Fire shrimp died...

[Coffman34]

I was just wondering if it is common that a fire shrimp will kill another in a tank. I ask this because I found one dead this morning and all water params checked out perfect. 0 ammon, 0 trites, <5 trates, temp at 81. Is this common, I drip acclimated them for 4.5 hours because they just came off of the truck at my LFS.

Coffman

 

[Bubbashrimp]

How many shrimp do you have? and if you are just starting out may I ask how long has your tank been up? I also understand that you drip acclimated it for 4.5 hours do you know your beginning and ending measurements of your salinity?

 

[Coffman34]

I *had* just the two fire shrimp. By tank has been done cycling for about 2.5 months. I did not take measurements, but it should have been almost the same, cuz I took about 1/2 of the water out once the bucket was full and then let it fill back up. He was fine for a couple of days, eating and everything. The other one seemed to be the head honcho of the shrimp, anerythinglikat, pushing the other one around when food came. Kind of chasing him off, but he didn't attack him when I was watching, just moved in the one's general area, and the one would scatter else where.

Coffman

 

[Bubbashrimp]

Did it have any sign illness? or come from a less than average tank?

what else was in your tank?

To you test your water for copper?

"*had* just the two fire shrimp" -Does this mean both are dead?

The only aggressive shrimp I have ever had was a well fed coral banded shrimp that plucked a healthy damsel right out of the water column and started eating his head. Then a week later ate its mate.

Perhaps I have been luckier than most with the behavior created by pairing fire shrimp.

But I know quite a few people and a lfs who have successfully paired many of these shrimp.

 

[J. Montgomery]

In the past few months I've bought five peppermint shrimp and only two of them have survived. I performed two hour drips to acclimate them (one died in the acclimation period). I don't know whats up. I have a mixed reef with a cleanup crew of various snails, a few hermit crabs, emerald crab, etc . . . and a pair of clowns. So in my experience, shrimp are finicky. I can't figure out any good reason why three out of five haven't made it.

 

[Bubbashrimp]

The first one sounds like it died from shock, osmotic or otherwise. Shrimp in my own experience are pretty easy to take care of that is to say once you move them past there acclimation period. If I where buying a shrimp I would look for a healthy one eating and displaying its charaistic behavior. I would also look for a well kept lfs (aquariums and general apparence). Friendly knowledgeable service that treat you purchase delicately(underline this one for my area). I would check my aquarium v.s. there aquarium for temp, salinity, copper, nitrates..etc(some of these not really v.s.) bring these parameters close adjusting later for real enviromental parameters. I would also tell the lfs to not put too much water in the bag. When I got immediatley home i would immediatly open the bag... that is the beginning of your acclimation process. What size of tbing are you using to drip acclimate? This is my general frame of mind when purchasing a shrimp. I know for a fact that shrimp do not need this attention but I do it anyway and If I were having problems keeping shrimp I would be more attentive to detail. Also next time maybe half your purchase so you not introducing a lot(very relative) of animals at the same time. Happy Shrimping!

 

[Coffman34]

I believe I got them from a very respectable LFS, Inland Aquatics, here in Indiana. Anyone had any problems with them? I have had nothing but good service with them. The tubing is about 1/4" outside diamater, maybe smaller, it's the tubing from my sand syphon. It was eating just fine when it was alive.
Both are not dead, as of two days ago, one was still alive. I'd have to check with the Mrs. because I am an EMT and have been working the past 48 hours straight about an hour from my home.
Thanks for all the replies guys.

Coffman