First decision

Choose a starter group and measure capacity

You are choosing a starter group or deciding whether a colony exceeds its system.

Use the whole card. The action stays attached to what must be observed and recorded, plus the nearest inference or action the current guidance cannot support.

Observe first

Check system maturity, grazing area, filtration, feeding, life-stage distribution, recruitment, maintenance capacity and recent losses.

First action

Choose a supportable starting group and evaluate the whole system over time instead of applying a shrimp-per-volume formula.

Record next

Record count ranges by life stage, food demand, maintenance, nitrogen trend, recruitment, removals, deaths and missing animals.

Stop boundary

Do not convert a short juvenile density experiment or one successful tank into a universal aquarium capacity number.

Continue with the governing guide

Choose a starter group and measure capacity owns the complete method, evidence, limitations and revision history. This card introduces no separate biological claim.

Teaching card titled Choose a starter group and measure capacity: first decision. Situation: You are choosing a starter group or deciding whether a colony exceeds its system. Observe first: Check system maturity, grazing area, filtration, feeding, life-stage distribution, recruitment, maintenance capacity and recent losses. First action: Choose a supportable starting group and evaluate the whole system over time instead of applying a shrimp-per-volume formula. Record next: Record count ranges by life stage, food demand, maintenance, nitrogen trend, recruitment, removals, deaths and missing animals. Stop boundary: Do not convert a short juvenile density experiment or one successful tank into a universal aquarium capacity number. The permanent card is at moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/stocking and the governing guide is at moltandmoss.com/care/stocking. — Original typography-only teaching visual containing the complete card. It is not specimen evidence.

Copy the complete card

Keep every part and both permanent links together.

MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD
Version: 1.0
Reviewed: 2026-08-12
Topic: Choose a starter group and measure capacity

Situation: You are choosing a starter group or deciding whether a colony exceeds its system.
Observe first: Check system maturity, grazing area, filtration, feeding, life-stage distribution, recruitment, maintenance capacity and recent losses.
First action: Choose a supportable starting group and evaluate the whole system over time instead of applying a shrimp-per-volume formula.
Record next: Record count ranges by life stage, food demand, maintenance, nitrogen trend, recruitment, removals, deaths and missing animals.
Stop boundary: Do not convert a short juvenile density experiment or one successful tank into a universal aquarium capacity number.
Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/stocking
Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/stocking

This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide.

Open the portable text version or open the complete visual card.

Copy the exact accessibility description

Use this complete description when a platform provides an alt-text field. Do not shorten away the stopping boundary.

Teaching card titled Choose a starter group and measure capacity: first decision. Situation: You are choosing a starter group or deciding whether a colony exceeds its system. Observe first: Check system maturity, grazing area, filtration, feeding, life-stage distribution, recruitment, maintenance capacity and recent losses. First action: Choose a supportable starting group and evaluate the whole system over time instead of applying a shrimp-per-volume formula. Record next: Record count ranges by life stage, food demand, maintenance, nitrogen trend, recruitment, removals, deaths and missing animals. Stop boundary: Do not convert a short juvenile density experiment or one successful tank into a universal aquarium capacity number. The permanent card is at moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/stocking and the governing guide is at moltandmoss.com/care/stocking.

Card version 1.0, reviewed 2026-08-12. This is a first-decision aid, not diagnosis, treatment authorization, emergency service or a complete method.