Strange acting Cherry shrimp

AquaticAustin

AquaticAustin

AC Members
Sep 29, 2011
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Orlando, Fl (UCF)
So last week I did a WC (dechlorinated) and everything was fine. Saturday I saw my shrimp swarming something and it was a dead RCS! So I took him out and threw it away, I figured well its only one shrimp and IDK how old these shrimp are when I bought them (some females have the lighter stripe down their spines which I have read indicates they are older), but I dismissed it. Now last night late and this morning there is one shrimp that has been acting really strange. It will twitch around to move and sometimes land upside down or on its side and still be moving its feet like its eating...??? Now it seems to stay primarily in a bent position, so really confused what could be wrong? Iv had the tank for a few months with them in it with no problems.
 
This is the same thing that happened to my shrimp. Turns out it was a copper issue, no clue how it got into my tank, but that was the issue. If you have a planted tank, some ferts contain higher levels of copper than shrimp can tolerate, so you have to be really careful which ones you use. I just did daily huge water changes and was able to save about 1/3 of my shrimp. Also, recheck your water parameters. Nitrates can be a huge problem with them and safe levels for fish are not safe levels for shrimp. I would immediately do a 50% water change though.
 
I dont fert theres just a moss ball and some java moss in it right now. Its normal for it to only affect one shrimp at a time? all my others including the babies seem to be fine.
 
Started out with 1 shrimp acting that way and the rest looked fine, then the next day I lost 5, next day lost 3 plus probably a bunch of babies. After 3 days of water changes and copper testing I didnt lose any more. Its only been a few weeks and they're all looking good and healthy. Have 2 saddled females left and the rest are babies or juvies. Not sure if I have any males left, I may have to buy some more. I want to wait a few more weeks though to make sure that there arent any more problems.
 
If I start having mass casualties should I go buy a gallon of distilled water from publix and put them in there? at least there would be not metals in it
 
What water conditioner do you use? Prime neutralizes heavy metals. I think others do as well.
 
I only dechlorinate with Tetra safe plus, I read the simpler the better with shrimp but I do have prime treatments.
 
I would use some prime if you can for the next few water changes just to be on the safe side. The copper very well could be in your tap water, I was having the same issue as you and tested the tap and sure enough there was copper present. Lost all but 3 or 4 of my cherries :(
 
Would it be beneficial for me to place them in a gallon of purified pubix water? It shouldnt have anything in it at all or are they better off where they are now?
 
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