aquariums during which I became aware of the importance of stability, observation, patience, and the right care in keeping sensitive aquatic animals.

At present, I apply this knowledge to create easy-to-read aquarium guides for Stardexa.

My Aquarium Experience and Areas of Knowledge

The primary subjects of my work include freshwater shrimp, aquarium snails, and different smaller invertebrates, which are usually found in aquariums.

At first glance, shrimp keeping seems easy. A small aquarium, some plants, and several colorful shrimp would seem to be all it takes. In reality, the process of successfully keeping shrimp is highly dependent on the relationship between water chemistry, biological maturity, food availability, stability of the aquarium, genetics of shrimp, plants, filtration, and other species of fish present.

My goal with my articles is to explain those interconnected issues.

I write about matters like the following:

• the basics of installing and maintaining a freshwater shrimp tank;
• the right tank size, substrate, filter, and plants to use;
• the meaning of pH, temperature, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and other water parameters;
• feeding shrimp and their habits of grazing;
• What is normal and what is problematic in terms of molting?
• how to assure breeding and survival of the baby shrimp;
• caring for freshwater snails;
• which tankmates to choose;
• ways to maintain the planted tanks with shrimps and snails;
• calling and avoiding common problems.

In writing everything mentioned above, I try to approach the issue from the point of view of what an aquarist needs to know when facing a tank.

Why I Focus on Freshwater Shrimp and Invertebrates

Freshwater shrimp are one of the most exciting species to me in the field of aquarium keeping. Their behavior is subtle, yet once one starts observing them, one can realize how lively shrimp aquariums can really be.

They move actively and feed on leaves, wood, rocks, substrate, and glass of aquariums, making use of the microorganisms growing in the environment around them. It is fascinating to keep an eye on the shrimp feeding and molting cycles, breeding strategies, beautiful colors, feeding habits, and their interactions with plants.

Various aquatic snails are also interesting creatures that deserve attention. Depending on their species and conditions of the aquarium, snails can live in tanks and play their part in keeping the tank clean by eating some food leftovers present in the aquarium or feeding on algae other organisms do not consume.

However, both shrimp and snails should be introduced into the aquarium only after one understands their needs.

This particularity explains why the majority of my writings concern preparation rather than quick solutions.

My Approach to Aquarium Care

One guiding principle influences my aquarium care techniques: stability should be prioritized over striving for optimal parameters.

While the right water parameters are crucial to keeping freshwater shrimp, the numbers must be understood in their specific context. Ideal GH, KH, pH, temperature, and mineral content vary from species to species.

What works for one group of freshwater shrimp may not be ideal for another species of shrimp. Instead of treating all shrimp aquaria identically, I recommend aquarists have a good understanding of the requirements of the species that they have.

The age of an aquarium is also an important factor.

Though a newly set-up aquarium may appear similar to a more mature one from the outside, the two types of aquariums you see in front of you will be completely different when it comes to biology. Shrimp rely heavily on microorganisms, biofilms, algae, and food sources that emerge with the maturing of an aquarium.

This explains the importance of patience when keeping shrimp.

Feeding, Molting, and Breeding Shrimp

I talk about feeding frequently because the consequences of overfeeding can lead to undesirable effects in small aquariums.

Shrimp are natural grazers. In a properly established aquarium, shrimp spend a significant part of the day eating biofilm and other microscopic matter found in the aquarium. Additional food is helpful, yet I believe that the feeding process should go hand in hand with evaluating the amount of food already available in the aquarium.

Molting is equally important.

Due to their exoskeleton, shrimp have to molt as they grow. The process of molting is affected by the mineral content of water, diet, stress, environmental stability, and general health condition. Knowing the normal molting behavior of shrimp may help aquarium owners differentiate a normal biological process from the signs of serious problems.

Breeding also requires special considerations. A shrimp colony may breed successfully if the adults are healthy, the conditions are stable, and there is enough food and shelter for baby shrimp. Hence, plants, mosses, biofilm-covered surfaces, gentle filtration, and careful selection of fish companions become especially important in the breeding aquarium.

Planted Shrimp Tanks and Compatible Tankmates

I’m quite fond of planted aquariums, as plants can have both aesthetic and practical applications.

Plants also provide the surfaces for the shrimp to feed, shelter for smaller species, and generally make the habitat look more natural. Mosses and fine leaves of various other plants can be beneficial in aquariums with juvenile shrimp since they provide a complicated surface and hiding spots.

Choosing tankmates should be done more carefully.

Not all fish that look peaceful are necessarily safe for shrimp. Some species may safely coexist with adult shrimp but will still eat freshly hatched or young ones. Thus, when I talk about tankmates, I take into account the size, nature, feeding behavior, and predation instincts of the species rather than applying simple and broad categories like “community fish.”

How I Write My Aquarium Guides

My goal is to find information related to aquariums and convey it in a comprehensible and not overly complicated manner.

In every aquarium guide I write, I strive to respond to the practical questions that every aquarist has, such as: What does this animal need? Which water parameters are important to it? What does it eat? What is considered normal behavior? Does it get along with other species of fish? What mistakes to prevent? What to look at when something goes wrong?

I always try my best not to mix general ideas of aquarium keeping and species-specific requirements. For example, it’s safe to say that freshwater shrimps and snails are a great example of animals with a number of species that have different environmental demands. That’s why the first step in providing good care is knowing one’s animals.

Aquarium keeping is an art of constant observation. Years of keeping tanks and studying marine life still bring you something interesting, whether it’s the behavior of animals, the chemistry of the water, or something else related to aquariums.

With the help of my efforts on Stardexa, I would like to contribute to making it easier for aquarium owners to understand their aquatic pets and make proper decisions.

No matter if you are creating a first shrimp tank, wondering how and why the shrimp are molting, wishing to set up a planted aquarium, taking care of snails, breeding shrimp, or trying to find the right tankmates, my purpose is to deliver helpful information that will ensure that proper actions are taken.

To me, successful aquarium keeping does not involve making the setup hard to handle but rather making it easy to comprehend and learn, creating good conditions for the water inhabitants, and letting them thrive.

Contact me: [email protected]