beginner needs help on ghost shrimps

chunzhu · Post by **chunzhu** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:34 am

hi, anyone has any clue why my ghost shrimps turn opaque white?? not all the shrimps are going thru this currently. is it due to diseases or getting cooked as my temperature is ard 27-28 degree... help appreciated greatly!!!

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:54 am

Mine do fine at that temperature. How long have you had them and how long was the tank you put them in set up? Tanks nned to cycle for a while with something to help establish the bacteria.

Read over the shrimp variety page as there is a listing for ghost shrimp, and do a search as there are lots of threads on keeping these shrimp.

chunzhu · Post by **chunzhu** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:05 am

hi i had them for like 3 weeks already while my tank is about 4 -5 weeks. i cycle them with my java moss though... but the numbers get lesser, eating each other not sure is it when the shrimps are vulnerable at molting stage or they jus simply died off and the rest feed on the dead. with so many factors coming into play... i cannot single out the factor tt is causing it.

yeah i have been reading those ghost shrimps thread or articles but they sound so simple..

do ur ghost shrimps turn white too?? maybe jus a portion of its body white?? i need to figure out soon or else even if i get a 2nd batch the same thing will happen.

and how do u noe it is going to molt?? and do u require special equipments or wat for pregnant ghost shrimps spawn their babies??? heard need floaters... is it a must??

and by the way, my tank is pretty bare, with java moss, air pump and a stainless steel mesh as a shelter for it... and 6-10 hrs of lightnings daily tt is about it...

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:16 am

I've never seen my shost shrimp eat each other except when one is dead already. You sure these are the standard feeder ghost shrimp? They often eat the molts as it is a good source of calcium. Some of mine turn white when they get ready to molt. They like to have a place to hide while their shell hardens up. Pull dead ones out of the tank.

What are you doing for filtration? How often do you do water changes and how much? Do you condition your water?

As to breeding, have some fine leaved floating plants in the tank. Absolutely no fish of ANY kind. Get a product called "Golden Pearls" to feed the larva. Use a pinch (small pinch) twice a day with the filtration turned off. After an hour you can turn it back on. At 80 degrees it should take 4-5 days for them to turn into tiny shrimp.

chunzhu · Post by **chunzhu** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:28 am

i dun have any filtration going on as i dun wan my shrimps to get sucked in... i usually top up water only when the water level is low.. my water i leave it aside for 3 days before i add in didnt do much to it as the water is already ph 7. but my water is slightly whitish or maybe cloudy but it should be alright... since not all the shrimps are having the same problem...

i do suspect it turn white due to molting but i confirm it as i dun have a spare tank to breed one to confirm my findings... as from wat i know when they molt, they become vulnerable to attacks too.. so unless i can have one shrimp in a tank by itself to know wat is going on, is it molting and being attack as no shelter is provided or died due to diseases.. if not everything is jus speculation...

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:03 am

That is why your shrimp are going away. You are poisoning them.

Get an under gravel filter and put about 1" of gravel over it. Rinse it well. Add the content of your aquarium, gravel water & all to it. Hook your air pump up to it.

Add/change the water to get a 50% water change and be sure you used conditioner like Seachem Prime or Amquel+. You need to do a 20% water change weekly.

Post by **Mustafa** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:48 am

chunzhu,

I strongly urge you to FIRST perform research both on this website about shrimp in particular and about aquarium keeping in general before even attempting to talk about how to keep shrimp alive. You are doing everything wrong that one can do wrong. Do NOT buy any other shrimp until you have read up on the subject. It's useless to even communicate with you in this forum if you do not even know the basics. The info is all out there, go and get it.