white strip behind the cherry shrimps head

[imi_sky]

hey guys i just wanted to confirm what this really means, alot of people say its a false molting and will cause death... some say its due to stress. so is it really, ive had it happen when the tempurature of the tank is at 28-29dC. also i had this happen when the Kh of the water was to high 7dKh, whats the recommended Kh for cherry shrimps.

if anyone could post the ideal condition for cherries it would be great.

i have my paras at.

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate at 5-10ppm
CO2 at 14ppm
Kh at 3
temp at 24-28dC
Ph at 6.8

[Raymond]

U have a pic to show us?

[imi_sky]

this picture isnt mine but it looks like that, jsut not as bad
http://www.mack.neostrada.pl/pasek.JPG

[Raymond]

Huh where got white strip??

[imi_sky]

raymond, the strip is not really "white" but clear, and its just behind the head, that picture shows it quite well

[Raymond]

Oh ok. i thought so too. personally dont think there is any problem with that shrimp. U experience any casualties with the same problem?? MAybe u can quarantine that particular shrimp. This way you could monitor it better.

[imi_sky]

ive lost 14 shrimps to that before but that was from a Kh spike and water over heat...and they just sit there like they are alive and...die

has anyone seen there shrimps do this?? is it normal??

[silane]

imi_sky,

Do the clear strips appears on the cherry shrimps at about the same time and they start to look sick?

Low KH works well for cherry shrimps, our water here is very soft (KH not detectable by test kits) and hobbyists do not do anything to buffer the water, cherry shrimps do well in such conditions. For planted tank hobbyists, usually they buffer KH to 3 to 4, cherry shrimp thrive well in such conditions too. PH wise, 6.5 to 7.2 is fine. Temperature between 24 to 28C.

[imi_sky]

the shrimps that ive encountered before got sick after the white strip appeared, and it seems to be the tempurature that effects the shrimps and have the strip come out the most

[silane]

the shrimps that ive encountered before got sick after the white strip appeared, and it seems to be the tempurature that effects the shrimps and have the strip come out the most

Seems that your cherry shrimps has encountered shocks. Cherry shrimps can adapt to quite a wide range of enviromental parameters, but any sudden change of parameter even if within the known good range will kill them.

[imi_sky]

if so, how long show i climatize them before actually putting them into the tank?? 45mins to an hour?? and add 3ml of my tank water every 10mins? i have CRS arriving tomorrow and im hoping to put them into the same tank,

the params are given at the top, you do see any thing bad without the params for CRS??

[silane]

The parameters are ok for CRS.

How much water to add per session, how many session and what is the time interval depends on the PH of the 2 water. You can put the plastic bag without opening it into the tank to match the temperature before adding water.

The safest way is to use dripping method, using a restricted air tube to siphone water from tank to a container that holds your new shrimps and water from the plastic bag. The restricted method basically drip tank water into the container. When the water get doubled, pour away half and repeat the process till the PH matches or close.

I would suggest you to change 30% of your current tank water before welcoming your CRS.

[retardo]

The drip method works very well. I usually do this over the course of several hours to make sure that they acclimate well. Anything less than 2hrs, I think, is less than optimal.

[imi_sky]

so what is needed for the drip method, and how is it done, ive never done it before. i have an air tube thats about it but how do i make it drip, if someone could explain i would love to hear it.

thanks for all the help so far

[turbomkt]

Probably the easiest way to get it to just drip is tie a knot in it.

1. Make the knot but don't pull it tight.
2. Start your siphon going.
3. tighten the knot until you get the flow rate you want.

Option two is to use something to squeeze the tube. Your local Home Depot/hardware store or equivalent should have small clamps used for wood work that will work very well. The knot is cheaper, though.

[retardo]

Hmmm... I've never tried turbomkt's method. In fact, never even thought about it that way, but seems like it's worth trying... Sounds like it would take a pretty good length of tubing as well.

The method I use (borrowed from an oh-so-wise lfs owner):

Parts:
1. Any size plastic water bottle
2. 1-2" of airline tubing
3. connector valve, like this one: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8017&Ntt=valve&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1 This one is perfect (although I dont' have this one), since it allows you to adjust the flow and it fits regular airline tubing. This one works as well: http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/valve/Class//T1/F03+0504+0105/EDP/31575/Itemdy00.aspx
4. silicone sealant
5. needle nose pliers

Procedure:
1. Cut off the top of the plastic water bottle
2. Cut/drill a hole at the bottom of the bottle barely big enough to fit the airline tubing, but snug enough to not allow too much water to leak through.
3. Cut one end of the tubing at an angle so you can push part of the tubing through the hole you have just created.
4. Using the needle nose pliers, pull the tubing through the hole
5. Add water, test for degree of leakage and seal with silicone sealant as needed
6. Attach valve to end of tubing protruding from bottle
7. Add water to test water flow and adjust as desired. My dripper works at about 30 drops per minute when full.

Hehe... a picture would've said so much more without all this typing... lol