I keep losing shrimp

[Slaphppy7]

I think what happened was, while I was cycling the tank to prepare for the shrimp, I put in some fish food. It probably was too much and the tank got overrun with pests/worms. I felt as though the tank was cycled when I added the shrimp. But perhaps they were being killed by sneaky planaria from the substrate. Notice the shrimp are always dead by morning. Because of my efforts to get rid of the planaria, the tank basically un-cycled. *Sigh* I'm going to get some better products and maybe bacteria in a bottle and keep on trying to get this tank balanced out.

The easiest (and absolute worst) way to degrade water params in a cycled FW tank is overfeeding...some do it as beginners, sometimes it happens by mistake...but it will cause issues, sooner rather than later

ANY time uneaten food sits in a tank for a day or so is a recipe for disaster, in most situations...it's an ammonia "bomb", waiting to go off with just a little bit of time....in most cases, FW fish (or shrimp) DO NOT require daily feeding...IME

At any rate, get the test kit on order, and a good quality conditioner, as suggested above, ASAP

For now, do a large WC, match the tap temp and tank temp as closely as possible...get the dead shrimp out of there, and any uneaten food...treat with the conditioner you have, for now

You DO NOT need bottled bacteria, waste of $, at this point...you need a good test kit, so we can see just how much ammonia is in this tank, and a good conditioner

 

[KatNor21]

You DO NOT need bottled bacteria

Why not? I was thinking of getting some.

 

[Slaphppy7]

The bacteria we need to cycle our tanks occurs naturally in our environment.
Personally, I'm not paying $ for something that is already free and plentiful.

I've never used them, but from what I've read, the success rate with bottled bacteria is hit-and-miss, anyway

 

[KatNor21]

Ok I spent the extra money to get an EPI master test kit. Two dead shrimp yesterday - both red rilis, one juvie and one adult. Tested the water - ammonia 0, nitrite 0.25ppm. Did a water change, added bottled bacteria, and some good calcium-rich food.

 

[Myraan]

If the issue is overfeeding (although it looks like the issue could be simply cycling), I wonder how much feeding of actual food can be reduced for shrimp simply by tossing in an Indian almond leaf?

I don't know the answer, I am thinking out loud, and might one day start a small shrimp tank of my own, being as however happy my current shrimp seem to be, they are berried every few weeks, I suspect all the babies are feeding the fish.

 

[KatNor21]

tossing in an Indian almond leaf?

Do they eat these leaves? I'm not sure what you mean. Also I've cut way down on feeding as that was the original issue and now I have a better idea of how much to feed. And I don't feed every day.

 

[seangee]

I don't know what else to do at this point. Changing more than 20% will kill them too. And how do you account for the ones that died when it WAS 0?

I'm afraid that's a myth. My shrimp tank (like all my tanks) gets a 75-80% w/c every week.

FWIW if its possible separate the different colours. After a few generations of breeding you will end up with a tank full of plain brown shrimp if they are mixed.

 

[Myraan]

As the leaf is sorta melting and breaking down, they either eat the leaf or more likely the infusoria, that forms from the breakdown. My totally unscientific evidence is that the leaves seem to last twice as long when there are no shrimp present. I also suspect that any cory fry that survived living in a tank with a bunch of fish that eat them lived off of stuff like that as I wasn't feeding them with all the stuff the books and magazines tell you to feed fry.

I have read that eventually you get a few brown babies either way and if you want to keep strong colour genes you need to select the best parents for each generation and even think about injecting new DNA every now and again.

 

[KatNor21]

I'm afraid that's a myth. My shrimp tank (like all my tanks) gets a 75-80% w/c every week.

FWIW if its possible separate the different colours. After a few generations of breeding you will end up with a tank full of plain brown shrimp if they are mixed.

Are you able to ensure the new water has the same parameters? It's something I can't do very well.

I am aware of the mixing colors and I'm OK with it.

 

[seangee]

Are you able to ensure the new water has the same parameters? It's something I can't do very well.

I am aware of the mixing colors and I'm OK with it.

Do you add anything to the water to change the parameters? My source water is always the same. Doing a large change every week means it has not changed too much in a week - so yes, the parameters are always very similar.

 

[KatNor21]

Do you add anything to the water to change the parameters? My source water is always the same. Doing a large change every week means it has not changed too much in a week - so yes, the parameters are always very similar.

No, but the tank has some calcium supplements (crushed coral/wonder shell) because my tap water is very soft. I think temperature might be the bigger issue though. Typically I fill a bucket, treat it, then slowly siphon the water into the tank. Hard to be sure it's the same temperature.

 

[seangee]

I have super soft water (it's RO ) and use Salty Shrimp GH/KH+. I pre-mix this with the new water which means it is always identical. Temperature is not as critical as some people assume. In summer I put the water straight in after letting it stand at room temp for at least a day. In winter I stand the buckets in a basin of hot water until the temp feels right (using my finger). Often once I have filled the tank the temp is 2-3 degrees different. This has never caused a problem for fish or shrimps.

 

[KatNor21]

An update: I've been changing 30% of the water every other day, keeping a close eye on things, not feeding too much, and treating the tank with conditioner and bottled bacteria every day whether I change the water or not. Haven't had a death in several days, and then this morning I wake up to one of my young velvet blues dead.

I tested the water. The liquid test and strips both agreed: no ammonia, no nitrite. Nitrate is 0-5ppm. pH is about 6.5. GH 150-300ppm.

I also noticed on the glass that the little white specks are back and the teeny tiny white worms and crawling around. So small I can't tell what they are. I would guess detritus worms or baby rhabdocoela. I've noticed that even though I'm feeding less, algae is still thriving. Not on the plants thankfully, but on the substrate and glass. The shrimp are happily eating it, but maybe so are the worms.

I'm going to add some photos here in case anyone can see anything suspicious. I've noticed some shell color changes on the red rilis and orange cherry. Maybe it's nothing? One of my oranges has what LOOKS like "white ring of death" but has had it for a week and is still alive. Plus, I don't understand how they could have any molting issues since I see a shell every day, the water is moderate to hard, and I feed them a good diet.

 

[KatNor21]

Oh, and also. I have a scarlet badis now, so how come worms and whatever the tiny white specks are are thriving? :\

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Oh, and also. I have a scarlet badis now, so how come worms and whatever the tiny white specks are are thriving? :\

Your badis isn't eating them all?

Seriously though, have you tried a couple of fasting days?
Given your leaves and stuff, this would be harder to do but it might still be worth a try.