Hi,
Looking for someone who knows more about this particular type of shrimp, or a lot about shrimp in general.
I currently have 8 thriving amano shrimp, 6 Harlequins, 5 neon tetra, 2 rainbow tetra (I think), 2 ottos, 4 sword tails. Tank is 200L, planted.
Last week I bout a bamboo shrimp. Brought it home and acclimatised it the same as I did for the amanos, floated the bag for about 40 mins, then let it swim out. All afternoon and evening it moved from one spot to the next, and finally at night, rested on the sponge filter. It never once deployed its fans or tried to eat at all. (I assumed this was okay, as all my new amano shrimp went into hiding for 2 days before they became active and eating).
The next day it was floating (ish) upside down resting lightly on top of the sponge filter. Thinking it dead I nudged it with the tweezers. Nothing. Then lifted it out of the tank. I accidently dropped it back into the water, and its undercarriage fins spring to life and it propelled it's self to the bottom of the tank where it sat on the substrate. Okay, I thought, it must have been sleeping upside down... I called Pets@Home where I got the guy, they said there wasn't much to be done. While some fish stave to death from the stress of transport, its odd for a shrimp to do it. Just keep an eye on him and hope for the best.
The next day, it was definitely dead. Still hadn't tried to eat. I took it out and put it in a bowl of aquarium water (didn't want dead things in the tank in case they made the water toxic). After a few hours, it didn't move, on its side. I poked it. Nothing. tapped it eye with the tweezers. Nothing.
The conclusion was maybe the shrimp wasn't doing too great to begin with. I didnt see him fanning in the store, so probably had an issue.
I then bought a second one, picked one which was fanning in the store. Brought him home, did a longer acclimatization, including a water change. Floated him after the water change for at least 40 mins as well, so probably around 2 hours in total. Including letting some aquarium water in the bag and retying it.
When I let him out, he swam around and started fanning. Yeeeyyy.
By the even he had stopped fanning. And sat in a corner. Then was gone from site. Thats okay, shrimp do that.
Next day he was crawling all over the rocks, sat in the flow from the filter. But wasn't fanning. Watched him all day. Even put in some algae granules, nothing. Didnt fan at all. But he kept changing position.
Today, laid on his side at the bottom of the tank. Looking, for all intents and purposes, dead. Again.
This time, I'm not touching him. I dont know what to do. There is a lot of vague floating around the internet. Some people saying their shrimp looked dead for 5 days, or 3 days then sprung to life. Other people saying if they dont move when you poke them, they are dead. Other people saying buy bamboo shrimp in bulk of 5+ because half of them die. (hard to believe).
There is advice saying if there is a white ring around their neck then its a failed moult. Nope, not the case.
I dont know if this guy is dead, it certainly seems so. I dont know why they stop fanning. Some info says they were already starving in the store - sure, but then they would try hard to eat, not give up entirely.
I do use plant fertiliser, which has 0.0006 g of copper. Copper I know is toxic to shrimp, but its a tiny amount and the amano shrimp are thriving, so I dont think its that.
My parameters:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40-80 (comes out the tap at that level)
Ph between 7.4 and 7.8
Medium - hard water
25 degrees c.
Can anyone tell me whats happening? How do these shrimp behave / whats going on?
Looking for someone who knows more about this particular type of shrimp, or a lot about shrimp in general.
I currently have 8 thriving amano shrimp, 6 Harlequins, 5 neon tetra, 2 rainbow tetra (I think), 2 ottos, 4 sword tails. Tank is 200L, planted.
Last week I bout a bamboo shrimp. Brought it home and acclimatised it the same as I did for the amanos, floated the bag for about 40 mins, then let it swim out. All afternoon and evening it moved from one spot to the next, and finally at night, rested on the sponge filter. It never once deployed its fans or tried to eat at all. (I assumed this was okay, as all my new amano shrimp went into hiding for 2 days before they became active and eating).
The next day it was floating (ish) upside down resting lightly on top of the sponge filter. Thinking it dead I nudged it with the tweezers. Nothing. Then lifted it out of the tank. I accidently dropped it back into the water, and its undercarriage fins spring to life and it propelled it's self to the bottom of the tank where it sat on the substrate. Okay, I thought, it must have been sleeping upside down... I called Pets@Home where I got the guy, they said there wasn't much to be done. While some fish stave to death from the stress of transport, its odd for a shrimp to do it. Just keep an eye on him and hope for the best.
The next day, it was definitely dead. Still hadn't tried to eat. I took it out and put it in a bowl of aquarium water (didn't want dead things in the tank in case they made the water toxic). After a few hours, it didn't move, on its side. I poked it. Nothing. tapped it eye with the tweezers. Nothing.
The conclusion was maybe the shrimp wasn't doing too great to begin with. I didnt see him fanning in the store, so probably had an issue.
I then bought a second one, picked one which was fanning in the store. Brought him home, did a longer acclimatization, including a water change. Floated him after the water change for at least 40 mins as well, so probably around 2 hours in total. Including letting some aquarium water in the bag and retying it.
When I let him out, he swam around and started fanning. Yeeeyyy.
By the even he had stopped fanning. And sat in a corner. Then was gone from site. Thats okay, shrimp do that.
Next day he was crawling all over the rocks, sat in the flow from the filter. But wasn't fanning. Watched him all day. Even put in some algae granules, nothing. Didnt fan at all. But he kept changing position.
Today, laid on his side at the bottom of the tank. Looking, for all intents and purposes, dead. Again.
This time, I'm not touching him. I dont know what to do. There is a lot of vague floating around the internet. Some people saying their shrimp looked dead for 5 days, or 3 days then sprung to life. Other people saying if they dont move when you poke them, they are dead. Other people saying buy bamboo shrimp in bulk of 5+ because half of them die. (hard to believe).
There is advice saying if there is a white ring around their neck then its a failed moult. Nope, not the case.
I dont know if this guy is dead, it certainly seems so. I dont know why they stop fanning. Some info says they were already starving in the store - sure, but then they would try hard to eat, not give up entirely.
I do use plant fertiliser, which has 0.0006 g of copper. Copper I know is toxic to shrimp, but its a tiny amount and the amano shrimp are thriving, so I dont think its that.
My parameters:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40-80 (comes out the tap at that level)
Ph between 7.4 and 7.8
Medium - hard water
25 degrees c.
Can anyone tell me whats happening? How do these shrimp behave / whats going on?