dying shrimps...

[shRimper]

i have an 8x8x8 inch planted nano tank... inside, there is nana anubias, java moss, hairgrass and vallis... substrate is oceanfree bio gravel + black quartz, no base fert... after a week of cycling, i bought a pair of yamatos and a night after that, both of them died! dunno y!! i saw one of them "paralyzed" on its back then dying off... wat's the cause? then, recently, i bought 10 malayan shrimps and for the last 3 days, 2 have died! wat's the cause??? very puzzled here... i thought shrimps were hardy... they did a great job cleaning off algae though... are the water conditions affecting? i use nutrafin anti-chlorine to dechlorinate and nutrafin cycle to cycle the tank...

[kc_c]

Your tank is probably not well cycled. How about putting 1 or 2 feeder fish,like platy for 2, 3 week first. For a tank this size, it is a challenge.

Shrimp are not as hardy as you think. IMO, shrimp are more difficult to keep that some other species, except cherry shrimp.

[simcb]

Your tank is probably not well cycled. How about putting 1 or 2 feeder fish,like platy for 2, 3 week first. For a tank this size, it is a challenge.

Shrimp are not as hardy as you think. IMO, shrimp are more difficult to keep that other species, except cherry shrimp.

Hi shRimper,

As kc_c said its probably not well cycled enough. The filter probably havent kick in with enough beneifical bacteria yet. Amano shrimps are hardy but they stress easily when No2 or No3 is high needless to said a little ammonia will kill most shrimps instantly. Adding more nurtrifn cycle might help .... but it will still take 1 mth at least to be safe for shrimps as there will be ammonia spikes Even in well matured tanks, these spikes sometimes occurs during filter maintance or overcrowding.

Feeder fish has higher tolerance than shrimps if the fish dies that means its really bad. But dont worry time will make your tank a nice spot. Hope you enjoy your stay.

[retardo]

i have an 8x8x8 inch planted nano tank... inside, there is nana anubias, java moss, hairgrass and vallis... substrate is oceanfree bio gravel + black quartz, no base fert... after a week of cycling, i bought a pair of yamatos and a night after that, both of them died! dunno y!! i saw one of them "paralyzed" on its back then dying off... wat's the cause? then, recently, i bought 10 malayan shrimps and for the last 3 days, 2 have died! wat's the cause??? very puzzled here... i thought shrimps were hardy... they did a great job cleaning off algae though... are the water conditions affecting? i use nutrafin anti-chlorine to dechlorinate and nutrafin cycle to cycle the tank...

One week is not nearly enough time for a tank to fully cycle, and it's almost foolish to assume that all shrimp species are the same... that is, that all of them are hardy. Plus, 10 malayan shrimp in an 8x8x8in space is entirely too small for that many shrimp. While shrimp are relatively low bioload animals, a large number in that small of a space is a recipe for disaster. I would keep at most 4-5 shrimp in that space. There may be other contributing factors, but it's hard to say what they are.

What are your water parameters (ph, KH, GH, etc.)? Also, what is bio-gravel? Does it have a buffering capacity? You also don't make mention of a filter, sponge or otherwise. While plants can help in the cycling process, you should still consider keeping a filter running.

[Walter]

Erm, did you provide aeration?