Yamato Shrimp Going Crazy!

[rossyboy]

In my breeder tank containing 8 guppies (established for 2 months) i had 2 yamato shrimps. One yesterday started going absolutely mental, swimming around really quick, bouncing off the glass, falling onto it's back a lot and turning a darker yellow colour.

Water conditions are fine, all within usual amounts.

Anyone know of a condition?

 

[iSnail]

Have you added any new plants or any medications to the tank?

 

[rossyboy]

nope, nothing new in over a month. Just regular water changes as per usual!

 

[iSnail]

Ok.. do you know what sex your shrimps are? If you have a male and a female and the female has just moulted, then it's normal for the male to go a bit crazy. It's mating behaviour.

 

[rossyboy]

Yes, one male, one female.

The males now died (i thought that he was moulting) and now the females doing the exact same behaviour!

 

[iSnail]

Have you checked all your water parameters? They are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite. More so than fish.

 

[rossyboy]

yes, got the following-

PH 7.2
Alkalinity- 6 KH ppm
Hardness- 7 GH ppm
Nitrate- 0
Nitrite- 0

 

[iSnail]

Also, copper is lethal to shrimps. Did the problem start right after a water change? Sometimes old copper pipes can leach copper into the water. Check the ingredients of the fish food you've been using as well.

yes, got the following-

PH 7.2
Alkalinity- 6 KH ppm
Hardness- 7 GH ppm
Nitrate- 0
Nitrite- 0

Is your tank cycled? What's the reading on ammonia?

 

[rossyboy]

I don't have an Ammonia test kit jus this minute

Perhaps that's the problem, and yes the tank is cycled and as i said quite a mature one at that.

My property is in a recently built area so pipes are all new-ish?

Also, i always use tapsafe on new water.

 

[iSnail]

The reason I asked if it's cycled is because there should be some Nitrate in a cycled tank.

Do partial water changes for the next few days just in case there is any ammonia or any undesirable chemicals that had gotten into the tank by accident. Hope the remaining shrimp recovers.

 

[rossyboy]

thanks very much for your help.

Don't suppose you know about guppies?

Is a sign of imminent labour, the female sat very very still almost dead lol? (shes definately pregnant)

 

[iSnail]

Sorry, no... I don't keep any guppies but I guess livebearers behave pretty much the same when they are about to give birth - quiet and want to hide... Can you see a gravid spot (I think that's the name ) Try look in the common livebearers section.

 

[rossyboy]

ye i did. I've got 5 females who're pregnant, one is now in it's own tank but it's taking agggges to give birth and to me, it looks pretty heavily pregnant, the spot is very dark and the belly is huge!

 

[iSnail]

Patience is what you need. Can't rush them, can you? Good luck with them and good luck with the shrimp too

 

[rossyboy]

thanks for your help, really appreciate it!