Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

Hello,
please could someone help me or give me an advise? I had 4 shrimps Caridina japonica for about 3 years and one of them changed color to orange (gradually in about 2 weeks) and became passive. I have made several changes (during last month) in my tank that could cause it, so I am not sure what could be the reason: plants changes, begin fertilising (pps pro) and CO2 (decrease pH levels) and added 5 new pieces of caridina japonica (all of my shrimps - the new and old ones bought from pet store). I have read some general articles about bacterial infections that can appear in wrong conditions, so I suppose the orange shrimp could by something connected with the bacteria, but I am not sure about other shrimps which seem to have something yellow inside (in some of the new pieces but old pieces too, however not in all). The yellow part is not very visible unless I used flash light directed from the front. Is it usual or not? These shrims are acting normal so far. I would appreciate any help or navigation somewhere where I can find my answers. Thank you and sorry for my english
Peter

I moved this topic over to the main shrimp forum from the gallery section since it's not a gallery post but a question. In any case your shrimp seem to have either a degenerative muscle disease and/or a parasitic bacterium inside. Both conditions tend to discolor the shrimp inside. There is really nothing much you can do about it. Your changes are, most likely, at least partly responsible for your issues. I have had really bad experiences in the past with fertilizers, so I don't recommend using them. There will always be people who say "it's working for me" but in the long run it seems to always go wrong. In general, if shrimp are your main focus, I would leave the tank alone and not mess around with it too much. Every change you make has the potential to disturb the biological balance that is so important for shrimp.

Thank you Mustafa, my main focus is planted aquarium, but health of the shrimps is very important to me as well. I am regularly checking values in the tank (elements added by fertilizing), do you think it could by harmful for the shrimps if the elements stay in "recommended" levels? I will consider reduce fertilizing or make new tank for the shrimps. Do you think I should separate the "ill" shrimps from the healthy in quarantine, or is there no chance to infect the bacteria to the healthy shrimps so they can stay together? And one more think, you wrote there is nothing much I can do about it, but is there a chance to cure the shrimps by improving the conditions or eventually using some medicaments?

Thank you very much for your help.

Hello Peto,

This kind of illness is caused by opportunistic organisms and is, usually, not contagious. So, there is usually no need to separate the affected shrimp. As for medication...there is really no effective way of treating freshwater invertebrates with medication. Usually, the way it goes is that the shrimp either lives and recovers or dies. The best you can do is really just improve the water conditions and allow time for the tank to find its biological balance. If damage has occured to a shrimp already, usually that shrimp cannot be saved by any medication. Having said that, shrimp can recover, but nowhere nearly as well as most fish do.

Mustafa thank you very much again.

You're welcome!

peto wrote:Mustafa thank you very much again.