Hello, I came back from the LFS today and saw a dead shrimp in my Betta aquarium. The other shrimp were barely moving, and one of them that was sitting on a leaf earlier today was still there, right at the same spot. I got a ruler and started slowly moving it in front of the shrimp, and the shrimp just slowly backed away. Usually when something is coming towards them, when they touch it they immediately jump out of the way. There was another one in the micro sword, and one on the stem plants, but I figured out they were alive. So I did a head count of the shrimp(counting the dead one) and I came up with 4. I have 5 shrimp. I checked under the rock cave thing and behind ornaments, but I couldn't find the 5th shrimp. Also, they haven't been swimming around like usual lately. Do you think the betta ate the missing one, and that they're trying to hide because the betta is hurting them when I'm not looking? I think it's unlikely that he ate the shrimp, because he isn't abnormally fat, and if he ate one, he probably would've eaten the dead one too, right? And, lastly, what do you think is the best thing I should do? Thanks.
Shrimp And The Betta
- Thread starter OneOnion
- Start date
what kind of shrimp do you have? how long have you had them? any recent additions of live plants in the tank? any new stocking? how long has your tank been set up?what are you feeding the shrimp? do you dose anything in the tank (ie ferts?)?
i could help some more if you answer these questions.
cheers
i could help some more if you answer these questions.
cheers
I have red cherry shrimp. I've had them for a while, maybe 3 months. Yes, actually, I did just add some live plants a week ago, and added the betta fish at that same time. Now, a kind of bad part: I had to fishless cycle with the shrimp.
I did 50% water changes every day for about a month and a half, and then did 50% water changes every few days until now, and the tank is cycled. I would've returned them, but they were 6$ each O.O . I've been feeding them Hikari algae wafers for the past few weeks, but before that I gave them blanched carrots, corn, etc. No, I don't have any fertilizers and didn't medicate for any diseases. Oh yeah, the missing shrimp appeared 30 minutes after I posted, so none of them are missing(besides the one that died).
Honeythorn
Sugar coating and nicely nicely? I don't think so
If you just added new plants it may be them that's caused the shrimp to be sluggish. Some plant suppliers treat their plants for snails and pests by using a copper based treatment. Copper is very bad for shrimp and can kill them. Did you wash the plants very thoroughly several times before adding them? Or just put them in?
Going by the info given though I'd say remove the plants and give them a really good wash, do a large water change and re plant them. If the shrimp are still ill then remove the plants and switch suppliers or get some silk ones in the meantime. See if they pick up a bit.
Going by the info given though I'd say remove the plants and give them a really good wash, do a large water change and re plant them. If the shrimp are still ill then remove the plants and switch suppliers or get some silk ones in the meantime. See if they pick up a bit.
did any pesty snails come in with the plants that youve noticed? if so, doubtful they were copper treated.
id say it was the cycling with the shrimp...they are very sensitive to even slight ammonia spikes. the one(s) still hanging in there are a bit hardier and lived thru it. if you are thru your cycle, get some more, they will have a better chance. no need to rinse the plants NOW as any copper has already dissoluted into the tank. plants will eventually use it up and water changes will dilute it too. after a few weeks, no need to worry about copper from the "new" plants if they were copper treated.
another thing to think of with shrimp,and their sensitivity to copper, is what sort of piping is in your house. if its old copper piping, dont use hot water ever in water changes. only cold. if you feel the need to temperature match, boil some of the cold tap water and add it to fresh cold tap water to match temp (instead of relying on hot/cold mix from the tap...hot water piping degrades faster and is more likely to have higher copper levels from the tap than the cold water).
best of luck...may be worth even giving the lfs a call and asking if they copper treat their plants..but like i said, if you got some hitching snails, probably not. i suspect ammonia in this case.
cheers!!
id say it was the cycling with the shrimp...they are very sensitive to even slight ammonia spikes. the one(s) still hanging in there are a bit hardier and lived thru it. if you are thru your cycle, get some more, they will have a better chance. no need to rinse the plants NOW as any copper has already dissoluted into the tank. plants will eventually use it up and water changes will dilute it too. after a few weeks, no need to worry about copper from the "new" plants if they were copper treated.
another thing to think of with shrimp,and their sensitivity to copper, is what sort of piping is in your house. if its old copper piping, dont use hot water ever in water changes. only cold. if you feel the need to temperature match, boil some of the cold tap water and add it to fresh cold tap water to match temp (instead of relying on hot/cold mix from the tap...hot water piping degrades faster and is more likely to have higher copper levels from the tap than the cold water).
best of luck...may be worth even giving the lfs a call and asking if they copper treat their plants..but like i said, if you got some hitching snails, probably not. i suspect ammonia in this case.
cheers!!
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