Shrimp molts

[lonksenopa]

I recently bought a few cherry shrimp after a few days they were all pretty active and eating the algae wafers I provided so they seemed pretty healthy. I noticed that one of them molted and all seemed well however right after that 2 of the other shrimp got stuck in their molt and died. I'm not sure what's going on as the one that was successful is still healthy and fine. I use shrimp essentials to try and keep them healthy but I'm not sure how effective it is or if there's something better. I'm just worried about losing anymore.

 

[Aiken Drum]

Water parameters are the most likely cause, pH, GH and KH. Getting stuck in their molt is most likely the parameters being too high.

Poor diet would be next most likely. Are they eating anything other than algae wafers? Is the aquarium well established with plenty of biofilm?

Did you do a water change immediately prior to the failed molting?

Did you see a solid white band around the area where the head meets the body?

 

[lonksenopa]

I have a good amount of biofilm aquarium has been set up for about 6 months now with nothing else but a pea puffer. As for the water I did a change about 4 days before the deaths but didn't notice a white band when they were alive but recall seeing something like that on one of the bodies.

 

[Autumnsky]

Do you know your water hardness?

 

[lonksenopa]

Do you know your water hardness?

I just ordered a test kit for that but in general no. pH is about 7.6 and ammonia/nitrite are 0ppm with nitrates at about 15ppm. I've been using the aqueon shrimp essentials but this is my first time with shrimp so I'm not sure about the effectiveness

 

[Autumnsky]

How often or how are you using the Aqueon Shrimp Essentials?

Try testing your tap water if that's what you are using for your tank. Are you using RO or distilled water if you add water due to evaporation?

Using tap water just adds additional mineral content to the water.

Also molting problem can be that the shell is also too hard from minerals and shrimp can't break out of it. You will know more after testing when you get the KH/ GH test kit.

 

[lonksenopa]

I use the shrimp essentials every other water change. Just tested GH and KH and the values are rather high. GH is at about 11 and KH is about 6. How would I go about lowering those

 

[Aiken Drum]

See this thread about lowering pH, KH and GH.

High pH

How can I effectively, safely and maintain a tank pH of 7.0? I prefer not to go the chemical route since it isn’t always a long term solution. Injecting CO2 seems a little complicated. Deionized water seems a bit expensive unless that is my only choice. I have a new 55 gal. No fish yet...

www.aquariumadvice.com

 

[Autumnsky]

Did you get a chance to test the tap water you use for the tank?

Did you add tap water to fill for evaporation? That matters as it compounds the mineral content in the water, especially over time.

Most ideally with your 55G, it would be best to select fish which need the type of water you have available to you. Otherwise, you would be having to adjust the water parameters with each water change, which complicates things and is somewhat difficult to keep a stable tank.

 

[lonksenopa]

Did you get a chance to test the tap water you use for the tank?

Did you add tap water to fill for evaporation? That matters as it compounds the mineral content in the water, especially over time.

Most ideally with your 55G, it would be best to select fish which need the type of water you have available to you. Otherwise, you would be having to adjust the water parameters with each water change, which complicates things and is somewhat difficult to keep a stable tank.

I tested the tap it's actually a bit lower than the readings in my tank

 

[Autumnsky]

You may not need as much, or any Aqueon additive for the water/ shrimp. Are you feeding food formulated for shrimp? That would be helpful for their nutrition, generally a shrimp food will contain necessary ingredients for health and molting. The Aqueon Essentials may be adding too much.

Doing a series of smaller pwc over the course of a number of days or a week or so, so it is gradual, will help lower the TDS total dissolved solids, and perhaps be at a level which works for the shrimp. The numbers for your tank seem at the top of the level for the shrimp. Some shrimp bred in water from your area may have breed more adapted to the water parameters they were raised in. Shrimp from a pet store (usually come from breeding facility, and were usually raised in very ideal parameters for their breed (in this case Cherry shrimp.) So, your water may be somewhat different than what they were used to.

Higher mineral levels can make the shell harder/ thicker and more difficult for the shrimp to pop out of during a molt.

What kind of food are they eating?

 

[lonksenopa]

You may not need as much, or any Aqueon additive for the water/ shrimp. Are you feeding food formulated for shrimp? That would be helpful for their nutrition, generally a shrimp food will contain necessary ingredients for health and molting. The Aqueon Essentials may be adding too much.

Doing a series of smaller pwc over the course of a number of days or a week or so, so it is gradual, will help lower the TDS total dissolved solids, and perhaps be at a level which works for the shrimp. The numbers for your tank seem at the top of the level for the shrimp. Some shrimp bred in water from your area may have breed more adapted to the water parameters they were raised in. Shrimp from a pet store (usually come from breeding facility, and were usually raised in very ideal parameters for their breed (in this case Cherry shrimp.) So, your water may be somewhat different than what they were used to.

Higher mineral levels can make the shell harder/ thicker and more difficult for the shrimp to pop out of during a molt.

What kind of food are they eating?

I feed them shrimp pellets and I believe the brand is called ultra fresh they also eat some algae wafers that I pop in there for the bladder snails which are there to feed the pufferfish. I also notice they eat any blood worms the puffer doesn't finish

 

[Autumnsky]

I feed them shrimp pellets and I believe the brand is called ultra fresh they also eat some algae wafers that I pop in there for the bladder snails which are there to feed the pufferfish. I also notice they eat any blood worms the puffer doesn't finish

That sounds like a very good diet for the shrimp. I use Ultra Fresh amongst my other foods for fish and my orange Neos like to eat the leftovers from my Guppy fry as well.

I'd try the getting the new water gradually changed over to your tap water with the lower numbers. And stop with the Aqueon additive.

As a side note the puffer might want to have your shrimp for snacks as well as the worms and snails. Sometimes all it takes is a taste and then they find a new favorite food.

 

[lonksenopa]

That sounds like a very good diet for the shrimp. I use Ultra Fresh amongst my other foods for fish and my orange Neos like to eat the leftovers from my Guppy fry as well.

I'd try the getting the new water gradually changed over to your tap water with the lower numbers. And stop with the Aqueon additive.

As a side note the puffer might want to have your shrimp for snacks as well as the worms and snails. Sometimes all it takes is a taste and then they find a new favorite food.

I've had them together for a while and he's still quite small. He's pretty passive and doesn't seem too interested in them he actually seems kinda spooked if they get too close. Hopefully it stays that way