Fan Shrimp

Does anyone have any experience with fan shrimp? I purchased two fairly large shrimp that were labeled as Mountain Shrimp at the LFS. I believe they are probably Atyopsis moluccensis but can't be a 100% sure. Since they went in the tank I have lost 4 fish,(two corys, two plecos) I don't often lose fish so this is unusual. Water parameters are all fine, slightly acidic soft water. The tank is not overstocked. The two plecos were not in the tank at the same time; one was purchased to replace the other.


I have read what I can find about these shrimp on the internet including Joe Anderson's article on freshwater shrimp. By all reports these are nonaggressive safe shrimp. Some sources say they can close their fans to stab at fish for defense but are not prone to aggression. I have seen them swim at the ottos but the ottos just move away. I can't honestly say whether these incidents were attacks or just inadverdent collisions as these shrimp move very fast with little apparent regard for direction. All losses were bottom dwellers. There are cardinals and ottos in the tank so there are smaller easier prey. There are no predatory fish in the tank. I'm wondering has anyone kept these shrimp and have they ever witnessed any aggression?

A valid point about disease I considered it as well, but none of the fish not even the dead ones display any signs of illness. Also they have been in my tank now for about a month and they were in the LFS for about 6 weeks before I bought them. I would expect to see some symtom of disease other than sudden death. (Healthy in morning dead when I returned from work). I don't really think the shrimp are killing the fish but it was a possibility that eneterd my head so I threw it out for comment. Thanks for your response.

One other question if you don't mind. Have you known these shrimp to display a bright red colour very similar to a male cherry barb? One has remained the color it had at the time of purchase (dirty brown color) the other has turned a bright red.