We've had 3 cherry shrimp for nearly 6 weeks, and they seemed happy and healthy. One of them started becoming brighter red, which I assumed was him getting his adult colours, but then one day I found him dead. The other 2 seem fine, though I've noticed their antennae aren't as long as they used to be.
Any suggestions - and should I worry about the others? My daughter is very fond of them. If this is normal to lose the odd one, then perhaps I should get some more and she'll feel less attached to individuals!
Water stats are good (NH3 and NO2 zero, NO3 about 10-20). I did a slightly larger than usual water change 2 days before he died - only about 25% (I normally do only 10-15%), but that's the only unusual thing that's happened recently. They share the 28 litre tank with a small black oto and 2 platy fry, which all seem fine. I feed a mixture of flake, pellets, peas, and the shrimp seem to nibble on the Java moss and water wisteria too.
Any advice gratefully received.
Any suggestions - and should I worry about the others? My daughter is very fond of them. If this is normal to lose the odd one, then perhaps I should get some more and she'll feel less attached to individuals!
Water stats are good (NH3 and NO2 zero, NO3 about 10-20). I did a slightly larger than usual water change 2 days before he died - only about 25% (I normally do only 10-15%), but that's the only unusual thing that's happened recently. They share the 28 litre tank with a small black oto and 2 platy fry, which all seem fine. I feed a mixture of flake, pellets, peas, and the shrimp seem to nibble on the Java moss and water wisteria too.
Any advice gratefully received.
With cherry shrimps, the females are usually the more red. How big are your platy fry? Sure that they are not nipping the shrimp antennae? Your stats looks fine. I doubt a larger water change would have caused the death. I do 50-70% water changes to my tanks with cherry shrimps and they are unaffected. Shrimps in general are a lot more sensitive than fish. Any traces of Ammonia/Nitrite/Copper are lethal. Also, they can suffer from moulting problem as well.
