HELP! Emergency advice needed to save a little shrimp!!

[shrimpsitter]

Hi all,

I’ve been reading through threads for the past hour but I’m still not sure what to do. I am house sitting for my parents and came home from work today to a dramatic scene with their ecosphere shattered, everything amuck. I blame their curious kitties who I’m 100% sure are responsible!! They have had this ecosystem since my 21st birthday (10 years ago!!), and my mom had just told me how amazing it was that one of the shrimp was still alive and how much it reminds her of me and my birthday. Of course this happens on my watch!

It took me a while but I FOUND THE SHRIMP (ALIVE!!! How?!) and in my panic threw him in a glass of water, got in my car and drove myself and the little shrimp to Petco. The store associate there told me the shrimp should be in fresh water, gave me some droplets to put in the water and a moss ball, and sent me on my way. She seemed so confident!

I came home, collected as many of the shrimp’s little pebbles and shells as possible, washed everything off and put it all in a new glass with the little guy. Now I’m reading all of these threads and am afraid I’m about to kill this guy despite all of my saving efforts!!

I am seeing all of these notes about setting up a new tank and being patient etc. but I don’t think I have time for that. And the salinity discussions are causing me to rethink the fresh water recommendation. Please help!! Y’all seem to know what you’re talking about and I know nothing about this. I’m feeling deeply responsible and heartbroken. What do I do from here?? Any quick saves??

THANK YOU!!!!

[Dch48]

They can survive in fresh water and even in full strength sea water but the change from brackish should be done gradually. Of course fresh water is better than no water but the salinity should be gradually raised using an ocean salt product.

[shrimpsitter]

Thank you for your response!! I’ll try to find an ocean salt product to raise the salinity. Can I do that within the little bowl he now lives in? (Again, I know nothing!) THANK YOU!

[Varanus]

Ideally you would mix the salt with the water beforehand, but measuring out the correct amount for the amount of water in the bowl and sprinkling it in over time may be your only option right now (outside of getting another tank and setting it up).

Everything about what they need can be found here: https://www.petshrimp.com/set-up-a-supe ... tructions/

[shrimpsitter]

Thank you, both.

[Mustafa]

Were you able to save the shrimp?