So you just set up a brand-new planted tank and bought ten (or twenty) freshwater dwarf shrimp. As soon as you move them, you start to see them die over the next few days or weeks. one by one. What the heck happened?.
We often talk about how hardy shrimp are, which is definitely true. However, they are more delicate than most of our aquatic fish friends.
There are many reasons shrimp perish. There are mistakes that are so obvious that you can see them on your own, but there are also things that not even the most experienced shrimp keepers would think of.
Are you ready to give up on keeping these brightly colored pets? You should read what comes next before you give up. You can always make it right. I will explain the possible reasons why shrimp can die, and how you can remedy them.
As a shrimp keeper one of the most anxiety-inducing sights is finding what looks like a lifeless shrimp lying on its back or side in your tank. Your mind races – is it dead or just molting? Making this determination quickly is important. A dead shrimp left decaying in the tank can compromise water quality and sicken other inhabitants. However disturbing a molting shrimp can also cause it harm. So how do you tell the difference?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the key signs, behaviors, and visual differences between a molting shrimp and a deceased one Read on to learn how to read shrimp body language, ensure molts go smoothly, and respond appropriately if one of your shrimp has passed away With the right knowledge, you’ll be able to keep your cool and take the right action next time you find a shrimp in an odd position.
Recognizing the Signs of an Upcoming Molt
Shrimp molt frequently throughout their lives to enable growth by shedding their rigid exoskeletons. Young shrimp may molt every 2-3 weeks, while adults molt about once a month.
Prior to molting, shrimp exhibit some telling behaviors that a molt is imminent:
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Increased appetite. To fuel the energy-intensive molting process, shrimp eat more than usual in the 1-2 weeks preceding a molt.
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Skittishness or hiding. As molting nears, shrimp often become more reclusive and shy away from tank activity. They instinctively seek out hiding spots to safely shed their shells away from predators.
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Reduced movement. Shrimp movement often decreases just before molting due to the absorption of water to expand and loosen the old shell.
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Whitish band near head. A faint white band across the shrimp’s head is a giveaway sign that a molt will occur within 12-24 hours.
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Milky appearance. As the new shell forms underneath, older shrimp can take on a cloudy, milky look 1-2 days before molting.
If you observe any combination of these pre-molt indicators in one of your shrimp, there’s a good chance a molt is imminent. Make sure to provide ample hiding places and optimal water conditions to support it through the process.
What Does a Molting Shrimp Look Like?
When the actual molting event begins, the following occurs:
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The shrimp finds a secluded spot, often in a cave or under plants.
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It flexes its body back and forth to loosen and crack the old shell along the back.
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Once the carapace has split open, the shrimp extracts itself from the old shell by vigorously wriggling its body. This process takes just a minute or two.
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The discarded shell is left behind intact with legs spread outward, often with a large crack along the back. It looks like an exploded version of the shrimp!
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Right after emerging, the new shell is very soft. The shrimp typically remains hidden for 12-36 hours until the new shell fully hardens.
So if you find what looks like an intact lifeless shrimp with a big crack down its back, there’s a good chance it has just molted! The key indicators are the rigid, spread-out stance and the presence of an obvious crack or split along the carapace. Gently shine a flashlight to confirm the shell is hollow. If so, congratulations – your shrimp has just successfully molted!
How to Tell if Your Shrimp is Dead
Unfortunately, shrimp do sometimes die in our tanks. Recognizing a deceased shrimp quickly is crucial to remove it before water quality declines. Here are the telltale signs that a shrimp has passed away:
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Lack of movement. Obvious one here – a dead shrimp will be completely motionless, even when you gently prod it. It will not respond to any stimuli.
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Color change. A deceased shrimp rapidly loses its natural coloration and turns a pinkish-white hue like a cooked shrimp within 12 hours after death.
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Floppy antennae. A dead shrimp’s antennae and legs lose rigidity and go limp. They’ll drape down over its body rather than sticking straight out.
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Floating. Most dead shrimp will float either at the surface or in mid-water column once enough gases build up inside.
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Fungus growth. If a corpse isn’t removed promptly, you’ll see cottony white fungal growth after 1-2 days.
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Ammonia spike. As tissue decay accelerates, you may register a spike in ammonia levels that can be dangerous for other tank inhabitants.
If your shrimp displays most or all of these morbid symptoms, it has likely passed away and should be immediately removed. To confirm, you can also gently squeeze the body between your fingers – a deceased shrimp will feel mushy rather than rigid.
Act quickly if you confirm a death to protect water quality and other livestock. Consider autopsying the corpse later to look for signs of disease or parasites.
Supporting a Healthy Molting Process
Molting is a stressful and energetically expensive process for shrimp. However, you can take steps to help them through it with minimal disruption:
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Offer hiding spots like caves, dense plants, or specialty molting habitats. Shrimp instinctively seek cover while molting.
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Maintain excellent water quality with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and minimal nitrates. Conduct regular partial water changes.
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Provide a nutritious, calcium-rich diet including blanched veggies, shrimp pellets, and supplements. Calcium fortifies the new shell.
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Reduce tank traffic and action during molts to minimize stress.
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Resist rearranging decor or removing the molted shell, which is often consumed for nutrients.
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Have backup air stones in case of filter disruption during a delicate molt.
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Quarantine new shrimp for 1-2 weeks to avoid introducing pathogens that can interfere with molting.
With attentive care and close observation of shrimp behaviors, you can successfully help your colony through their frequent molts. The more you familiarize yourself with the process, the easier it becomes to identify molts and respond appropriately. Your diligence will be rewarded with a vibrant, actively growing shrimp population.
At first glance, differentiating a dead shrimp from one that is simply molting can be tricky and stressful. But with knowledge of pre-molt shrimp behavior, what the molting process looks like, and the telltale signs of a shrimp death, you can make the right call quickly.
The key is close observation of your shrimp herd each day along with prompt removal of any deceased individuals. Providing shrimp the conditions they need to safely molt is also crucial. With time and experience, you will become adept at identifying molts and deaths in your tank to keep your shrimp thriving.
Always remember, a discarded shell is nearly always a sign of growth and renewal, while a deceased shrimp presents an opportunity to improve conditions for the rest of the herd. With timely intervention for both, your shrimp will continue grazing, breeding, and entertaining you with their charming antics for years to come!
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN – BE CAREFUL!
Make sure to quarantine your aquatic plants!
Many people don’t realize how susceptible shrimp are to toxins. Say you buy a plant at a fish store. Often, the plants will have been treated with a pesticide to get rid of snails. These treatments often contain copper which, as we know, is deadly to shrimp. If you think this might be the case, you can put your new plants in clean water for a while to watch for snails and make sure that any pesticides used will not stay on the plants.
How to Quarantine Your Aquatic Plants:
- For at least five days, put your new plants in a bucket of clean water.
- (Optional) Add Seachem Prime to the bucket of water. It will bind pesticides, preventing them from harming your shrimp. Seachem Prime cleans water by getting rid of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. It will also remove chlorine and chloramine.
- Change the whole tank’s water every day for five days, and add Seachem Prime after each change.
- After five days, give the plants a good rinse with clean water.
- It’s now time to put the plants in your shrimp tank.
Another easy mistake is using aerosols, like hairspray, air freshener, bug spray, or flea and tick treatments for dogs. These aerosols can enter the shrimp tank and quickly be absorbed by the water. Because of this, be careful where you spray and wash your hands well before going near the shrimp tank.
Without a doubt, one of the best things in life is seeing your little shrimp friends happily eat a lot of food. But if you feed them too often or too much, they may make too much waste, which can make the water dirty and raise the ammonia level. This goes back to having a proper amount of biofilm/algae in the tank. If you have enough of those growing, you will only need to feed your shrimp sparingly.
As far as overpopulation; this is not always a problem. It’s possible for adding too many shrimp at once to overload the bio-filtration if the tank is too small or hasn’t been set up for long enough. This is because the bacteria colony may not be big enough to handle the ammonia the shrimp produce.
MOLTING PROBLEMS – “THE WHITE RING OF DEATH”
I know, that sounds a bit dramatic, but the phenomenon is real. Too many water changes, a bad diet, or the wrong parameters (GH, KH, PH) can cause molts to go wrong. If shrimp don’t have the important parts of their parameters, they can’t grow or shed their healthy shells. You might see the “white ring of death” in its early stages. This is a solid white band that goes around the shrimp where the head meets the body. A shrimp that is healthy will split right at the top of its head. This lets it molt, or break out of its shell. Being able to do this is harder when the ring shows up, and a shrimp may even die while trying to molt because it can get stuck.
A normal shrimp molt
Shrimp Shed or Dead? How to Tell the Difference in Neocaridina Cherry Shrimp, & Caridina Colonies
How do you know if a molting shrimp is dead?
It can be challenging to differentiate between a molting shrimp and a deceased one. However, there are key signs to look for. A molting shrimp tends to go into hiding and may be seen rubbing itself with its hind legs. Its molt is often white and appears like an exploded shell.
Can shrimp die while molting?
Shrimps can die while molting. There’s a phenomenon called the “White ring of death” well-known in shrimp-keeping circles. Take a look at the image above, for reference. Can you see the white area between the two parts of the shrimp’s shell? This is the white ring of death.
Are motionless shrimp molting or dead?
There may be shed exoskeletons left behind, or it could be that the motionless shrimp is in the process of molting. The easiest way to tell if shrimp are molting or dead is by the color. Dead shrimp tend to turn an opaque, milky, or pinkish color, similar to how they look when we buy them from the grocery store.
How do shrimp molt?
Molting Behavior: When the actual molting process begins, the shrimp often remains stationary and may be seen rubbing itself with its hind legs. This behavior helps to break the old exoskeleton and facilitate its removal. Once the old shell has cracked open, the shrimp wriggles its body and slides out.