Ghost Shrimp Turning White

[vancouver]

Is this just old age?

They go from clear to whitish.. like their skeletal structure gets very white, they get very weak, then die..

It's not them shedding, I know that much.

 

[Invader Xan]

It could be old age... Kinda depends how old they are. I believe ghost shrimp live for between 1-3 years.
If they stay peaceful, it doesn't sound like poisoning of any kind. Could also be disease...

 

[three-fingers]

How old is it?

I've seen other shrimp show those symptoms when they get a bacterial infection, melafix helped.

But if it is an old shrimp, then it is likely to just be old age.

 

[vancouver]

I guess it could be some sort of bacterial infection. I've had it for maybe 6 months... I bought 10 6 months ago and I only have 2 left. They're from petsmart and are supposed to be feeders, but I let them chill with my snails.

I cant see myself going out and buying melafix for $15 when I paid 30 cents for the little bugger..

I'll try a water change and add some salt.. maybe that will help.

Thanks

 

[darkangelchrisandra]

I'll try a water change and add some salt.. maybe that will help.

okay ghost shrimp are fresh water animals so adding salt will not help but only kill it most likely. do a 50% water change it might help. and when mine died of old age it did turn white so i assume that it's what they do.

 

[vancouver]

It died sometime within the last few days... if it ever happens again I'll have to get a pic.

 

[dizzied]

Perhaps it wasn't a freshwater ghost shrimp? Some stores sell brackish and saltwater shrimp as freshwater shrimp.
Or maybe your water lacks certain nutrients that they need?

Or, as everyone else said, could just be age.

 

[GoldLenny]

I guess it could be some sort of bacterial infection. I've had it for maybe 6 months... I bought 10 6 months ago and I only have 2 left. They're from petsmart and are supposed to be feeders, but I let them chill with my snails.

I cant see myself going out and buying melafix for $15 when I paid 30 cents for the little bugger..

I'll try a water change and add some salt.. maybe that will help.

Thanks

I know you're in Canada but always check PetsMart.com online prices and print the page as the stores will match the online pricing... at least they do down here in the USA.

 

[vancouver]

I always add SOME salt to the tank they are in, because I have nerite snails in that tank..

They were definitely just ''feeder'' ghost shrimp.. it was still eating leading up to it's death, so I don't know if it was sick or what.

I think I'll stick to amano shrimp, or one of the more hardy shrimp in the future.

 

[Danno]

Could be freshwater shell disease. From what I know Marine Shrimp turn black when they have this, that and it is spotted, freshwater is different.