new cleaner shrimp not looking so hot

[grammatron]

I just got a new cleaner shrimp, and after drip acclimating for about 2 hours he wasn't moving much. I added him to the tank, and he's lying on his side. Tentacles and legs are still twitching a little, but I can't tell if it's from the water movement, or if it's him actually moving. Are cleaners known to go into shock at all when they're under stress, or should I go ahead and fish this guy out? On one hand, I'd like to give him the night in the dark to recover (if he's not dead), but on the other hand, I'd like to have something to take back to the LFS if it is dead, and I suspect my cleanup crew will make short work of him during the night if he's dead.

The second part of this problem is that I bought a test kit for nitrates and nitrites also, but the little bottle of the nitrite reagent is mysteriously empty, so I can't even test the water (though none of the rest of the tank inhabitants are having any problems). I've bought stuff from this store plenty of times, so this is unusual to have 2 problems in one day from them.

This is in a 90 gallon reef tank that's about 3 months old, with 15 hermits, 15 snails, a sally, and a yellow tail damsel.

 

[clowns101]

Check your alk!

 

[grammatron]

Well of course I don't have a test for that. The only test I have is the trite/trate and it's incomplete. I already pulled a sample to take in w/ me when I go to clear this up, but I'm unable to do any tests atm.

 

[Aquatope]

Is the carapice seperated near the tail. Even when dripped for a few hours they can go through an osmo-shock with a change in salinity. They are also sensative to nitrite. I would definitely try to find out what the levels are before replacing.

 

[grammatron]

The carapace doesn't appear to be separate, but he's definitely not moving on his own. Laying on his side, and I tried gently moving him to a spot out of the way, and he is just lifeless. I'm guessing he's a goner.

 

[Aquatope]

It would seem that way... Sorry to hear that... Check your levels including nitrites as soon as you can... Most vets would attribute this to DMS (Delayed Mortality Syndrome) caused by an acute stress 15 sec or 2 weeks prior to organisms demise... which means actual cause unknown... But knowing the water quality of the origin and your own aqaurium would help prevent this in the future. I will see about posting a thread on acclimating shrimp if there is not already one... post your all your levels that you can when you get a chance.

 

[grammatron]

Thanks for your help. I'm going to take a sample to the LFS and have them check it out, along w/ the shrimp itself. Of course it's just my luck that Monday is the day they're closed. Oh well.