Dead Cleaner shrimp - any ideas

[malawinovice]

I have a 20 H tank. No fish yet.

Bought a Cleaner shrimp 10/21/07, he was eating brimp shrimp after 3 days. I have been feeding brine shimp with sprilina twice a week.

10/29/07 bought two pepperment shrimp. At first cleaner shrimp also went into hiding. Last three days he has been out on his perch.

11/4/07
changed two gallon of salt water (10%). Feed brine shrimp, cleaner shrimp didnt really go for it.

11/5/07
dead cleaner shrimp, snail on him

SG 1.024
Ph 8.2
Alk normal
Amm, Nit, Nitra all zero

Did I stress him out with the other shrimp?
Did I not feed him properly?
Does he need some fish?

Help, stop me from killing again.

 

[mokeyz]

How long has the tank been set up? Are you sure it's dead and not a molt? They need to be fed daily.

Marlene

 

[malawinovice]

Tank has been set up with cured rock since mid August.
Could be a molt but after I removed the snail that was browsing the dead, I saw spots that looked like organs.


I believe adding the peppermint shrimps stressed out the skunk and then a water change and increase of salinty from 1.024 - 1.025 was the final straw.


I am going to get a pair of TR false percs, and wait awhile to add a skunk cleaner.

Thanks

 

[kar93]

when you did a water change did you make sure the salinity matched your tanks

 

[malawinovice]

I purchase premade saltwater at a local store that is sold at 1.023.

My tank was running about 1.024.

I believe it was the stress of adding the peppermints on top of a water change that over stressed the little guy.

I am going to buy some fish, a clown and a royal gamma first. First option is always tank raised.


Will hold off on any more shrimp.

 

[kar93]

it could have just been a molt and the cleaner went into hiding after molting mine does this after a molt

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11134713#post11134713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mokeyz
How long has the tank been set up? Are you sure it's dead and not a molt? They need to be fed daily.

Marlene

i have never directly fed my shrimp...mine is a coral banded, and i cant imagine feeding requirements are that different...

mine just eats flake and pellet foods when i feed the fish, and he quite enjoys the powder i feed the tank for the filter feeders and the rest of the coral....and when i feed my anemone and plate he steals the food from them too..

i have not had any cuk with cleaner shrimp though..had two both die within a month or so...had the banded for about 5 months now..

but i link both my cleaners dying to either: PH swing, temp swing, or Salinity swing, as all three have been out a couple times wheni had them..wheni had to leave the tank in someone elses care for a couple days..