People often wonder, “Should I take the dead shrimp out of the tank or leave it there?” This is a common question in the aquatic hobby, and you will have to deal with it at some point.
Generally, a dead shrimp should be removed from the tank straight away after you have found it. This is because when a shrimp dies, it starts to break down, which can make the water in the tank dirty and put the health of other shrimp at risk.
However, there are also a few exceptions to this rule. So, keep reading on to know more.
As an aquarium hobbyist, you’ve likely encountered the unpleasant sight of a dead shrimp floating in your tank. It immediately raises the question – should you remove it or leave it be? This is a common dilemma for shrimp keepers and the answer is not always straightforward. There are pros and cons to both options that need careful consideration.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons for and against removing dead shrimp My goal is to provide a nuanced look at this issue so you can make an informed decision for your specific tank setup and shrimp population By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of when to remove dead shrimp and when nature is best left to run its course.
Why You Should Remove Dead Shrimp
Here are the main arguments for promptly removing deceased shrimp from your tank:
1. Prevent Disease Spread
Like any animal, shrimp can harbor contagious diseases and parasites. A dead infected shrimp left in the tank risks spreading illness to the remaining population. Shrimp are notoriously sensitive to diseases that can decimate entire colonies when left unchecked.
By removing dead specimens immediately, you eliminate disease transmission to other shrimp. This quick action can nip an outbreak in the bud before it wreaks havoc in your tank.
2. Avoid Ammonia Spikes
As dead shrimp start decomposing, they release ammonia into the water. The decomposition process is rapid in warm tank water. Ammonia levels can quickly skyrocket to dangerous levels toxic to shrimp.
Exposure to high ammonia can weaken shrimp immune systems and increase their vulnerability to pathogens. It also impairs molting, reduces growth and feeding rates, and lowers breeding rates.
Prompt removal of dead shrimp prevents ammonia spikes that jeopardize the health of the remaining population. shrimp colony. Fast elimination of decaying bodies is crucial in smaller tanks where ammonia builds up quickly.
3. Eliminate Toxic Byproducts
Rotting shrimp corpses produce toxic byproducts like cadaverine and putrescine. These compounds can be harmful to shrimp at significant concentrations. Removing dead individuals minimizes the release of cadaverine, putrescine and other toxins into the water.
4. Maintain Appearance
On an aesthetic level, disintegrating dead shrimp are an eyesore. They detract from the tranquil beauty we try to create in our aquarium displays. Removing dead specimens keeps your tank looking pristine.
Why You May Leave Dead Shrimp
Now let’s examine reasons why you may opt to leave dead shrimp in the tank:
1. Healthy Shrimp Will Scavenge
Shrimp are adept scavengers by nature. In a robust colony, shrimp will quickly consume dead brethren and any organic matter settling on tank surfaces. The bodies provide a protein-rich food source your shrimp will eagerly devour.
As long as the overall population appears vibrant and healthy, it’s safe to let scavenging run its course. The dead tissue will be consumed long before decomposition releases substantial ammonia or toxins into the water.
2. Large Shrimp Populations Buffer Risks
In a tank packed with hundreds of shrimp, losing one or two individuals to old age poses minimal risk. The sheer biomass of the population balances out the ammonia and toxin output of a couple dead bodies.
Larger colonies also have higher disease resistance with illnesses unable to easily gain foothold. The more shrimp, the more dilution of potential pathogens.
3. Large Water Volume Lessens Impact
Ammonia and toxins are much more concentrated in small volumes of water. A single dead shrimp can spike toxic levels almost instantly in a 2 gallon nano tank.
In larger tanks of 40+ gallons, contaminants released by decaying shrimp dissipate into a vastly greater water volume. Ammonia and toxins rarely reach problematic levels in bigger tanks, buying you more time to spot and remove dead shrimp.
4. It’s Just a Molted Exoskeleton
Before panicking about a dead shrimp sighting, double check it is not just an empty molted exoskeleton. Their shed exoskeletons looksimilar to dead shrimp but with key differences. Molts have a split abdomen and hollow interior compared to an intact dead body. They are harmless in the tank and provide a calcium source for live shrimp.
Recommendations for Removing Dead Shrimp
Now that we’ve covered whether to remove dead shrimp, let’s look at the best practices for actually removing them:
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Use a gravel vacuum to suck up any dead shrimp you spot during a water change. Target the corpses with the siphon and dispose of them along with the old water.
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Dedicate a small siphon tube to slurping up dead shrimp separate from your main gravel vac. A 3-foot section of airline tubing works perfectly for pinpoint removal.
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Long tweezers or aquascaping tongs allow you to pluck out dead shrimp from hard to reach spots. Carefully grab the bodies to avoid crushing and releasing toxins.
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Reduce feeding for 1-2 days so shrimp actively hunt for food. After lights out, use a flashlight to spot any dead specimens that the fed shrimp may have ignored.
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Temporarily remove decor items to uncover dead shrimp hidden within the hardscape. Just be gentle when moving items to limit disturbance.
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Do a thorough scan for bodies when performing periodic deep cleanings and rescaping. Dead shrimp often accumulate in unseen nooks and crannies.
Final Thoughts
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The dead specimen expired from old age in an otherwise healthy colony
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There are large shrimp numbers and tank water volume to absorb the risks
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You confirm the body is not infected with contagious illnesses
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No live shrimp are scavenging the dead and water parameters are stable
Use your best judgment based on the scenarios outlined here. While removing dead shrimp is ideal, your tank ecosystem may tolerate leaving them short term. Just closely monitor water quality and the status of the live colony.
With this guidance, you can make an informed choice if encountering deceased shrimp. Whatever you decide, be vigilant about spotting casualties and act quickly once dead individuals start accumulating. Consistent monitoring and removal when warranted is key to maintaining a thriving shrimp population.
Healthy shrimp colony
The risk of spreading diseases, illnesses, and parasites are lower if the shrimp just died of old age. As long as they all look pretty happy and healthy, there’s no need to worry.
Shrimp are one of the best scavengers you can wish for. They have a reputation for being amazing aquarium cleaners. This means they can eat anything living that falls to the bottom of the tank, even dead shrimp.
Number of dead and live shrimp
Even if your shrimp died of old age, the main risk would be the release of ammonia.
Therefore, your shrimp colony should be large enough to consume the dead corpse within a day. In most cases, in a shrimp tank with large colonies, you will not even see the loss.
If for some reason dead shrimp is still in the tank – ‘leftovers’ must be removed anyway.
For more information, read “How Often and How Much to Feed Shrimp”.
Note: Dead shrimp also give off toxic byproducts like cadaverine and putrescene. However, shrimp don’t give off as many toxins as a dead snail or fish because they are small.
10 Most Common Reasons Why Shrimp Die!
Should I remove dead shrimp from my tank?
Yes, if you see a dead shrimp and you are easily able to reach it, you should remove the dead shrimp from your tank. In larger tanks, a single dead shrimp is unlikely to make much of a difference in water parameters, but in a smaller tank the shrimp will decompose and add unwanted nutrients into the water.
What happens if a shrimp dies in a tank?
Having a dead shrimp in the tank can potentially spread infectious diseases and parasites to other shrimp. This is why, to avoid such incidents, they often should be removed from the tank immediately. At the same time, the level of risk also mainly depends on your tank set up and how the shrimp died.
Can shrimp eat decomposed shrimp?
While it technically isn’t harmful to let your shrimp eat the decomposed shrimp, be careful not to leave it in the tank for too long. If you do, it could lead to an ammonia spike and kill all your other shrimp. Therefore, you should under no circumstances leave the dead shrimp in the tank for a long period.
How do I know if my shrimp is dead?
Ensure that your shrimp has not recently molted as they may be immobile for an hour or two after molting. You may try the finger test and see if your shrimp reacts, and if you are sure that your shrimp is, in fact, dead, you should remove the shrimp from your tank lest it creates an ammonia spike in water.