She or He? (RCS)

[leeser28]

Copper is suppose to be harmful to them so hopefully you don't have a high concentration out of your tap. I've also heard of horror stories of high losses after disturbing the gravel.

It was really strange, I changed the water in my aquarium at my office on Sunday, at the time all 9 were alive and healthy - dosed with Prime, went home. When I go into the office the next morning all the juvies were dead but the 5 adults were fine (checked the water, there was between 0 and .25 ppm ammonia but I had dosed with Prime less than 18 hours previous) - so I did another water change again using the Prime. Checked back a few hours later and several of the adults had died, two more were on the way out, and one was still healthy. I removed her ( the one in the pic in this thread), put her in RO water (because at this point it seemed likely something else was in the water that they didn't like) and brought her home, where she's still living. But, she's in a tank with Blue Pearls, I don't have another place for her yet. I've had other invert issues this week too - not a good week in my household for inverts I'm afraid.

 

[pik01]

shrimp are especially sensitive to ammonia and nitrite. If the exposure is low enough or for a short enough time, they may not die right away. I'm guessing your adults were able to survive for longer but still died due to ammonia poisoning. They don't have a lot of bioload, but the tank still has to be fully cycled. If it's only shrimp in the tank, you can transfer filter media from an established tank, and with the addition of plants, it will kickstart your cycle. Sorry for your losses

 

[bitbot]

My RCS have much lighter saddles than that - yellowy white. But the position looks right.

 

[leeser28]

shrimp are especially sensitive to ammonia and nitrite. If the exposure is low enough or for a short enough time, they may not die right away. I'm guessing your adults were able to survive for longer but still died due to ammonia poisoning. They don't have a lot of bioload, but the tank still has to be fully cycled. If it's only shrimp in the tank, you can transfer filter media from an established tank, and with the addition of plants, it will kickstart your cycle. Sorry for your losses

Thanks! I actually had cycled it, but it was only 2 gallons with no true filter, just space under the gravel and an airstone. Not my brightest purchase, but something marketed as being just fine (bought it before learning what I know now). But with such a small bioload I thought they'd be OK after the tank was cycled, but no. So, the point is, I'm not sure if it was the ammonia spike, or if it was a change in the water. I have since found out that the Poughkeepsie water supply does have areas where there is copper in the water, but I don't know if that's true of where my office is. I don't know... thanks again for your condolences, I just feel really bad for the shrimp!

 

[BreellaBlue87]

I have since found out that the Poughkeepsie water supply does have areas where there is copper in the water, but I don't know if that's true of where my office is. I don't know... thanks again for your condolences, I just feel really bad for the shrimp!

I worked at a vet clinic in Hastings-on-Hudson and we only fed the animals purified water we got through a company on delivery (like a water thing at an office, big blue jugs)

I used to think Doc was paranoid, maybe now he had his reasons.

 

[leeser28]

I worked at a vet clinic in Hastings-on-Hudson and we only fed the animals purified water we got through a company on delivery (like a water thing at an office, big blue jugs)

I used to think Doc was paranoid, maybe now he had his reasons.

I think so. I could use RO water, but then I lose the buffering effects of the dissolved salts in tap water. But, it wouldn't be that hard to add baking soda. Still trying to decide what to do... I do have a 5 gallon with an internal I just purchased from an AC member - definitely getting rid of the loser 2 gallon!

 

[msjinkzd]

Glad you were able to save the one, but so sorry fora ll your troubles

 

[leeser28]

Glad you were able to save the one, but so sorry fora ll your troubles

Thanks! I'm actually surprised she made it, I feel kind of bad because the blue pearls haven't accepted her (which is probably a good thing since we don't want them interbreeding) but at the same time I feel sad that she might be lonely.