Cherry Shrimp Twitching

[hanny93]

sorry to be a pain but has anyone got any idea as to why my cherry shrimp are twitching, rather viciously around the tank?

I've just added new plants and im now thinking it could be copper in an anti snail treatment from the lfs, but there were shrimp in the display tanks that had some of the plants in

If i really really need to do a wc i can, but id really rather not face the wrath of both angry mother and angry OH at waking them up at 11pm and i have an interview for jobcentre tomorrow so id rather not fall asleep!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Stats:
Ammonia: less than 0.25ppm (lowest reading on Salifert test kit)
Nitrite: 0ppm (ditto)
Nitrate: About 25ppm

Didnt test pH but can do, and i dont have a copper test but i can do by going to lfs tomorrow.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Caprichoso]

Twitching is bad. It means there is something in the water that's irritating them. If it was just one shrimp twitching, I'd be inclined to think it was planaria on the shrimp. But if it's more than 1, I could guarantee the water is bad. If the lfs used snail killer on the plants, it's for sure the reason why and you have to do a huge water change right now. You also have some ammonia according to the test kit then? Any ammonia is bad for shrimp. You should just do a water change. 75% just make sure the temp is the same because you don't want to shock the shrimp to death.

Good luck!

 

[hanny93]

No my test kit doesnt go any lower than <0.25 might have to buy another one.

Just tried ringing the lfs but no answer, i dont even have time to do a w/c, i have an interview at 10:30

 

[Caprichoso]

How are your shrimp? Did you get to do a water change yet?

 

[hanny93]

I've lost one so far that i know of, did a small 25% i know its not enough really but ill do an 80% ish tomorrow

They seem to be doing a bit a better, not twitching anymore but i dont want to lose anymore, especially as there are a few carrying eggs

 

[Caprichoso]

Yeah, they may drop their eggs if feeling too stressed but hopefully not! You could do a 75% water change when you get a chance and then just make sure you're doing 50% weekly after that. If you have a planted tank you can get away with doing less of a water change, although I have all planted tanks and still do the 50% weekly, but that's just me.

Good luck with your shrimpies!