Tiny Glass Tank: Dwarf Shrimp and Friends

thank you for posting beginner tips.
>>NOTE: at this time, I can only recommend this game to those who enjoy a grind.<<
there seems to be a consensus online that the margins are very tight at the beginning of this game, especially for those who don't like selling their shrimp friends. for example, I've only gone on one catch trip (the cheapest one at 400 coins/trip. note that the forest pond (500 coins/trip) recommended in the guide is locked behind an expensive "license" and you only start with 1000 coins). I am only trying to keep 3 shrimp (I didn't want my single starter shrimp to be lonely), but quickly found myself without enough coins to go on a second catching trip to earn more coins. to be clear, I haven't bought any licenses, tanks, decor or food, etc (used free food only). I've only bought water change (15ea) and crushed coral (60ea) which I had to do 3 or 4 times in the 1 hour that the game ran. I only used these items when water quality was about to drop from "stable" to worse. (I was only trying to stay in "stable", not "pristine", so I don't feel I was changing the water excessively). I only fed the shrimp when they put up the hungry icon, so I don't know why the water quality declined so quickly. about the crushed coral, all 3 shrimps wanted a 6.9-7.1ph, the tank started at 6.6ph, so I was using the crushed coral to help with their happiness, but the effect doesn't last long (I asked the developer about this and there is a decor item that can be purchased to raise the ph slightly and continuously the same way that the catappa leaf can lower ph, but the item is locked behind a shop upgrade license (costs a lot of coins). also, the hearts don't look like they're going to increase to the recommended 3-5 hearts before running out of coins that are needed for water changes to maintain happiness. I played about 1 hour and my shrimps were only at 2 hearts.
I feel this un-fun part could be overcome by starting out with more coins. (at time of writing this, you start with 1000 coins) another way to go would be to have a few options of different coin amounts to chose from, so that those who prefer a challenge have that option. having some kind of daily income could be another solution. or maybe adding a cheaper/free catching trip option.
I absolutely love, love the art. gameplay just didn't feel as cozy as I expected/hoped for. I don't have a problem with grind-y games, but I don't think that's how it should feel at the start, especially for a cute cozy game. I don't think the price of the "licenses" (purchased with coins) for unlocking content is the problem, I think this grind aspect is fine for unlocking access to additional plants/decor in the shop (at the start the only plant options are java moss and marimo ball) and unlocking new catching areas/different critters. I think that the high cost for extra tanks is fine too. and I think these features should all provide enough motivation for players to grind, but at the beginning of the game, I think you should be able to keep more shrimp than you sell, I think you should be able to keep your first few shrimp if you choose to play that way. I don't think that a hard grind of selling shrimp right off the bat should be a requirement or else be doomed to run out of coins.. it isn't for the average casual gamer that this game type typically targets.

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I think this game is a fantastic idea. I really like all the detail you've thought of and have implemented with botanicals and water types. I really liked aquazone back in the day and you've captured a bit of that here with heaps more cute-ness; the shrimp and snails and their animations are absolutely adorable. the music is cozy & pleasant.

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I am hopeful for a future update with a solution for the early-game struggle, I would re-install in a heartbeat.
I'd even be satisfied with the addition of a coin-generating cheat code. xD
I really wanted to interact with more of the content in this game; I've been waiting so long for something like this game, but I feel something needs re-balanced regarding early gameplay. I will be following. :)

best wishes!
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LOOOOOOOOOVE this game!!! as someone with fish/shrimp tanks I really enjoy this game. It's very relaxing and the art style is very cute <3 I leave the game in the background while working and its like I have a shrimp tank on the screen.

It feels like this game can't quite figure out what it wants to be: an active fishing and gathering game or an idler and it fails at trying to be both. The early game margin is so thin that it completely demotivated me. You're encouraged to get attached to your shrimp, but you also need to sell shrimp to have any income at all. They don't breed or grow, so the single shrimp you caught is all you'll ever have until you catch more. The shrimp are also *DEMANDING*: requiring feeding *multiple* times per day, while also *rapidly* deteriorating water quality--both of these are contrary to how shrimp and tanks work in the real world. I understand that the dev sped things up for the sake of gameplay, but it turns the game into a huge baby-sitting affair rather than any kind of idler.

I understand that the dev says that this "isn't" an idle game, but I think maybe they miss the point of having a shrimp tank? I love the idea here, but not the execution as-is. Maybe things will change in the future.