Proper acclimation is quite literally life or death for freshwater shrimp. People who have never kept shrimp before often think that the process is the same as acclimating fish: you just pour a few cups of water into the bag and let the fish swim around for 30 to 60 minutes. If you did this, your new shrimp friends would either die or be under a lot of stress, which I doubt you want. It’s not hard to get shrimp used to their new home, but it does take a little more time to make sure they do it safely. The rest of this guide takes you through the Shrimply Approved™ method of shrimp acclimation. That starts by preparing your tank.
Adding new shrimp to an established aquarium can be an exciting experience for any aquarist. However, improperly acclimating the shrimp to the new tank’s parameters can cause serious harm or even death. One of the best ways to safely introduce shrimp is through drip acclimation. But how long should you drip acclimate shrimp to prevent shock?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover:
- The importance of acclimating shrimp
- Recommended drip acclimation timelines
- Step-by-step instructions for drip acclimating
- Signs your shrimp need more time
- Tips for a successful acclimation
Properly drip acclimating shrimp ensures they stay happy and healthy in their new home. So let’s look at how long you should take when transferring shrimp to a new tank.
Why Acclimating Shrimp is Critical
Shrimp are extremely sensitive to changes in water parameters like pH, temperature, hardness, and more. Even slight variations can severely stress or even kill shrimp if not properly acclimated.
Some key reasons why slowly acclimating shrimp is vital
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Prevents osmotic shock – This occurs when shrimp rapidly go from high mineral content water to low mineral water. It can cause cell damage and death.
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Allows adjustment to new water chemistry – Things like GH, KH, pH, and TDS take time to adapt to A gradual change is needed
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Reduces temperature shock – Large temperature swings will cause serious stress or death.
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Lowers stress hormones – Slow acclimation keeps stress hormone levels in check.
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Gives time to monitor shrimp – You can watch for signs of stress and stop the process if needed.
Following proper shrimp acclimation procedures makes the transfer seamless and prevents catastrophe.
Recommended Drip Acclimation Timelines
So exactly how long should you drip acclimate new shrimp? There are a few general guidelines:
- 1-2 hours – For shrimp transferred from similar parameters
- 4+ hours – For shrimp moved from very different parameters
- Overnight – Extreme parameter differences may need 12+ hours
You’ll also need to acclimate longer based on these factors:
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Sensitive species – Caridina and Taiwan Bee require extra slow acclimation
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Young shrimp – Juveniles and babies adapt more slowly than adults
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Large water changes – Bigger differences in water chemistry need more time
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Temperature shock – The greater the temperature change, the slower you should go
Monitor shrimp closely and be prepared to extend acclimation if they show signs of stress. Don’t rush the process.
Step-by-Step Drip Acclimation Instructions
Follow these steps for successfully drip acclimating shrimp:
1. Turn off aquarium lights
Sudden bright light stresses shrimp. Keep lights off for the process.
2. Inspect shrimp in the bag
Look for signs of stress, disease, or death. Never acclimate sick shrimp.
3. Prepare drip acclimation equipment
You’ll need airline tubing, a drip valve, and container for new water.
4. Add dechlorinator
Use water conditioner to remove chlorine/chloramines if needed.
5. Start very slow drip
Begin with 1 drop/2-3 seconds into the shrimp’s current water.
6. Gradually increase drip rate
Over 30-60 minutes, work up to 1-2 drops/second.
7. Monitor parameters
Test temperature and TDS every 30-60 minutes.
8. Perform water changes
Remove and replace shrimp water with new tank water.
9. Continue monitoring
Watch shrimp closely for signs of stress like darting or twitching.
10. Release into aquarium
After 1-4+ hours, slowly release shrimp into their new home.
Always monitor shrimp closely during acclimation and be prepared to slow the process or stop and try again later if needed. Rushing leads to dead shrimp!
Signs Your Shrimp Need More Acclimation Time
Watch for these behaviors during drip acclimation. They indicate shrimp are stressed and need more time:
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Darting – Frantically swimming indicates discomfort
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Twitching – Muscle spasms show a reaction to new water
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Molting – Trying to adapt to new minerals
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Clamped tails – Folded tails signal high stress
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Inactive – Motionless on bottom means poor adjustment
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Dead shrimp – The ultimate sign something went wrong
At the first sign of stress, stop the drip and give shrimp a break before resuming. Be prepared to spend hours acclimating if needed.
Tips for Successful Shrimp Acclimation
Follow these best practices to seamlessly transition shrimp:
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Research parameters of both old and new waters
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Use drip acclimation for any parameter differences
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Go slow – 1-2 drops/second max
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Spend at least 1-2 hours, even for similar waters
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Be prepared to acclimate 4+ hours if needed
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Monitor temperature, TDS, and shrimp behavior closely
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Stop and retest if shrimp show signs of stress
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Consider overnight 12+ hour acclimation for sensitive species
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Quarantine and acclimate sick shrimp separately
With preparation and patience, drip acclimating new shrimp doesn’t have to be difficult or result in losses. Spending the needed hours transitioning shrimp slowly will lead to happy, healthy additions to your aquarium.
So remember – when wondering how long to drip acclimate shrimp, go slowly and listen to what the shrimp are telling you. Rushing the process risks lives. Taking the time to properly acclimate brings shrimpy success!
Step Ensure your tank is ready
If you are putting your new shrimp into a tank that has just been cycled, make sure it is really cycled. This means that the levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates must stay below 20 ppm for at least a few days. This usually doesn’t happen until 3 to 8 weeks after the system is first set up. If cycling is not done properly, then ammonia levels may shoot up and kill your shrimp. No one wants that.
Plan your day
The acclimation process takes a few hours so it is important to be prepared. That means having all the tools you need for proper drip acclimation and 3–4 hours to pick up the shrimp and let them get used to their new environment without being rushed. You can still do other things during that time, but you should check your acclimation setup every 30 to 60 minutes to make sure the water doesn’t get too high.
Depending on how you are buying your shrimp, the process may vary slightly:
When you buy shrimp in stores, you should figure out how to make the trip as stress-free as possible to your tank. The key is to avoid:
- Big difference in temperature: If you buy them on a very hot or cold day, the small amount of water in their bag may change temperature quickly on the way home. To avoid this, put the bag in a cooler, a Styrofoam box, or some other package that keeps things cool. It might seem like a good idea to add ice or a heating pad, but they could also make the temperature change too much, so it is best not to use them.
- Moving around too much: Just like we don’t like earthquakes, your shrimp don’t like being sloshed around in the bag as you bring them home from the store. Don’t be Darla! To keep the shrimp from moving around too much, bring a clean piece of cloth (something that won’t release chemicals into the water) or moss with you. This gives them something to hold on to and makes them feel less stressed. Also, avoid having too much air in the bag. There is more room for the water to move when there is more air. If the trip home is less than an hour, they only need about an inch of space at the top to make sure they get enough oxygen. Finally, make sure the bag doesn’t roll or shift while you’re driving home. If you’re not driving, put it in your lap or in a container that won’t move.
Ordering online: This is the simplest option that doesn’t require much planning, since most online sellers already take the above steps to make sure your shrimp aren’t stressed. Being there for the delivery is all it takes. If you’re not there, the package could get too hot or too cold depending on where you live. This concern can be avoided if the seller uses insulated packaging for shipping, which most do.
Once your shrimp arrive safely, it is time to acclimate!
How To Drip Acclimate Shrimp
How do you acclimate ghost shrimp?
To us, drip acclimation is the perfect method for all species of shrimp you could purchase, including ghost shrimp. If you haven’t got the time for this, you can do the widely-known method of floating the store bag at the top of your aquarium and adding water from the tank but we still recommend doing it slowly.
Why do shrimp need drip acclimation?
To shrimp, changing the environment means extreme stress. If you speed up the process and you add a lot of your aquarium water using a glass, for example, it could lead to shock and death. With the drip acclimation, you give your shrimp the chance to adjust to the new water parameters and future environment.
How do you drip acclimate shrimp?
Use the air valve to close up the end of the tube to just a small drip and then place that end into your suction cup clip, so small drops of water from your new tank and dripping into your container with shrimp in. How long do I need to drip acclimate shrimp?
How long does it take to acclimate shrimp?
People will tell you that shrimp can be acclimated differently which is true to some extent. But to us, the safest and most efficient method is called drip acclimation. It usually takes several hours if you follow the guidelines and include acclimating your shrimp to the water of their new tank but slowly.