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My first choice is still to blame the substrate. The reason is that it becomes "not your fault". But secondly, I might blame the biological ecosystem. I don't think you ever "proved" that you have a cycled tank, in the standard sense that it can remove 1ppm of ammonia per day. And in my own experience, if you have a low pH (like under 6), it could take forever to cycle a tank. (I wasted about 1-2 months on this) It's possible that you have a case where you don't have much nitrifying bacteria, but rather the plants are the one consuming the ammonia. And maybe that is ok, I dunno. Thirdly, I am not a big fan of using dead meat or fish food to cycle a tank, because not only does it create ammonia, but it also creates water pollution. Again, the standard thing to do is a 95% water change before adding animals to get all the nitrates and pollution products out. In any case, if I were in your position, I would do the standard "it can't hurt" things of: 25% water change per week with remineralized water A low dose of Prime anyway, in case there is a very small amount of ammonia Add some nitrifying bacteria in a bottle, or keep adding some bacteria from other tanks (as long as they have a similar pH) Maybe add some probiotic bacteria like Dr Tim's Eco balance. I have no idea if this will actually help, but it probably won't hurt.

Um, because I’m all over the place I thought it pertinent to mention I’ve slowly lowered my GH to 5-6 over the last week and a half, or so. Slowly, but these shell issues existed long before adjusting the water parameters. I suppose it’s possible this could have finished off the injured shrimp, however, the parameters are, from what I can gather, a little more superior at this time. The GH was lowered by monitoring my TDS drop closely. I dropped the TDS by around 2 points daily. At this point, I’m sitting at: PH: 6.2 GH:5-6( during testing, the color teeters between 5-6 drops for a change) KH:0 TDS:140 Temp: 72f So, now that I’ve completely sworn off of fertilizers, I haven’t seen any increase or decrease in TDS / GH without my own manipulation. Second and third generation of shrimplettes are doing well, and aren’t showing any signs of discoloration. Another mama likely soon to drop as her eggs have easily visible eyes.

Just to update that I went back to my normal, very low dose of fertilizer, but the Ludwigia are still dying, from the bottom up. The tips are green and growing, but the bottom parts are rotting away. So far, I can only think of two possible reasons: 1) I have been feeding my shrimp less, so maybe they aren't making enough ammonia and nitrates for the plants 2) About 2 months ago, I changed the lighting so that it was a complete blackout at night and only 7 hours of medium light a day. This did a great job of getting rid of algae that was growing on the plants, but maybe now I need more light again?

I won't be using the gloves for long in the tank, quick front glass clean and then the sponges so they won't be in the tank long, but I will rinse them a couple of times and dry them off before I first use them! I don't have any spare JBL soil to do that experiment, but I have used that in the other tanks and all has gone soooo much better, though there is more prep required with it but that is a small price to pay for the rewards. Shrimpking is by dennerle so I don't for a second think that can be the actual problem killing the shrimps! But the other tanks with JBL are so lush I would definitely use that in future! Simon

We are having similar issues, though I have only seen 1 dead shrimp but they are disappearing! I am only giving it one more go as we are half way through winter here so at least if I go carefully and manage to keep them alive they will at least start breeding as yours are. That was when mine exploded with shrimps in the previous case and losing a few adults then doesn't matter quite so much? I tend to believe the babies are tougher because they have always lived in that environment anyway and not been as stressed as purchased shrimps. You are not alone in getting frustrated with this type of problem, at least if you can pinpoint what went wrong you can correct it? I have done pretty much exactly what I did last time so am really baffled and clutching at straws now! Simon

Lol sorry jayc but I think he meant he had already ordered a different one, but then he found the one he linked and ordered that instead.

Ok. Canceled the other as it didn’t list a percentage. Won’t be here till Saturday though, hopefully that’s fast enough. Boiling water to blanch some oregano now. Edit: two small twigs of oregano leaves blanched for 30 seconds and added.... now we wait. My shrimp don’t react to added food well... fingers crossed. will added oregano leaves put oil into the water after blanching?

Perfect. That's the right one.

Blanch a couple of them. Let's see if we can get the shrimp to eat them.

Leaves added. Ordered the Oregano oil!Fingers crossed!!

@jayc or anyone else, could you please go over how to dose this oregano oil in water, just to make sure I don’t nuke my tank. I only have my tiny HOB and dual sponge filter. Oil will be here tomorrow and I’m nervous about killing my tank. Filter media will be moved to a 1.5 gallon tall container( beverage type container thAts tall and deep), with the sponge filter. I’ll leave the HOB without ceramic media etc for flow during treatment. I will be taking a gallon of tank water out for the container my filter media and sponge will be running in for a few days, before dosing. I places a blanched cucumber in tonight, they swarmed it for the first time, ever. Looking at the shells on some of them, it’s 100% bacterial( external as well as possibly internal). I don’t know why. I thought my water was in good shape..... I’m terrified of something going wrong. Hopefully I can get it all together, and this is successful.... also, than you all for the help. It’s greatly appreciated.

Shrimp on the oregano leaves! I don’t know, however, if they can get anything off them. I blanched in boiling water for 30-45 seconds, but they weren’t that soft.....

I apologize for being unclear. I had ordered one before asking more specific questions. So I simply located a different one and order that( the one you green lighted), while also canceling the less desirable one. Also, the one you told me to buy, was considerably cheaper, while retaining the same no additive ingredient list. No signs that the oregano leaves were touched this AM, but, there were multiple shrimp surrounding them, while several were perched on them. I’m not sure how much they need to ingest to really help, but hopefully the sampled a little bit overnight. Now, my problem is locating a food that they will attack, to place into the tank. Would it be possible to mix some BacterAE/ Shrimp Fit powder into oregano oil water? They seem to feed on that when it’s added to the tank.... otherwise, I’ll use some rephasy, newt made, with oregano oil water added.... or something similar.

In relation to the PH, what is too low? Because several people in other groups act shocked at my PH at 6.1-6.2. The substrate is ADA and has always buffered to that range. Even the Fluval Stratum I used in the smaller 5 gallon buffered similarly.

What? why? I said that's the right one to buy. It says it has 86-90% carvocrol oil. Just adding leaves into the water will not add much oil into the water to help the shrimp, unless thy eat it. So you will still need to buy the carvocrol oil.

How about This? https://www.amazon.com/Oregano-Quality-UNDILUTED-ESSENTIAL-Certified/dp/B017ZZRYGA/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?keywords=oregano+oil&qid=1579826930&sprefix=oreg&sr=8-14

Look for one that is in oil form, not capsules. It should have a % of carvocrol oil listed. Look for one that is above 70% (85-87% is best). Send me a link to have a look. 50% water change after medication treatment before adding filter media back in.

Wait, one last question. What should I look for in a oregano oil. I ordered one, but I can cancel and add a different one if need be. also, won’t the remaining oil kill the bacteria when I re-add the filter media?

Yes, it is external. That's why I suggested carvocrol. It will work both internally and externally. The oil if soak in food will be eaten to treat internal bacteria. Add some diluted oil into the water column for external treatments. Doses can be found in the Disease and Diagnostics post. Yes. But it's not like using carvocrol oil. Oregano leaves just aid in the process of using carvocrol oil. Give it 3 days after treatment. And note: you might want to add a second dose 2-3 days after the first. So wait until you finish all repeat doses of carvocrol oil before adding the filters back in. In case you didn't pick it up. The source of the info from the site you posted is our very own Diseases and Diagnostics post (see the disclaimer section in the link you provided). The info here is more up to date. You will need to treat all the shrimp in the tank with Carvocrol oil, if you have a bacterial infection. Just save as much beneficial bacteria as you can before adding the oil. Carvocrol oil is very soluble, so it will mix in the water well. Carvocrol oil isn't cheap, so hopefully we are treating the right ailment. Assuming it is bacterial in nature and not a water parameter issue. As I said, the pictures provided were too low in resolution. Good luck.

I looked at the one here following the original site I posted. I am unable to quarantine to use oregano oil. And isn’t the bacterial shell disease external. It would be nice to attack both.... If it were your tank, how would you attack this? I feel more confident that it is, at least in part, the chitinolytic disease. I could remove the HOB and one of the sponge filter sponges. The sponge I can put into the smaller 5 gallon with the fish to keep it seasoned, while the HOB can simply be turned off. How long would I then wait on the oregano oil to work before adding the filter media’s back in? Hey, I just thought about Something.... I have some organic Greek oregano growing right now in my herb garden. Would those leaves work, and can I add the leaves without killing the filter bacteria in the tank?

LOL. Did you read the article properly?? Under the Disclaimer - who is the author? The info I give you is much more up to date than these other sites who have taken a snapshot of the evolving field of treatment for shrimp diseases. I warned those websites, that they need to ensure they maintain the content, as I keep updating the Disease & Diagnostics post. But alas, they copy it once and never remember to return to update it. So our own Disease and Diagnostics post is the source and is actively maintained by me. Carvacrol (aka Oregano oil) will treat bacteria of various types. Chitinolytic disease is just another form of bacteria. Oregano oil when added to food will treat bacteria internally. Oregano oil added to the water will treat bacteria externally, like on the shell/carapace, like in the case of Chitinolytic disease. But take caution with filter bacteria, as with any treatment for bacteria will also impact beneficial filter bacteria. You might want to remove half the media and keep in another tank, just in case. If you can get fresh Oregano leaves, add them into the tank and see if the shrimp will eat it. The Levamisole will work on external bacteria only. It would be very hard getting the shrimp to eat it to treat internal bacteria infections.

That's what I do when I use rubber (nitrile) gloves. Man, substrate makes a huge difference. Set another tank up beside it with JBL as a test. We are here to help people, so an experiment like this will be very useful. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on which way you look at it, we don't get Shrimp King substrate here. So I have no experience with it to say if it is good or not.

This site : https://www.aquariumcreation.com/blogs/news/freshwater-shrimp-diseases suggests this product for chitinolytic Bacterial disease: https://www.ovedshorseandpetstore.com.au/sykes-big-l-pig-and-poultry thoughts? Wife just texted me and another shrimp is down. That makes 4 in a week. I don’t know how contagious a disease might be.... or should I try one of these bacterial aquarium booster products and a big water change?

Man. I just lost another shrimp too. Wife messaged me and said another one is down. It’s so frustrating because I can’t find anything that could be causing it.. I have a decent population going so losing several isn’t the end of the world, but, will it continue.

Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are all zero. I’ve tested them over and over hoping that it was one of those so I can combat it. I considered it possibly Chitinolytic bacterial disease, but I don’t know. It really looks more pink in person than brown, this camera just stinks.... I can’t seem to tell if if their shells are pitted. It definitely seems to be in the shell. Would oregano oil fix chitinolytic bacterial? How does one treat with it?

amazing photos, my F2 A. lacustris are almost at their pubescent moult! so im expecting some berried females in a couple of months?

Ineke, that's untrue.......We're all God's creatures, and he's made the boys in all forms with the greatest looks. It's women who spread this mis-conception saying they are better looking. For the record....I'm not gay, NOT that there's anything wrong with that ! LOL