HELP!!!--- Cherrys are losing legs and dying after a few days!

[jswljones]

As my title states, The last few days my cherries have lost some of their legs and one died this morning.

Not sure whats going on and my google-fu hasn't turned up anything.

Hope you guys can point me in the right direction.

I upgraded to a 10 gal from a 2 gal about 3 weeks ago with no problems.

I cycled the tank for about 2 weeks before and all are in line.

Here are some pictures:

 

[jayc]

Do you have fish?

We need a Macro shot of the shrimp please. Can't see anything with a zoomed in, with the shrimps on a black background.

Put them in a breeder box to photograph them easier.

 

[jswljones]

No fish, just one snail and hard to do macro shots on my old phone.

Plus i have no breeder box..

I'll try to see what I can do and get better ones in the morning.

[jayc]

3 hours ago, jswljones said:

'll try to see what I can do and get better ones in the morning.

Thanks.

It would help determine if there are any signs of disease on them.

 

In all the time I have kept shrimp, and researching shrimp diseases, I have not actually seen shrimp loosing legs in a shrimp only tank. However, it can be a possibility. If they have a particularly difficult time at moulting, and can rip off their legs during the moulting process. The good news is that shrimp can regrow legs, after moulting a couple of times. The hard part is keeping them healthy long enough till their next moult.

What concerns me is that it is happening to more than one.

Let's go back to water parameters. Can you list all the parameters you can?

Water hardness, and calcium is of particular concern to me. Are you adding any form of calcium to the tank?

Edited October 19, 2018 by jayc

[jswljones]

OK just did the water test:

CH: 120

KH: 240

PH: 8

No2: 0

NO3: 20

 

Tried to take better pics, they can be seen here:

https://imgur.com/aPz8eSv

https://imgur.com/wKeBtb0

https://imgur.com/zfGWZPA

https://imgur.com/0mppxpQ

https://imgur.com/RIMfXzh

https://imgur.com/DikdnfK

https://imgur.com/98Z40N5

 

Thanks

https://imgur.com/JAhCkeq

https://imgur.com/b6C8nX4

https://imgur.com/R3yYACd

 

 

 

[jayc]

50 minutes ago, jswljones said:

CH: 120

KH: 240

GH and KH are too high.

Those rocks are leaching carbonates and are creating hard water.

I would remove all the rocks, do a water change and try reducing the GH and KH.

[jswljones]

they're quartz and granite, never knew that.

I'll try and see what happens

Thanks again

[jayc]

What is that white driftwood ?

is it real wood?

[jswljones]

No, the wood is plastic/ ceramic? from the LFS.

 

[jayc]

9 hours ago, jswljones said:

the wood is plastic/ ceramic?

Ah, ok. Yeah, I thought it looked a bit weird to be wood.
 

So, start  with removal of the rocks, and do a water change. Try to get GH & KH down.

The water is hard now, which could have led to the shrimp having difficulty moulting.

[jswljones]

The shrimp molted and grew back some legs!

The legs look very thin and stubby compared to normal but it seems like it's working.

Took out the rocks and did a water change after but at least it's growing back.

Thanks JayC!

Only clear picture I could get this morning:

https://imgur.com/1ETAm8Q

[jayc]

11 hours ago, jswljones said:

The shrimp molted and grew back some legs!

Good news!

Keep it up.

You don't need rocks in a shrimp tank. Plants are much nicer to look at anyway. So more plants.

Get GH down to 6dGH (107ppm) and KH to 2-3dKH (35.7-53.6ppm) for cherries.

[Zoidburg]

On the contrary, I don't believe the GH is too high... but I wonder what is it that we are measuring it with?

What's the temp of the tank?

[jswljones]

On 11/11/2018 at 12:18 AM, Zoidburg said:

On the contrary, I don't believe the GH is too high... but I wonder what is it that we are measuring it with?

What's the temp of the tank?

78 but whatever that caused it has stopped. 

I'm thinking molting problem.

[Zoidburg]

I'd recommend lowering the temp down to 70-74 as higher temps mean increased chances of bacterial infections and higher growth rates which could potentially result in molting issues.

[jswljones]

29 minutes ago, Zoidburg said:

I'd recommend lowering the temp down to 70-74 as higher temps mean increased chances of bacterial infections and higher growth rates which could potentially result in molting issues.

I lowered it already but thanks for the advice