Very Inactive Shrimp

[tdawg57]

My tank is cycling right now. I have about 40 or so pounds of live rock with some really cool alge on it, and 4 Damsel's in my 26 gallon tank. Right now the levels are around .50 for Amonia and .0 for Nitrite as I don't think the amonia has spiked yet. I was told adding a shrimp is ok and might actually be a good idea. Now I know that shrimp aren't the most active, but he's done nothing, I mean nothing. Just to make sure he wasn't dead I poked at him with my scrubber brush and he moved a little but not much. Was it a mistake to add him? He has been in there since last night. Maybe he's still getting used to the tank. I hope so...

 

[RamJet]

Ok, fist off dont poke him with a scrubber brush. In order to properly poke a dead animal, you need find yourself a good old stick.(2 to 3 feet long) Something with a little bark on it so you can get a good grip. Start off with just a little nug to see if it moves. If it does not move make your second jab a little harder. Ok, no movement? Get a frim grip for poke number 3, your going to need it. You see, poke three is the deciding poke and needs to quite firm. Do not pull back once it touches the animal in question, follow through and try to roll the amimal over. At this point, check your self over for bite marks. No bite marks? Good the animal is more than likely dead. Good job!
I like my shrimp so I would take him out until the Amonia levels come down.
Hope that helps.

 

[tdawg57]

Yup...the little guy is still alive. So will the amonia more than likely kill him? Or is it possible for him to survive? I don't as of yet have a hospital tank for anything salt, I see now that I'll probably need to invest in one. I'll see if my LSF will hold him for a while but i'm not too sure.

 

[RamJet]

He will more than likely die or get liver damage. Try poking him again.(Joking)
Do you have a bucket? Put him in the bucket with a power head and something to hide in.

 

[superman]

Basically most invertebrates don't do well with ammonia, large fluctuations in water temp, large fluctuations in salinity, or large fluctuations in water quality. I would definitely try and find a way to get the CBS out of the tank and into a more stable environment for the time being.

 

[Landlocked]

Did you say that you're still cycling? You should only add fish when cycling if they're necessary to the process, and you should NEVER add invertebrates.

Who told you the shrimp would be ok? Whoever it was, you need to go tell them that they are wrong. If the ammonia hasn't spiked yet, then the shrimp will die as soon as it does, and the damsels will either die or suffer serious internal damage. They will live out a hurt existance for the rest of their lives. If the ammonia spike doesn't kill the shrimp or the fish, somehow, the nitrite spike that follows will.

Save some fish and invertebrate lives- keep them out of the tank until it is FULLY finished cycling.

Your LFS should take him back, especially if it was a worker there who told you it was ok to get him in the first place. If not, you really need to find yourself a new fish store.

As for poking him, you should get some response. Even if the shrimp is somewhat out of it, he should respond to the poke just from reflex. If he cringes away, and shrinks back when poked, he's still alive. If you get absolutely no response, the poor fellow is dead.

Good luck.

 

[RamJet]

If he is not doing well, I find that a little cocktail sauce usually fixes them right up.
Try poking him again. Then join a rock band and eat some fish with a ninja. O man-O-man, I didnt realize that there were more emoticons until Landlocked posted the fish.

 

[Raki]

I must be a dare devil I just poke with a finger. Not mine. Ususlly I just grab my hubbys hand and shove it in the tank!

 

[Landlocked]

I must be a dare devil I just poke with a finger. Not mine. Ususlly I just grab my hubbys hand and shove it in the tank!

What does he think of this?

Glad to enlighten you on the vast number of emoticons, RamJet. I would be careful, though, in exploring this vast store of knowledge. I have heard stories of people who became hopelessly lost within the great vault of smilies. Don't let this fate befall you.

sama: :saddam: :stupid:

Oh yeah.

 

[fishfan04]

yeah i have a coral banded shrimp too and it is doing fine although i didnt put mine in while the tank was still cycling. Actually, my shrimp is very active both during the day and at night especially when i feed him. He runs all around the tank when i put food in. B)