Ghost shrimp/ Iodine / Piranha

Dr.Zoidberg

Registered Member
Jan 7, 2006
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Hi, First post here.:)
I have just started with a planted tank and have added a couple dozen ghost shrimp over the past few weeks. They seem to be doing well in the tank, a few have eggs developing and 2 are full of eggs underneath. A few times I've caught one shrimp eating another that appeared to be a cloudy white colour.I've read they may need iodine to help with molting and I'm willing to add it so long as it won't harm my piranha .
I welcome any input .
Thanks .
Pete .
Here's a few pics .

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I've not tried iodine with Pirhanna's in particular but have not had any trouble with it and my fish. The amount generally used for shrmp is very small. (One drop per 5 gallons I think is the standard reccomendation)

Iodine need is argued by many folks. I use it and have seen definate improvements with it's use. other do fine without it. Calcium IMHO is more important than Iodine though. What is your GH?

Also, is it possible you are seeing your shrimp eat the discarded shells after they molt? It is almost automatic that when a shrimp molts it or others in the tank will eat the old shell. It's usually easy enough to see the difference but for folks who aren't aware of this habit it can be decieving.

Nice looking tank BTW.
dave
 
I just tested and
the GH is the 80
the KH is 50
PH is 7.4

I am sure they were eating another shrimp not just a molt.
Thanks for the compliment,after having just a tank and piranha it's nice to have some diversity in the tank. My g/f loves the "New tank" and the shrimp especially.
Pete
 
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Minor quibble - it is iodide, not iodine. Otherwise folks think they can use tincture of iodine, which is deadly toxic in tanks.

I have some molt problems with some Marcobrachium shrimp species, so assume that my water/foods have insuffiecient iodide. When is supplement reef iodide rather haphazardly after partials, I do not have these issues, so I do supplement when I rememeber - about every other partial seems to work for me.

I have never had any fish issues from this from any of the fish I have kept, but I have not kept shrimp with Piranhas.
 
RTR said:
Minor quibble - it is iodide, not iodine. Otherwise folks think they can use tincture of iodine, which is deadly toxic in tanks.

Thanks,
I'll watch tank as close as I can .
Pete
 
Kh is acceptable but on the very low end of acceptable for my standards. The Gh seems far too low for shrimp in my very limited experience. Depending on the ratio of calcium to magnesium, you don't stand to have a lot of either.
I do not know the "need" for shrimp when it comes to magnesium. My Mg levels are dictated by my plants and are evidently suffecient for the shrimp I keep. As far as calcium, 100 ppm has appeared to be the minimum for me with shrimp and snails both. Given your total GH is below that level and at least part of that is magnesim, I wold look at calcium supplementation one way or another.

You can feed high calcium foods like hikari Crab cuisine,
You can add crushed coral to the system (may not work real well without co2) the crushed coral will raise pH and GH both, but it tops out at about pH 7.6 so you don't have a lot of room to dissolve much.

You can add calcium specifically trhough the use of CaCl (Calcium chloride ice melter. I use Prestone brand "Driveway heet" for this purpose).

As said I do not know if or how much Mg shrimp may require. I would start with carefully bumping calcium up a tad and adding trace iodide. If this does not cure the problem, I'd then try dosing a bit of MgSO4 (epsom salts) as well.

I am by no means an expert shrimp keeper, My reccomendations are based solely on my own limited experience, I keep three types of shrimp, and have only been successful with them for about a year. So take them for no mare than they are worth. others may have better ideas or better information.
Dave
 
Very nice Rhom and quality pictures, good to see another p-fury guy here too. You should post your POTM pic here and in the sticky "Post pictures of your fish..." in General Freshwater. I'm not sure about the Iodide being harmful to your P, but I doubt it would be. With the clear gravel, the shrimp should have a slight advantage in case your rhom try's anything.
 
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