Can't keep Peppermint Sheimp

[dawnpar]

I have a 20 gallon tank, almost a year. I've never been successful with crabs and shrimp except for hermit crabs. I have 2 happy and healthy clowns and 4 hermits. All have been in there loving life for a long time. I've tried emerald crabs in the past. I kept one for a few months and lost him in a bad molt I think. Tried them several times and they all died within 24 hours. I gave up for a few months. Current problem...yesterday I bought a Peppermint Shrimp to give it another go. I used the drip acclimation method. He was gone in less than 5 minutes. I did some more research here and figured the water temp change was to blame. I went back and bought another today and tried just letting the bag float at the advice of my LFS. He died in less than 10 minutes. What in the world am I doing wrong?!?! I have had my water checked in the past and it's always been perfect. I just have the test strips at home and all looks good. I clean my tank regularly...I'm so sad.


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[Speedfreak241]

Couple things I had problem with peppermints in the past.
1. Salinity, inverts need a higher salinity than fish. I keep mine at 1.025.
2. Shrimp aren't as acceptable to poor water quality as fish. They prefer lower nitrates and don't handle changes as well.
3. Predators, some fish love to eat shrimp. Even a small goby could kill a decent size shrimp.

 

[dawnpar]

Can't keep Peppermint Sheimp

Couple things I had problem with peppermints in the past.
1. Salinity, inverts need a higher salinity than fish. I keep mine at 1.025.
2. Shrimp aren't as acceptable to poor water quality as fish. They prefer lower nitrates and don't handle changes as well.
3. Predators, some fish love to eat shrimp. Even a small goby could kill a decent size shrimp.

Thanks for the tips! I will double check my salinity. Do you think if salinity was even just a little low that they would die that quickly?

Also, any suggestions of something similar but less sensitive that I could try?


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[m1k3]

Thanks for the tips! I will double check my salinity. Do you think if salinity was even just a little low that they would die that quickly?

Also, any suggestions of something similar but less sensitive that I could try?


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Nope. Not in my case anyway. On long trip and tank sitter did something causing skimmer to overflow for a loooong time. Salinity was 35 ppt when I left and 19 ppt when I got home. Still getting back to normal after three weeks at 33 ppt at moment.

I thought I only had a coral banded and a cleaner shrimp, both pretty mature. I had recently tried to add a peppermint shrimp twice and they disappeared within a few min. However during the salinity recovery one actually came out for about five min. Now I wonder if the other one is still alive....


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[m1k3]

Nope. Not in my case anyway. On long trip and tank sitter did something causing skimmer to overflow for a loooong time. Salinity was 35 ppt when I left and 19 ppt when I got home. Still getting back to normal after three weeks at 33 ppt at moment.

I thought I only had a coral banded and a cleaner shrimp, both pretty mature. I had recently tried to add a peppermint shrimp twice and they disappeared within a few min. However during the salinity recovery one actually came out for about five min. Now I wonder if the other one is still alive....


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On a side note I now have an apex...


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[gmlee]

Haven't seen my peppermint shrimp for 2 weeks now. No body, no leftovers, nothing.

 

[j_mazzy]

Was the tank new or used when purchased? Ever use any copper or copper based medications on or in the tank?

 

[dawnpar]

Was the tank new or used when purchased? Ever use any copper or copper based medications on or in the tank?

It was used. And I've never used any type of meds or copper items.


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[ginpang]

All suggestions above are good ones....
Maybe something that's been overlooked like r/o unit cartridges need to be changed ?


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[j_mazzy]

used is a trouble.... could have been used with copper and other heavy metals. these leach into the system and kill inverts.

 

[gmlee]

Still can't find my peppermint or any signs of it. Did a water change and moved my rockwork around to suck up some sand. Have to check on floor more or assume my yellow wrasse was hungry. Weird though he never really paid much attention to the shrimp at least when I was watching. Only other fish I have are two clowns.