Shrimp death.

[Shelly_shells]

Hi. I don't know where to go to to ask this question. I've had my shrimp tank for a few months now, and I had four cherry red and four crystal red shrimp adults in my tank. I found one of my cherry red shrimp had died during the night. It looked as though it had cracked behind its head, like when they molt.

What would have caused this?

He was a big shrimp and he was an adult when I purchased him.

One of my female red cherries has a belly full of eggs. This lot of eggs seems to be a huge amount compared to her unsuccessful few attempts of carrying eggs in the past few months. How can I help her keep them this time?

Is the death going to affect her?

Thanks everyone.

[blindfisherman]

Do you have any info on your water parameters?

This will help work out what is going on.

[Squiggle]

Definitely sounds like a death during a moult, as BF said, we need to start from the beginning & your water parameters are vital for us to help, so as much info as possible, PH, KH, GH, temp, TDS, Nitrate, Nitrite & Ammonia will be a great start. Depending on your WP, the death itself shouldn't effect the berried mamma but the cause of the death might.

[Shelly_shells]

These are my results from today.

Ph 7

Ammonia 0

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 0

Temp 24

I have a 23 litre fluval tank

10% water change was done less than a week ago

I use tap water with conditioner during water changes

I replaced the filter media as well.

[Shelly_shells]

I'm using API freshwater master test kit by the way

[Squiggle]

They look ok, did you change all the media when you did the water change?

[Shelly_shells]

Why do they die during a molt? How can I, if possible, prevent it from happening again?

[Shelly_shells]

Yes, sponge, carbon and biomax

[Squiggle]

I'm using API freshwater master test kit by the way

You should have KH & GH in that kit too, can you test those for us as well?

[Squiggle]

Yes' date=' sponge, carbon and biomax[/quote']

I wouldn't replace all the media as once as you need to keep some of the bacteria to seen the new media, next time only replace one at a time.

[MrShrimp]

Shrimps have a lifespan of around 1.5 years ish. You got it as an adult so there is a chance it might of died from old age.just something to think about. I never buy adult shrimps even if it's cheap coz sometime they only have a few months to live.

[Shelly_shells]

My test kit just has ph, high range ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. Do I need to get other tests?

[Squiggle]

I thought the API master kit had GH & KH in it? These two(general hardness & carbonate hardness) are very important to shrimp & make a major difference to moulting.

[JohnH]

Nar, the API master kit doesn't have GH or KH. Well not the one I bought anyway.

[BlueBolts]

Definitely worth investing or go to a LFS and get your GH & KH tested.... Sounds like a GH or age related issue.

[hoang1912]

I also got some mystery dead today...5 already :(. Unknown dead, they are all the same as Shelly, have a cracked behind its head. My GH is 5-6, KH 1, the rest of WP is good, also just instal the UV sterilizer.

[CNgo2006]

A high GH would have caused this...I had the same problem just yesterday with my crystal only the head part moulted, the bottom half looked like it was going to leave it's head (almost decapitation the poor thing) it died as well. I checked my GH and it was around 10 and TDS >350 which is way too high for crystals? I really don't know what made it go that high maybe wasn't thinking when adding the mineral powder or shrimp salts and added too much! slowly dropped it down with RO water

[hoang1912]

Ya, high GH cause that. But in mine, GH only 5-6 which is good, TDS 150 (not too high) and still dont understand. :(

[BlueBolts]

I'm curious to know what your Ca:Mg ration is ..... any chance you guys have a Ca Test kit ? Or go to the local LFS to test ?

[hoang1912]

Unfortunately I dont have Ca test kit. What is it about? I think that kit is for salt water?

[BlueBolts]

Magnesium is the key to unlocking Calcium Carbonates potential. It is able to make Calcium absorbable in shrimps bodies. Without it they would suffer from lack of calcium. It is needed for a healthy calcium absorbtion and balance as well as healthy muscles and nervous system.

Check out this link

http://www.shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/showthread.php/4383-GH-Ca-MG-Ratio

[MrShrimp]

Does salty shrimp mix for water change contain the right amount of magnesium for calcium or do I have to add extra magnesium to salty shrimp mix?

[JohnH]

I'm sticking with just Salty Shrimp for now. The Mad Scientist stuff is too scary for me just yet.

[BlueBolts]

Does salty shrimp mix for water change contain the right amount of magnesium for calcium or do I have to add extra magnesium to salty shrimp mix?

Pretty sure the ratio for salty shrimp is correct' date=' but Calcium does deplete, so it's usually calcium that needs to be added.....I ONLY check my ratio's 1-2 a year, and usually only require a pinch for my 200lt tank....the 500g bag of MgS04 will last me for 167 years. LOL

I'm sticking with just Salty Shrimp for now. The Mad Scientist stuff is too scary for me just yet

Yes, totally agree, it's ONLY really once you get unexplained deaths, and the "not knowing" really bugs you, then you should start experimenting... bhahahahahaha

[JohnH]

A candid photo of BlueBolts checking his Calcium levels