Wood Shrimp

[reinnie]

I hope someone can help me out. 1 of my 4 wood shrimps died yesterday. I had them for about two weeks. Of the surviving ones one of them is pink the other two are still brown. It was one of the smaller ones about 1.5 inches that died. I can't figure out why. Could I have received a sick shrimp?

I'm trying to prevent the other 3 from dying.

I tested the water: Ammonia was fine, Nitrate <5 ppm, Nitrite 0 ppm, PH 7.6 when light is on with plants, PH ~7.3 in the morning when the light has been off for 12 hrs. I have have CO2 injection for my plants and all my fish are tetras (which I believe live in ~6.8 PH, but none of them are dying) that I had for over a year now.

The GH was about 8 degree.

My other three are constantly at the top of the aquarium or by the filter grabbing on to something (is that normal?).

How do I know if they are getting enough food? Could the shrimp have died because of not receiving enough food? I can't tell if they are eating or not.

I don't want the other 3 to die since it was so expensive to ship them.

Is it really hard to take care of wood shrimp?

Please help if you can, again thanks for your help.

Sorry for the long post.

Does anyone know where to buy shrimps without paying ridiculous shipping charges. I bought from Shrimp Factory and didn't realize they had charged me $85 for shipping until I received it.

Thanks in advance.

[Bradimus]

Could I have received a sick shrimp?

Possibly

I tested the water: Ammonia was fine, Nitrate <5 ppm, Nitrite 0 ppm, PH 7.6 when light is on with plants, PH ~7.3 in the morning when the light has been off for 12 hrs. I have have CO2 injection for my plants and all my fish are tetras (which I believe live in ~6.8 PH, but none of them are dying) that I had for over a year now.

The GH was about 8 degree.

Assuming 'fine' means 0ppm, your parameters are acceptable.

My other three are constantly at the top of the aquarium or by the filter grabbing on to something (is that normal?).

They are eating. However, this combing action indicates that they are not getting enough food by their primary feeding behavior. They prefer to filter fine particles from the water.

Take a look at this thread and read this page.

How do I know if they are getting enough food? Could the shrimp have died because of not receiving enough food? I can't tell if they are eating or not.

It takes shrimp a while to starve. I would guess that the cause of death was stress from shipping.

Is it really hard to take care of wood shrimp?

No.

Does anyone know where to buy shrimps without paying ridiculous shipping charges.

Buy from Mustafa. You will get better packing and higher quality shrimp for less money.

[reinnie]

Thanks for all your help and giving me the knowledge to understand the shrimps better.

Can you please tell me:

1. What should the range of the PH should be?
2. What should the range of the GH and KH?
3. How often and how much do I feed the shrimp?

I have bought spirulina flakes and will cruch that into powders. I read from somewhere that I mix it in a cup with aquarium water and turn off my filter for 30 min. and poor in the the water that I just mixed. Is that correct?

Do I need to poor it close to the shrimp? My shrimps are at the top of the water grabbing on hard, part of ones body is out of the water.
Can it still eat if I poor the food in? when it's at the top.

Should the shrimp be down at the gravel most of the times?

I have two shrimps (one big, one small) who are at the very top, the smaller one is constantly grabing on to the bigger one (they are both brown color). The smaller one is constantly grabbing on to the bigger one, does that mean anything? It seems like they are constantly together for almost two weeks now, I have never seen them apart.
My other shrimp (this one is pink, it was brown when I first received it) is always attached to the filter or one of the leaves from the sword plant. I have never seen it open its fan feeding mouth. When it open its fan, is that the only time it is eating?

Thanks for all your help. This discussion forum makes it easier for newbies to get into the shrimp hobby.

Regards

[Bradimus]

1. What should the range of the PH should be?
2. What should the range of the GH and KH?

I don't think either of these are overly critical. Mine do fine in declorinated tap water. Last time I checked, pH was about 7.4 and GH was about 150ppm.

The most important parameters are NH3, NO2, and NO3. If your test kit can detect any NH3 or NO2, the levels are too high. NO3 is safe up to about 10ppm.

3. How often and how much do I feed the shrimp?

I feed mine about once a week. However, mine live in an aquarium with much debris on the bottom. There is an active population of rotifers and such that the shrimp feed on. They are probably eating my ghost larvae as well.

I have bought spirulina flakes and will cruch that into powders. I read from somewhere that I mix it in a cup with aquarium water and turn off my filter for 30 min. and poor in the the water that I just mixed. Is that correct?

What kind of filter are you using? If it has a relatively low flow, I would add the food to the outstream.

Do I need to poor it close to the shrimp?

No.

Should the shrimp be down at the gravel most of the times?

Mine spend most of their time climbing. They seem to enjoy standing somewhere where they can hold their fans in the outflow from the filter.

I have two shrimps (one big, one small) who are at the very top, the smaller one is constantly grabing on to the bigger one (they are both brown color). The smaller one is constantly grabbing on to the bigger one, does that mean anything?

Is the larger one carrying eggs?

I have never seen it open its fan feeding mouth. When it open its fan, is that the only time it is eating?

It is their 'hands' that are adapted into fans. But yes, if they are not fanning, they are not eating. Remember that shrimp are rather shy, especially if they must share their homes with fish. It may be that they are only comfortable enough to eat when it is dark.

[Bradimus]

I'm using a Rena Filstar Canister Filter XP3, this current is kind of strong even though it is at the lowest setting.

Then I have a Second Nature Whisper 2 power filter, this current is also set at its lowest.

This may be why your shrimp are holding tightly onto things. The current might be too strong. They like a slight current since this makes it easier to filter. However, they don't like to be pushed around.

[reinnie]

Is the larger one carrying eggs?

I don't believe there are any eggs. what color should they be and where would it be?

[reinnie]

This may be why your shrimp are holding tightly onto things. The current might be too strong. They like a slight current since this makes it easier to filter. However, they don't like to be pushed around.

How can I fix the current? It is already at it's lowest. Maybe I can tie a filter bag over it to slow the current?

[Bradimus]

Not sure what color the eggs are for this species. I would guess green-brown. (I think all three of mine are male.) The ovaries are just behind the head. While the eggs are developing, it can look like a saddle on the shrimp. (Again, I don't know if this is visible in this species) Once the eggs are laid, the female carries them on her pleopods (swimmerets) pleopods. You can see a Cherry Red carrying her golden eggs here.

Mustafa,
Have you ever seen an ovigerous Wood Shrimp?

[Mustafa]

Mustafa,
Have you ever seen an ovigerous Wood Shrimp?

Yes, my female here is constantly ovigerous....the eggs are brownish.

Mustafa

[reinnie]

Mustafa,
Have you ever seen an ovigerous Wood Shrimp?

Yes, my female here is constantly ovigerous....the eggs are brownish.

Mustafa

Mustafa

Do you know when you would start selling wood shrimp?

[Mustafa]

[quote="reinnie"

Mustafa

Do you know when you would start selling wood shrimp?[/quote]

Not anytime soon. I don't bother trying to raise their larvae at this point since I don't have space and time to take care of the larvae. All the animals in the market at this point are wild-caught.

Mustafa

[reinnie]

Hi Bradimus,

I hope you or someone can help me. This weeked two more of my wood shimps died. That's about 3 dead shrimps in less than 2 weeks. I seriuosly can't figure out why. I have one more left and I'm hoping it doesn't die.

Maybe keeping shrimp as a hobby is harder than keeping tropical fish? I don't think I'm going to buy anymore shrimp until I know why my 3 shrimps died.

I tested the NH3 or NO2 - 0 ppm, NO3 <4 ppm. None of my fish are dying. Could it be that there is not enough O2 in the water? since my shrimp is constantly at the top of the tank. I figure if there is not enough O2 in the water then I should see my fish going to the surface to get O2, which they are not. I use CO2 injection for my plants. I hope someone can help, since I'm at a dead end.

What I notice is that my water surface has an oily film on the surface of the water. What I gather is this from another website:

Oily Film - This is especially common in heavily planted "natural" aquariums, where surface agitation is purposely minimized to help keep carbon dioxide levels up.

What causes it? Many of the organic compounds created by decaying fish waste and uneaten food tend to accumulate at the air/water interface. In tanks with vigorous surface agitation, these compounds are continually re-mixed with the water, preventing the formation of a "slick". from http://www.bestfish.com/tips/102799.html

Is this true? I bought some micro food for the shrimps but not sure if they are eating. Are they harder to take care than tropical fish? How do I get rid of the oily film? I tried water change but comes back in a few days. Could it be from the plants?

Lastly, How exactly do I clean the gravel of a fully planted tank? I have read different things about it. 1) Not clean the gravel, just remove water and add new water, since plant will remove a lot of the waste or 2) vacuum the gravel the usual way by going around the plant.

thanks for your time.

[Bradimus]

Maybe keeping shrimp as a hobby is harder than keeping tropical fish? I don't think I'm going to buy anymore shrimp until I know why my 3 shrimps died.

I don't think it is necessarily more difficult, but it is different. You may never know what killed your shrimp. It could be something in the water. It could be stress from the shipping/poor conditions prior to shipping. (Given the source of your shrimp, that would be my first guess.) It could be lack of food. It could be competition from or harassment by fish. It could be old age.

I tested the NH3 or NO2 - 0 ppm, NO3 <4 ppm.

These levels are ideal. I usually downplay the problem of copper and other heavy metals, but when other facets of water chemistry have been eliminated, it might be worth looking at them. If your LFS deals in salt water critters, they will probably test your water for copper for free/minimal charge.

None of my fish are dying. Could it be that there is not enough O2 in the water?

Doubtful.

since my shrimp is constantly at the top of the tank. I figure if there is not enough O2 in the water then I should see my fish going to the surface to get O2, which they are not.

Some fish surface when there is insufficient O2 dissolved in the water because they can gulp atmospheric air. Shrimp, I believe, lack this ability.

What I notice is that my water surface has an oily film on the surface of the water. What I gather is this from another website:

Oily Film - This is especially common in heavily planted "natural" aquariums, where surface agitation is purposely minimized to help keep carbon dioxide levels up.

[snip]
How do I get rid of the oily film? I tried water change but comes back in a few days. Could it be from the plants?

In planted aquaria, the film is usually due to decaying plant matter. I know of two plant friendly ways to deal with it. One is to mix it back once or twice a week. The other is to manually skim the surface using a cup.

Lastly, How exactly do I clean the gravel of a fully planted tank? I have read different things about it. 1) Not clean the gravel, just remove water and add new water, since plant will remove a lot of the waste or 2) vacuum the gravel the usual way by going around the plant.

It depends on the strategy your are using. If it is a low-tech, natural approach, don't clean the gravel. The decaying matter is your plants primary source of nutrients, including carbon. I never clean my gravel or change water. I would suggest reading Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium.

If you are using a high-tech, actively controlled approach, it is probably necessary that the gravel be vacummed regularly.

What kind of fish do you have in the aquarium? If possible, it is better to keep shrimp by themselves. (Some of mine live with fish, but I will not start another mixed tank.) If you can setup a shrimp only tank (even a 10G ) , you might have more success. Mustafa is a good source. I have also heard good things about Frank, but have never bought from him. Also, check Aquabid. There are some good people there.

[reinnie]

What kind of fish do you have in the aquarium?

All I have in the aquarium are tetras. The biggest one is about 1 inch.

I will take my water to the LFS and see if they can check for Cu. Does Cu sometimes get into our water? if it is in my water, how do I remove it?

Lastly, would my shrimp live in a 10 gal tank? .. I have my betta in there.

[Bradimus]

Copper is in most tapwater at different levels, depending on the geographical location, water source, water treatment, etc. It is also in most plant supplements at trace levels.

Many of the declorinating treatments will bind copper. A salty LFS would be better able to help you with copper control -- copper levels are much more critical in reef tanks.