Can shrimp die from constipation?

[melissa3]

I recently bought an Amano shrimp. I had him for about 2 days and then he died. I think he died of constipation. When I watched him eat, it seemed that his food would build behind his head but wouldn’t move through his body. I don’t know what else could’ve caused his death, as my other shrimp (ghost) are fine.

Can shrimp die from constipation? What causes shrimp constipation and is there anything that can prevent it?



Thanks,

Melissa

 

[pixl8r]

I guess it's possible. However, it's much more likely that it died from stress. Amano shrimp are almost exclusively wild captured. During the whole process the go through to get from their place of origin to your tank is extremely harsh. I've read some studdies that say it's common for there to be over 90% mortality rates, especially when shrimp are shipped from over seas.

It is possible, though not common, that your shrimp died from an intestinal blockage, but as far as I know, there are not any dietary or medicinal means of curing such a condition.

Such a condition in humans is most frequently caused by a very poor diet. If you're feeding your shirmp any of the common types of fish pellet or flake, they are almost certainly getting a proper diet. I've fed mine such food for years. My populations are all growing, except for my bamboo and amano shrimp. I don't have the brackish and salt water foods and facilities to successfully breed them.[FONT=&quot]
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[melissa3]

Thank you for the info. =)



Well, it turns out that I was wrong about my shrimp. The one that died was actually an old ghost shrimp, not my new Amano. To my surprise, I found the Amano picking algae off a plant. I have no idea why my old one died, though and my Amano still looks blocked up…I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[nquint1]

I have never seen a ghost shrimp live for over 2 months. How long did you have him?

 

[melissa3]

Hmm, I think I had her for about 2 - 4 months. I can't really remember. I started out with 4, but now I'm down to one. Funny thing is, since this past one died, the last one left has been zooming around the tank, just swimming and eating. Its the most movement I've ever seen from her. Weird.

 

[Ralleh]

I put 6 small amanos in my tank and had one jump/climb out of the tank and die in the sink in the first week or so. I thought that the rest would have similar fates but the other 5 are now huge and healthy. I'm actually surprised at how large they get.
But yeah, I would think that it is strange for a shrimp to not have a full "tract" at all times that is slowly extruding waste as they walk around.

 

[pixl8r]

Ghost shrimp have a life expectancy of approximately one year (give or take). Who knows how old it was when you purchased it. If it ever suffered severe stress during it's life, it likely shortened the Ghost shrimp's life span.