Shrimp Dying

[doubledee]

Hi,

My tropical community has been set up for years and everything was going fine. Today, I added some fish which I bought mail order and some plants. I rinsed the plants in treated tap water before adding to the tank. The fish were all acclimitised correctly and netted from the bag so little of the transit water got into my tank.

A few hours later, I noticed that several shrimp (crystal black and cherry) have died. What could be the cause? Should I remove the plants and chuck them and then do a water change?

Cheers.

 

[PJPJ]

Hi,

My tropical community has been set up for years and everything was going fine. Today, I added some fish which I bought mail order and some plants. I rinsed the plants in treated tap water before adding to the tank. The fish were all acclimitised correctly and netted from the bag so little of the transit water got into my tank.

A few hours later, I noticed that several shrimp (crystal black and cherry) have died. What could be the cause? Should I remove the plants and chuck them and then do a water change?

Cheers.

Hi,

In my opinion, the plants you have received were not rinsed well enough before adding to your tank. Rinse each individual leaf very carefully and thoroughly. It is the copper treatment that the plants are subjected to before being allowed into the country that is killing the shrimp.

Remove the plants immediately and do a very large water change with conditioned water.

Regards

PJPJ

 

[doubledee]

Hi,

In my opinion, the plants you have received were not rinsed well enough before adding to your tank. Rinse each individual leaf very carefully and thoroughly. It is the copper treatment that the plants are subjected to before being allowed into the country that is killing the shrimp.

Remove the plants immediately and do a very large water change with conditioned water.

Regards

PJPJ

PJPJ,

Thanks for your reply. I had actually done a 30% water change just before you posting that. How large do you think will be necessary? I don't want to stress the fish as well but ultimately hundreds of dying shrimp could pollute the tank v. quickly. I've lost most of the shrimp now inc. several that were carrying eggs. Gutted.

Cheers again for the help.

 

[PJPJ]

If you are temperature matching the water and using a good conditioner then the risk is minimal. A large water change 70-80% or more. Unless you are changing the PH or hardness of the water.

If your tap water has toxins in it then there is a small risk but if you are using something like Prime or Amquel+ then those toxins will be made harmless anyway.

The copper is probably a greater risk to the shrimp than the relatively low potential toxins in your tap water.

I was so concerned about adding some imported plants that I rinsed thoroughly under running water then sat them in a bucket of treated water for an hour then rinsed them again under the tap then rinsed again in a fresh bucket of treated water. I know. Overkill but, I wanted to be sure.

Sorry to hear about the shrimp you've lost.

Regards

PJPJ

 

[three-fingers]

I've had shrimp killed from putting in copper treated plants that were left to soak in water for 24 hours before. I had to use carbon in my filter to stop them dying.

I would chuck in some carbon and keep doing water changes, 50% would be better. Remove the plants and rinse them very thoroughly in water then let them soak or quarantine in another tank. I think the plants must absorb some of the copper treatments (possibly accumulatively), or it sticks to them or

For fish I really wouldn't bother anything other than rinsing them, my cherry and Amano shrimp weren't affected either. But my crystal red, blacks and Malaysian rainbow shrimp all started to die slowly.

It also depends on the plants I think, some don't seem to do this even though they were treated the same way.

 

[doubledee]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately I lost most of the crystal blacks and reds. In fact, I'm left with basically one or two of each and they're pretty colourless so I think all is still not well. I will see if I can get some carbon for the filter. Is it worth adding carbon now (2 to 3 days later)?

I will remember for next time and basically I won't use that supplier again. I have had no problems in the past. The plant is quite heavily planted but I was just filling in some gaps.

Lesson learned, wash plants again and again if you have shrimp.


Cheers

DD

 

[PJPJ]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately I lost most of the crystal blacks and reds. In fact, I'm left with basically one or two of each and they're pretty colourless so I think all is still not well. I will see if I can get some carbon for the filter. Is it worth adding carbon now (2 to 3 days later)?

I will remember for next time and basically I won't use that supplier again. I have had no problems in the past. The plant is quite heavily planted but I was just filling in some gaps.

Lesson learned, wash plants again and again if you have shrimp.


Cheers

DD

It probably is worth adding the carbon, otherwise the copper will only reduce a small percentage each time you perform a water change. Don't forget you must discard the carbon after it's been used, probably after a week (Others may know a more accurate time scale) before it starts leeching out the toxins it's collected.

It's given me a thought though,(Thanks three-fingers) when I'm due to get some more plants, I'm going to get some carbon and install it in the filter so any Copper leeching into the water will be removed before I even know about it and also additional water changes just to be sure.

Regards

PJPJ