libertybelle
Aquarium Advice Addict
Background: I have 4 red cherry shrimp in a 5 gallon hex with a small adjustable heater that keeps the tank around 76-78. Had 6 originally but lost 2 within 24hrs of bringing them home from the LFS, a couple weeks ago. There are also two tiny mosquito rasbora in there (Hoping to get a few more when the LFS gets them in, let them grow up a bit then move them to my larger tank) The tank was running as a quarantine tank for a while and the filter media came from my established tank. (sponges and wet/dry bio wheel - standard on the hex.) i checked water chemistry levels frequently when i first added them to make sure there was no mini cycle, and have had no ammonia/nitrite problems. It has lots of java moss and and an Anubis plant.i have only been running the overhead light for a few hours at a time in the morning and at night because I don't want the tank to heat up too much.
Concern: I haven't lost any shrimp since the first 24 hours after bringing them home, But they came straight from the bag from the shipper to the LFS, so I imagine that was shipping stress. However, every morning I notice they are not very active- not doing their constant grazing thing. I know this is a warning sign so i do a small water change (usually just a few cups, never more than .5 gallon - tap + prime usually 'aged' for 12-24 hrs) they perk up, scurry around and act normal. However when I get home from work they are usually still again. Cue another small water change ... Rinse and repeat. Just a note, the fish have shown no signs of stress at all.
Is it possible that with all the plants in the tank and only getting a few hours of direct light in the morning and in the evening, There is not enough oxygen in the water? I lowered the water level already to see if that would help but nothing really changed.
Or is this not really a sign of stress like I think it is. I may be hyper sensitive because I had cherries once a while ago. Went strong for months bred like crazy and then petered out one by one over a couple months. Maybe something changed in my water supply...
I look forward to some more experienced thoughts on this.
Concern: I haven't lost any shrimp since the first 24 hours after bringing them home, But they came straight from the bag from the shipper to the LFS, so I imagine that was shipping stress. However, every morning I notice they are not very active- not doing their constant grazing thing. I know this is a warning sign so i do a small water change (usually just a few cups, never more than .5 gallon - tap + prime usually 'aged' for 12-24 hrs) they perk up, scurry around and act normal. However when I get home from work they are usually still again. Cue another small water change ... Rinse and repeat. Just a note, the fish have shown no signs of stress at all.
Is it possible that with all the plants in the tank and only getting a few hours of direct light in the morning and in the evening, There is not enough oxygen in the water? I lowered the water level already to see if that would help but nothing really changed.
Or is this not really a sign of stress like I think it is. I may be hyper sensitive because I had cherries once a while ago. Went strong for months bred like crazy and then petered out one by one over a couple months. Maybe something changed in my water supply...
I look forward to some more experienced thoughts on this.
