I have promised for a while to show what a female Sturisoma panamense (📷 1. photo) and a male (📷 2. photo) look like in adulthood. In this case, the female is in the stage before laying eggs 🐟🔬.

**What are alder cones?** Alder cones (in English "Alder cones", which is also a common term for commercially sold cones, although you can easily collect them yourself for free) are small fruits of the black alder (Alnus glutinosa). When added to an aquarium, they release beneficial compounds such as tannins and humic acids, which positively affect the chemical composition and health of aquatic organisms. The natural properties of alder cones have a multifaceted benefit for aquatic organisms and water quality. Therefore, they have become a popular natural additive in aquariums, especially for shrimp and fish enthusiasts. **Benefits of using alder cones for aquarium fish and shrimp:** **1. Natural way to condition water in the aquarium** Alder cones release tannins and humic substances into the water, which: - lower the pH, thereby helping to create a more acidic environment suitable for species from blackwater aquatic biotopes - suppress the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, thus reducing the risk of infections - provide a natural appearance to the water in the aquarium by coloring it a light amber hue, which is the color of natural biotopes **2. Health benefits for shrimp and fish** The compounds released by alder cones strengthen the immune system of shrimp and fish, support successful molting of shrimp, and improve their coloration and overall vitality. **3. Advantages of alder cones for breeding** Alder cones help create optimal conditions for the development of eggs and the survival of fry, and reduce the likelihood of fungal infections on the eggs.

Shrimp lollies 🦐🦐🦐 are an attractive supplementary food that has been gaining popularity among aquarium shrimp keepers in recent years. They consist of small balls or sticks attached to a skewer or bamboo stick, which not only taste good to the shrimp but are also nutritionally valuable and contribute to their health and condition. The picture shows high-quality lollies from Roman Štěpánek from Brno - you can find his offer here: https://www.foraquarist.com/produkt/1785-dobroty-pro-krevetky-a-rybky The declared composition of shrimp lollies can be seen in the photo, proportionally it is: herbs (50%), artemia (25%), and pollen (25%) on each stick. Bee flower (pollen) is a common component of lollies, as it contains a large amount of protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals and trace elements. It is pollen that bees collect directly from flowers and bring to the hive. **Lollies are particularly suitable for freshwater shrimp Neocaridina and Caridina** For Neocaridina species, such as: - Red Cherry - Blue Velvet - Yellow Neon - Orange Sakura For Caridina species, for example: - Crystal Red/Crystal Black - Bee Shrimp - Taiwan Bee - Tangerine Tiger These shrimp enjoy nibbling on the lollies while also providing them with necessary nutrition, supporting their condition and stimulating natural feeding behavior 🙂. **How to properly use lollies for shrimp?** Simply stick the lolly into the substrate or place it in a holder directly in the aquarium. It is recommended to offer them to shrimp as a supplement to regular feeding 1–2 times a week. Observe the behavior of the shrimp to avoid overfeeding and prevent unnecessary water pollution. **Where to buy lollies for shrimp or how to make them?** If you do not want to embark on making them yourself, which can be an interesting experience, you can buy them at aquarium online shops, but I recommend not buying from anonymous commercial manufacturers, but from Czech producers, where you have a guarantee of quality and which you can find here on ForAquarist, where you can find manufacturers from Brno or Kostelec na Hané, just type in the search: lollies

🐣🌿 Happy Easter! We wish all aquarists and their scaly companions! 💧🐠

For a change, I'm sending a picture of the Mexican flea - Hyalella azteca. It's not just fish food but also an interesting creature to observe.

Shrimp lollipops are a popular supplementary food for shrimp in the form of sticks or balls attached to a stick made of natural material, such as a skewer or bamboo. Shrimp lollipops contain a mixture of natural ingredients that are not only very tasty for shrimp but also nutritionally valuable. **What are shrimp lollipops made of?** The most commonly used ingredients include dried algae, finely crushed spinach leaves, dried nettle powder, beta-glucan for immune support, and minerals and vitamins necessary for the growth and healthy development of shrimp. **Which shrimp are lollipops suitable for?** Lollipops are especially appreciated by Neocaridina shrimp (e.g., Red Cherry, Blue Velvet), but also by Caridina shrimp (e.g., Crystal Red, Bee Shrimp). I recommend checking the offer of shrimp lollipops directly from manufacturers at good prices here: https://www.foraquarist.com/hledani?fulltext=l%C3%ADz%C3%A1tk In the picture are shrimp lollipops from the seller Maker Dawe, which I can only recommend 😎. And what about you, what experiences do you have with shrimp lollipops, do you use them, do you buy them, or do you even make them yourself?