Do you have Cherry Shrimp?

[Essjay]

I can't though someone else might. I can only tell when they are standing straight out not curved like the one on the top of the heater and the photo is from the side.

Females' abdomens curve downwards; they need to be deep to hold the eggs. With males, it curves upwards towards the tail - no need for much space as males don't carry eggs.

 

[Essjay]

It's just occurred to me that the shrimp in my avatar is female - see the downward curve of the abdomen?

 

[MaloK]

I don't want to sound alarming, but... Your shrimp bottom left on the last picture as a clear "White ring of death" at the moment.

white ring of death shrimp

What are your hardness parameters ?

I fixed this instantly by adding calcium chloride to my water. The rings vanished in 2 days.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

All three look female to me, but it isn't 100%, it is tricky to tell from photos sometimes depending on the angle.

But I also noticed and was concerned about "the white ring of death".

It doesn't always mean death, I don't think. But it's not a good thing to see... like that one had trouble moulting, or is about to have trouble moulting, which usually leads to death, and I don't know much about the causes/remedies I'm afraid, but sounds like @MaloK can help you there! The other two look okay!

 

[MaloK]

All three look female to me, but it isn't 100%, it is tricky to tell from photos sometimes depending on the angle.

But I also noticed and was concerned about "the white ring of death".

It doesn't always mean death, I don't think. But it's not a good thing to see... like that one had trouble moulting, or is about to have trouble moulting, which usually leads to death, and I don't know much about the causes/remedies I'm afraid, but sounds like @MaloK can help you there! The other two look okay!

I have only a month of observation at the moment.

Sadly It's not called that way for nothing. The other ones will develop it with time and this happens weeks before moulting and intensifies quickly at the end, then the shrimp will disappear one day and shred a perfectly good armour for nothing, then will be left without any replacement. And will die in the following hours. My 2 Reds developed it at the same time and where saved, No other shrimps showed any of these "symptoms" at the same moment. the first ones showing it where the Oranges and only one survived (She moulted to give birth) all the other perished, the following who did the same, never came back... After raising my GH. No more rings, and the Reds have still not moulted since I have them. But one of my blue did Saturday.

It's easy to know. when it's going right. They dramatically grow in size one day to another. They are not afraid to strip that in public, it takes seconds, they look "soft" and skittish for a while, but not for long. Then they will be active for days.

I lost 7 out of 18 in 2 weeks for this Pretty "Apparent Problem" before I could really balance my water. and 4 more from unknown cause. This left me with 7. My first 2 weeks where tough. But I turned it around.

 

[Fishmanic]

my hardness is 175 ppm. PH is 7.6. Temperature 77. I feed algae wafer, shrimp pellet, zucchini. Lots of algae in the tank and I have India Almond leaves in the tank. Is there anything I should do differently.

 

[MaloK]

175 should be good, Do you also have your carbonate hardness ?

@gwand, @Essjay check from post What do you think ?

Is this because the shrimps are still acclimating ?

 

[MaloK]

The more I think about it...

If your current GH is mostly caused by magnesium, It could still be a calcium deficiency.

You need the big Master Test Kit With Calcium and etc...

But, I would still slowly add Calcium Chloride at a rate of 20 ppm until 200ppm and look if it slims those rings out.

 

[gwand]

175 should be good, Do you also have your carbonate hardness ?

@gwand, @Essjay check from post What do you think ?

Is this because the shrimps are still acclimating ?

KH measure’s carbonate levels and does not correlate with water calcium concentrations. KH can be high yet the water could have low calcium. The shrimp need adequate bioavailable calcium for molting health and the reforming of skeletal shell.

 

[Fishmanic]

I have icemelt...which is calcium chloride but don't have a clue how much if any to add.

 

[gwand]

I have icemelt...which is calcium chloride but don't have a clue how much if any to add.

Amazon's Choicein Aquarium Test Kits by API. Kit measures calcium.







https://www.amazon.com/API-CALCIUM-...02723&sprefix=calcium+measure,aps,168&sr=8-4#

 

[Fishmanic]

I do have a Kh test kit.

 

[gwand]

I do have a Kh test kit.

KH levels don’t correlate with free calcium concentrations.

 

[gwand]

Cations that commonly bind to carbonate ions include metal cations such as calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), iron (Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺), and others. These cations form insoluble carbonate salts, such as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃), and iron(II) carbonate (FeCO₃). The specific cation that binds to carbonate depends on factors such as pH, concentration, and the presence of other ions in the solution.

 

[MaloK]

I have icemelt...which is calcium chloride but don't have a clue how much if any to add.

The problem with de-icing products are that any level of anything else is unknown. I would rely on Alimentary product at least. And never tried... Making a solution and testing it is the sole means of measurement.

KH levels don’t correlate with free calcium concentrations.

Sufficient Carbonate hardness is still required as far as I know.

But you are right, by testing, the first mineral element used in the water is calcium chloride at the moment. by a rate of 20ppm per weeks. Carbonates have not moved at 60 and my PH is 7.6.

There is only 18-20 shrimps including babies and 2 big nerites at the moment.

I can already expect the demand rising...

I'm a simple geek, Just by tasting SaltyShrimps Minerals, I could tell the principal ingredients like a gas chromatograph, It's made with limestone And it's, Calcium Carbonates, Calcium Chloride and a small touch of Salt.