Creighton,

Yes, my first name is Ted.

My guess would be that Excel did your amanos in -- I've kept them at up to 83 degrees. For me, amanos are more sensitive than cherries and will die first. Shrimp are rather sensitive, so on major landscaping days when the substrate is stirred up, I do a water change per Tom's recommendation -- this water change is not just for shrimp, but for all of your fish and other critters. I think it is the shrimps' sensitivity to nitrates that bothers them with this. Again, if you will be using Excel, keep the shrimp in your other tank -- they do not like that stuff. You can tell if your shrimp are having a tough time because they will just sit in a corner (upper corner for me) and not eat. When they do that, I go for a water change and they usually start eating again immediately. Shrimp are sort of an early warning system.

I would just put one oto in there for now ... no reason to take the chance of losing 5 of them. Mine are tough as hell, but you never know.

I think that Apistos and cherries are compatible, but maybe you have babies or something. Somebody else should verify on that one -- otherwise, you can put just one in when you have time to keep an eye on him. But, not when you are dosing with Excel!

Not sure where you are located, but I bought my Nerites from AAG (Aquarium Plants, Pond Plants, Freshwater Aquarium Plant & Aquarium Accessories – Arizona Aquatic Gardens) in Arizona. Nerites cannot breed in fresh water (thankfully), but do deposit little white eggs here and there, which I'm sure some some folks do not like. Honestly, I haven't heard a lot of people talk about using Nerites here on this site. Until I learn this stuff better, I just need their algae eating skills. I just got a shipment of 6 SAEs (1 was DOA) today from AAG, and they are doing fine.