Bamboo Shrimp

[Randi]

I put a bamboo shrimp in my 20gal about a week ago. I put a little cave in the back of the tank for him, but he never found it. Now he has molted and is laying is a fairly exposed part of the tank. Should I move him or just leave him alone? I also have 6 serpae tetras (who seem to be leaving him alone) and 4 cories (who are not leaving him alone) in the tank.

 

[Caprichoso]

Bamboo shrimp have no interest in hiding in caves, unless there happens to be a strong current in it. They need a current to filter and obtain their food(otherwise you'll just see them wandering around your tank, picking up food off the substrate. You said he is laying down? On his side? If so, not good news I'm afraid and won't last much longer. Have you tested your water? Shrimp cannot abide by ANY ammonia or nitrites and it will kill them off quickly. Since Bamboo shrimp mainly eat small particulate matter, they prefer an established tank. That's not to say you can't put them in a newer set up but there cannot be any ammonia present whatsoever. I put mine in my tank while it was new but I also feed them powdered spriulina and swished it around in the water. Plus I do weekly water changes of 50%. You should just leave him be. Test your water and do a 50% water change if you haven't done one for the week. If there is ammonia present, you need to do 70% then later on, do another water change. If you don't have a test kit, go get one. If you don't want to get one, start doing some water changes because I can assure you that there is something wrong with the water. Also, what is the temperature at? They don't like anything higher than 78F. I have my tank at 76F because I have a community tank but personally would put it lower for the shrimp if I could.

Good luck

 

[Randi]

He didn't make it The water is good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate, but the temp might be too high at 78 degrees. I only saw him fanning once since I put him in the new tank, which I did because the one he was in before had a undergravel filter and therefore no current. He didn't molt properly. His head was still inside his old exoskeleton and the other fish were picking at him.