journal First shrimp

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

I joined the forum a little while ago and am completely new to shrimp. I have kept fish for about a 1 and a half but my friend showed me some of his shrimp and I decided i had to get some. On wednesday he gave me 8 yellow cherries (which look sweet) But all my bigger tanks were filled. So I filled a 8 L nano tank with water from a very well cycled tank and took a cycled sponge filter from the same tank. I then let the shrimp acclimatize to the ph which is at ~7.4. I then let them loose and they looked very happy. After a few hours I fed them a algae wafer and they all attacked it with relish. All was good on thursday morning, until just before I left. When i saw a shrimp lying on its back moving it's legs slowly. Worrying about it dying and causing a ammonia spike I took it out and put it in another tank. When I got back that arvo It was gone (presumably dissintergrated). BUT IN THE SMALL SHRIMP TANK I saw to my delight little shrimplets. One of the bigger females I found out was actually berried and all the shrimp looked very content in their little tank. Since then I have had no more deaths and have been seeing a few more shrimplets. I have been monitoring the temp since I put the shrimp in and it has stayed at a pretty steady 28-29°.

I dont have a TDS pen and is this nessesary? Also was the death of the shrimp just a freak death or am I doing something wrong?

Once I sell some peppermint plecos I will have a larger tank availiable.

I am really enjoying watching the shrimp and can't wait to progress in the shrimp world.

PS. sorry for the bad quality photos.

Regards Gary[ATTACH]6388[/ATTACH][ATTACH]6389[/ATTACH][ATTACH]6390[/ATTACH][ATTACH]6391[/ATTACH]

[Bunnybom]

TDS pen is not necessary but other wp testers are.

The deaths may due to various reason- got too old, stressed, molting problem and etc. But since it's only one which died till then I wouldnt worry too much.

Keep an close eye on them to see any more deaths and that alarms you somethings going wrong.

Also, I 'd recommend to put some soil-aquarium substrate, NOT FROM GARDEN- to give shrimps suitable water parameter and minerals they require.

[jayc]

... spike I took it out and put it in another tank. When I got back that arvo It was gone (presumably dissintergrated). I have been monitoring the temp since I put the shrimp in and it has stayed at a pretty steady 28-29°.

Disappearing shrimp ... Was there any fish in that tank? Fish would love a shrimp snack, especially one that doesn't move.

[shrimpstan]

Sounds good mate all the best. Might be a good idea to buy a powder food for the babies. Or u can crush a pellet and mix it with the tank water and pour it in. U want them fed on a good food asap to ensure a good survival. Dont do too much though or u could pollute ur small 8ltr tank. Good luck with ur shrimplets they are very cool! ;)

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

Thanks guys I really love this forum.

I am crushing half a pellet for the shrimp once a day. And the shrimp seem to be going fine. I would really like to move them to a bigger tank though, as I am worried about the temperature.

Also as far as aquarium substrate goes I just have a bit of play sand in there for them to sift through but what soil substrate would you guys recomend?

Regards

Gary

[Squiggle]

For cherries, play sand will be fine, just keep an eye on the KH & PH as they are sometimes influenced by this substrate. The best substrate for Caridina's(CRS, CBS, TB, GB & SW's) is Benibachi Fulvic soil. :beer:

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

Has anyone got any info about scuds since I was looking in my tank and saw tiny little brown dots moving around. I looked online at scuds but they seem harmless. Thanks for the help.

Gary

[jayc]

Are you sure it's scuds? and not seed shrimp?

http://www.shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/content.php/183-Seed-Shrimp-(-Ostracoda-Podocopida)

Both harmless either way.

[Squiggle]

+1, seed shrimp are a great sign that your tank is healthy, kind of like a budgie in a mine, lol :encouragement:

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

Thank you guys for clearing that up

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

I was looking at one of the larger saddled females and saw she had white spots. Are these signs of white spot disease or Ich. If so should I treat the tank.

[jayc]

Shrimps don't get ich or Ichthyophthirius multifilis. Which is a parasite.

Got a clear picture of the problem shrimp?

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

I will try tonight when I get home with a proper camera

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

All though I think the dots are just the lower grade color of the shrimp.

[jayc]

Oh I think I know what you might mean.

When a shrimp gets berried, her shell is expanded to carry the eggs. As such the colour is diluted to the point where it looks like spots.

But yeah, a picture would help confirm if it was normal or not.

[GARY_THE_SNAIL]

I tried to take some photos of her yesterday night and it didn't turn out very well and the quality wasn't good enough to actually see the spots but she seems fine.

I am seeing more and more shrimplets which is very cool. Also I am seeing a lot of the shrimp are getting saddles very excited but I am finding it hard to distinguish if there are any males in the tank.