Bamboo Shrimp Problems

[Jspigs]

So this past weekend I bought two bamboo shrimp. One died I thought it was due to loss of two fans from rough handling at the pet store(not my usual lfs). I then bought another and it died too.

Now I am down to one bamboo shrimp.

They both showed two main symptoms before dieing.

1. They stopped fanning and eating.

2. They acted very skittish and jumpy.


My last remaining bamboo shrimp used to act like a healthy bamboo shrimp.

But now my last remaining bamboo shrimp is showing these symptoms.

I did a water change (about 45%) to try and help my last remaining bamboo shrimp but it did not help.

The tank set up is this: 10 gallon planted tank filtered by a Tom's mini rapids canister filter with 8 neon tetras 1 Betta "Emerald" and 1 bamboo shrimp. The tank is heated by a 50 watt heater.

Does anyone know what to do?

Please respond asap as the other shrimp died soon after displaying the symptoms so I don't know how long my remaining bamboo shrimp has.

 

[jackiomy]

Are you spot feeding him? Is Emerald picking on him?

 

[bradlgt21]

I heard larger more aggressive fish tent to pick at the fans of the bamboo and stress them and they end up dying. Like Jack said maybe your betta is picking on them. Some betta's can be very aggressive. Mine for instance was so territorial he chased a pleco around the tank trying to kill him. Right now his only tank mate is a horned nerite snail.

 

[Jspigs]

My Betta is NOT picking on them. I have been watching for that and Emerald does not pick on the shrimp.

I have tried feeding him powdered flake food using a turkey baster (the turkey baster is only used for my aquariums, no cross contamination there) but he won't even try to eat it.

 

[Jspigs]

Bump! Anyone?

He is still hanging in there but I don't think he has gotten any better.

 

[Jspigs]

BUMP!

He is still hanging in there but his poop is long and stringy and possibly whitish. Can shrimp get internal parasites?

 

[Piranha86]

Try adding salt, it might help.

 

[Bio123]

Bamboo shrimp don't live too long in freshwater. Putting 1 cup per 5 gallons of salt in the aquarium can prolong the shrimp's life. Is your shrimp red or brown?

 

[Jspigs]

He is brown but he was red at one point.

 

[mellowvision]

I've never read that bamboo shrimp don't live long in freshwater... I'll have to look into that. I have several, and my guess is that the Betta is going after it at night. or the emerald... The bamboos I have that are happy NEVER MOVE AN INCH. They sit in the exact same spot and fan 24/7. They might occasionally walk in a circle in the area, but they really don't move. This really makes them sitting targets, especially at night, when they might not see it coming.

They do prefer a slightly lower than average ph, and warm water. You haven't said much about the tank or your water quality... Do they have places to hide? Is there ammonia in your water? High nitrates? Do you have adequate flow and aeration?

Another thing to consider is that it could be the shrimp's moulting time, but it might be looking for somewhere to hide. Mine do not fan, just prior to moulting. They really want to be protected while their shell is soft. My shrimp are bright red, just after moulting, and get browner and more dirty looking until the next moult. One of mine even grows a fair amount of algae on his shell.