Am I Expecting?

[ellejay]

One of my 2 freshwater shrimps has been acting a bit funny for a few days... usually it's very active and entertaining to watch, but lately he/she has been acting sluggish and I was starting to worry that it was dying. Anyway, today I was doing a water change when I noticed it was tangled in a plant in a funny position, looked like it was finished. After a closer look I saw that the green colour I had seen recently in its abdomen was actually what looks like lots of little green balls...eggs? I am hoping they are eggs and not parasites! What do you much more experienced people than me think?

 

[Ben M]

What type of shrimp are they? Some shrimp can breed in freshwater, but some need saltwater for the larvae to develop.And do you know if you have a male and a female?

cheers

 

[lilfishie]

look like they could be eggs to me, my cherries are the same but yellow

 

[Ben M]

yep, they are eggs, but it depends upon the species and if there is a male to have fertilised them as to whether or not they will hatch.

cheers

 

[ellejay]

I think they might be amano shrimp from a bit of research. The lfs just sold them as 'freshwater shrimp'. No idea what sex they are, is there a way to tell? Either way, I'm losing hope - it's very still on the floor of the tank and not flinching when 2 cheeky neons try to eat it's eyes! Should I give it time or just fish it out now?

 

[ellejay]

Have separated it into the floating breeding trap to save it from the other fish but doesn't look good

 

[Ben M]

if they are amano shrimp then the eggs may hatch (if they have been fertilised) but the larvae won't develop. As for the ill shrimp, what is the tank size (volume in litres/gals and dimensions), stocking, temp, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, water change routine, what are the shrimp fed and how are the other fish and shrimp acting (are they gulping at the surface etc)?

cheers

 

[SchottayB]

Deffo eggs, goodluck

 

[ellejay]

Definitely dead Ok answers to questions! Tank dimensions: 41.5cm(h) x 50cm(w) x 41.5cm(d), it is 94L. Current occupants:
4 cardinal tetra, 4 neon tetra (shoaling together nicely)
6 x-ray tetra
1 male Betta (no problems with tetras)
1 amano shrimp
2 dalmatian mollies
4 red platys, 1 yellow molly (all going in next week or so)
And one L201 pleco which arrives tomorrow

Last tests done 2 days ago:
pH 7.4
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitite 0ppm
Nitrate 20ppm

Weekly water changes of 25L (only that exact because I know the bucket I use is 5L!)

Fed on mix of daily flake food and bloodworm every other day.
All other fish acting normal, no air gulping, all where they should be in tank.

Thanks for the help!