Fire Shrimp With Eggs Question

[rookie07]

I have a pair of Fire Shrimp. I have had them for the last year. I thought they were a "mated pair", mainly b/c ive read that they will fight with any other fire shrimp, except for a mate. And, b/c they hang out together all the time.

I just noticed that BOTH of them have eggs. How is this possible? I thought only the female caried eggs.

Also, ive seen one of them(not sure which is which) have eggs twice before, and they even hatch, and tiny shrimp were all over the tank.....so, if there is clearly a male, and a female(b/c they've produce babies before), how can they both be carring eggs?
Could something have laid eggs "on" the male?


Thanks

Phil

 

[DevIouS]

They are hermaphrodites and can mate with each other.

 

[reefman]

does this mean they can breed by themselves?

 

[jejton]

I doubt it. Most hermaphrodites ( such as earthworms, some shrimp and fish ) still need to mate with another individual.

 

[chazertis]

some pictures would be awesome