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That is not a "bee" shrimp... per-say.... Either an orange neocaridina or a "sunkist" shrimp.... Caridina propinqua Leaning towards an orange cherry shrimp (Neo) personally.

Whisker shrimps are just the common name. It's still a Macrobrachium sp, which is the scientific name. It's entirely possible it could be a Whisker shrimp.

IF the TDS meter is working properly, than you have something in the tank that is replacing the Dissolved Solids as you add new water. The Akadama substrate can/will add to TDS measurement as it releases minerals. That cuttlefish bone will as well. A dirty canister filter media will add to TDS as well. All I can suggest is to try another gallon water change. A cheap TDS meter might not have a sensitive probe to detect enough of a change.

Okay. So the pH is a bit too high for your shrimp, especially the bee if it truly is a bee. Now in terms of the bee... it’s either a yellow King Kong, or actually a yellow/orange cherry shrimp. I can’t ID them by sight, you might want to search up those types of shrimp (yellow king kongs, yellow cherries, sunset or pumpkin cherries) to see which you think it is more like. But a pH of 8 is definitely a problem for a true bee shrimp. Another option if you are keen on providing the best environment for your shrimp, instead of using remineralised RO water, you can use a pH buffering substrate. This will have a more natural look, and can be very beautiful with real plants. It will bring your pH down to about neutral, or a bit below, depending on product, but is just a more simple option to RO in my opinion. If you go this route and add some more plants, they will handle the ammonia and nitrates very easily - I have two heavily planted tanks which I can leave for a month or two with 0 nitrates, nitrites or ammonia, because of all the plants and my well cycled filters. Speaking of which, how long did you cycle the tank for? And what filtration do you use? On the bamboo shrimp, they are illegal here in Australia so I can’t give you any advice there. That’s really unfortunate though. I’m sorry to hear that. For your heater if you can turn a knob or something to easily change the heat, maybe put it down to 76? It’s a little more comfortable for the shrimp, doesn’t make a huge difference though.

Thanks Simon. It is a cheap reader so perhaps that is the issue. I click the hold to shift modes to make sure it is on ppm and not mu (whatever that reads). Perhaps it takes some time for the water to blend and find equilibrium and I should test the next day. Also, I just dip the tip. Maybe I should wave it around like you suggested. I also have a gallon flowing through the canister filter, so that changes my math. I also have little bits of cuttlebone for the snails, maybe they are dissolving and raising TDS while I am trying to lose it. Lastly, do you think Akadama in ‘buffering’ the water could be leaching minerals into TDS? Forgive my lack of chemistry knowledge here.

here's some bee photos.. hes very orange I'd say

Oh. It's a 5.5 gallon tank. Has a heater that keeps it around 78. I believe my ph is slightly basic. Around 8. I do use tap water but with stress coat plus API water conditioner. I add frozen brine shrimp ( which I rinse in a net first to get out extra ammonia) and algae tabs. I dont have much live plants but I put a few moss balls in there to help. The bee was cheap. So I dont think it's a true Taiwan bee now that I'm reading ur threads. Haven't had him that long. Few weeks.. so we will see. Other than my bamboo, I haven't had any deaths. And I was expecting some with the ghost shrimp because some are very large and I know it's a short life cycle.

I don't understand how you are getting the same readings, with 2 gallon waterchange your math is right and it should drop to about 150 if the water you are adding is only TDS 20. Are you sure your TDS meter is working, test it on tap water? You haven't clicked the hold button have you? Move the TDS meter through the water rather than just dipping it? When you have added the new water direct to the tank (?) you should mix it before testing! It sounds like what you are doing is right and it isn't therefore possible that the TDS stays the same that I can see! Simon

This is random... I just woke up and my bamboo is dead.... I'm really sad.. it was the second on. The first died right after I got him/her so I thought it was the stress of a transfer.. but I've had this one a month. He was doing really well, always stirring there eating.. but I noticed he wasnt filtering the last two days. Thought maybe it was close to a molt... but no. Dead... I check the ammonia all the time, cause I know filter feeders are susceptible to that.. only thing I can think off is I was too worried about it and did to much.. like water change wise. I'm really bummed. They are so cool. I loved that damn shrimp with its little fans.. am I missing something.???