two dead cleaner shrimp within a week of each other

[thommyboy12183]

I have had my tank set up for 2 months, There are 2 clown, 1 bi-colored blenny, a bunch of astra snails, 2 giant turbo snails, a bunch of blue and red hermit crabs, and 2 cleaner shrimp.

Earlier this week i found one of the cleaner fish dead in my tank and than today i just got home from work and found the second cleaner fish dead(but only could find the head it looks like the rest of the shrimp was eaten. In addition i have found a few snails eaten since July.

If both shrimp were found eaten i would say that something is eating them however the first shirmp was dead and in full piece. The second i could only find the head the rest of the body was missing.

I perform 1/4 water change weekly( i did miss it for two weeks) but just performed the water change again on Sunday.

I test the water and results are as follows:

Nitrate - 20ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
alkalinity - between 180 - 300 ppm
ph - 7.8
specific gravity - 1.023

Any thoughts on a potential issue before i try to get new shrimp?

thanks for the help

 

[neiltus]

sure it's not a molt?

 

[Ron Reefman]

After they molt, they are soft and vulnerable so they tend to hide out for a few days till their exoskeleton hardens.

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

It night be a molt

 

[thommyboy12183]

Pretty sure its not a molt inside the head shell was white meat.

First happened 2 days post water change and second was 6 days post water change i can just assume stress. I picked up a new one from local fish store after water was tested to confirm levels. Fingers crossed.

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

How established is your tank? Do you have any other livestock? I wouldn't put any more in there just in case it was just a molt.

 

[thommyboy12183]

Two occelarius clown, 1 bi-colored blenny, hermit crabs and snails. Ended up adding a new shrimp and serpant sea str and all seem to be doing good. Blenny looks like he may have a bite on top back of him but is acting fine so is all others

 

[Ron Reefman]

How established is your tank? Do you have any other livestock? I wouldn't put any more in there just in case it was just a molt.

Did you even read the OP's first post? He answered both your questions before you even asked them!

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

Did you even read the OP's first post? He answered both your questions before you even asked them!

Oops must have forgot. Silly me :headwally::spin2:

 

[Willyboz1]

Same thing happened to me. I thought it was a molt but the cuc was eating it and nothing was left

 

[BioReefRTank29]

just lost mine due to my pink spotted goby who ate him

 

[farfromsea]

Isn't 300 ppm alkalinity a little high?

Not sure how affected the shrimp is by alkalinity swings. Another thought is maybe the temperature is bothering them? Also not sure if shrimp are more sensitive to the temp than the fish

The good news is that since everything else is alive you can rule out toxins, high ammonia (IMO), and stray voltage (like from a broken pump or heater.)

 

[thommyboy12183]

Yea i ended up adding another shrimp ~ a week later and it has been doing good the last month or so