Need some shrimp help....

[RBU1]

OK so I am not having any luck with shrimp for some reason. Every shrimp I put in my tank is dead in a day. My tank is a 75 gallon that has been running for almost 5 years. I have other inverts in the tank snails, crabs and star fish. When I acclimated these shrimp I have tried several different methods from drip for a couple hours to a shoot glass every 5 minutes dump the bag and do it again. I have no idea what can be going on. I have lost 3 cleaner shrimp and 4 peppermint shrimp. Any ideas for me? I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[spw4949]

What type of fish do you have?

 

[charlesr1958]

Have you compared (tested) the differences between the bagged and tank water? If the alkalinity, pH, salinity is vastly different, it would take a much greater length of acclimation, also check to see that your magnesium levels are not excessive.

Chuck

 

[RBU1]

Thanks for the responses I will check the magnesium. It is not the fish because I am finding the dead shrimp. Also the last set of peps were put in my refugium with no fish.

What is your opinion about the type of acclimation that should be used?

 

[charlesr1958]

Personaly, I would use a very long, extended time frame of drip acclimating. (large bucket with a VERY slow drip while providing aeration with an air stone.)

Chuck

 

[revaltion131]

I would do the same. Acclimation can be very important for shrimp as opposed to pretty much everything else. They aren't overly hardy animals and they can't create a slime coat like corals and some fish that help to buffer any sudden changes when they go from floating in a bag into the main tank's water.

I ended up doing ~3 hours drip for my Harlequin and 2 for my Peppermint. Both have been in the tank and kicking for quite awhile now.

 

[dragonette]

Have you been getting the shrimp all from the same store? alot of times this is a source issue.. maybe try a new store/location to buy them from.. if it still dies, then I would look deeper.

Jess