My Cherry Shrimp Going Nuts!

[stanleo]

Ok its a heat wave and the temp in tank is 82F/28C so that could be the cause. Its water change day so I will be changing out more than I usually do to get the temp down and turning off the heater. But the tank has gotten that high before and I never saw behavior like this. Basically ALL of the shrimp are swimming frantically. Its like they are new fish added to the tank and they are trying to swim away. I did a water test to be on the safe side and its all the same as ever.
 
So is the temp or could it be something else?

 

[Lillefishy]

Have you added anything new to the tank?

 

[KirkyArcher]

think you will find they are about to die (but I hope I'm very wrong)

 

[stanleo]

think you will find they are about to die (but I hope I'm very wrong)

I hope you are wrong too!!!  Why do you say that?

 

[Lillefishy]

When there's something wrong with the water the shrimp will swim desperately to get away, when they can't unfortunately they will die, that's why I asked if you'd added any new plants or wood etc that could be contaminated

 

[KirkyArcher]

I had some do the same thing, they became very active almost frantic next morning all 4 had died, I think it may have been copper poisoning in my instance, had used a filter aid that although it stated safe for all fish and invertebrates, after researching the product did find trace amounts of copper  

 

[stanleo]

10 days ago I put in some rocks from the river. I scrubbed them with hot water and let them soak for a week. Could that be it? Could they be leaching copper? Should I take them out? I just did a water change of 30% with cold water to get the temp down.

 

[TallTree01]

Maybe lack of oxygen from high water?
* temperature

 

[stanleo]

My filter was clogged. I noticed it when I did the water change and I cleaned the sponge cover and took it apart and put it back together and now it is working.
 
I will be devastated if all these shrimp die. I got the colony up to 80+ and was loving watching all of them.

 

[Lillefishy]

I doubt it's the rocks, you'd have noticed the shrimp's behaviour earlier.
Have you tested the water? if your filter hasn't been working properly that could be the problem, shrimp are very sensitive to water quality

 

[stanleo]

I tested my water and it all came back fine. Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 15 pH 6.6. I hope it was the filter and the heat. The filters working great now but I lowered the temp to 78F/26C but the behavior is continuing.
 
So you don't think I should take out the rocks?
 
Would daily water changes for a while help?
 
If it is copper poisoning is there anything I CAN do or is it too late?

 

[Lillefishy]

Take the rocks out to be on the safe side.
If it is copper poisoning there's nothing you can do & you won't be able to have shrimp in that tank again

 

[stanleo]

Ok. I put prime in the tank and a new bag of charcoal in the filter.
 
If it is copper poisoning I might cry.

 Which I know sounds stupid over shrimp but I was really proud of this tank.
 
Anyway, thanks for the help guys. I will keep you posted as to what happens next.
 
If they do die I am finally going to get a betta.

 

[stanleo]

The shrimp are still grazing. they stop on a patch, graze for a little bit and then swim off.
 
And I just noticed a female that has never been berried with eggs.
 
Plus there are shrimp sheds in there that weren't in there yesterday.
 
Would you expect to find this in a poisoning situation?
 
PS If any mods read this, can you move it to the emergency section? When I posted it I didn't know it was something serious.

 

[Lillefishy]

Think there may be good news there, doesn't sound like it is poisoning if they're grazing, usually with poisoning they die pretty quickly.
Did you notice if it was mainly the males going nuts as they will if there's a female ready to mate, beginning to think it was the filter & now you've cleaned it & done a water change that's solved the problem.
Fingers crossed