What are the shrimp trying to say with their actions? We need to know what they want to keep them healthy and happy. For example, what does it mean, when they start swimming around frantically in the tank?.
Actually, it is not uncommon for shrimp to swim erratically. They do that all the time during mating. On the other hand, jerky and darting movements may be a sign of stress caused by things like bad water quality, predators, diseases, getting used to the new environment, etc.
Without further ado, let’s look at the main reasons shrimp keep swimming around and what you should do if something goes wrong.
As an aquarist, it can be concerning to observe your shrimp exhibiting abnormal behavior like aimlessly swimming around the tank for extended periods. While shrimp do swim on occasion, this type of constant activity likely indicates an underlying issue.
In this article, we’ll explore the common reasons shrimp endlessly swim around the aquarium and how to identify the cause. With some adjustments to their environment and care, you can get your shrimp back to their usual resting and grazing behavior.
New Shrimp Exploring
If you’ve just introduced new shrimp to the tank, expect them to be highly active investigating their new surroundings initially. It’s natural for new shrimp to energetically swim about examining every nook and cranny of the tank as they become acclimated. This frenzy of exploring typically lasts 1-2 days before they settle in.
Provide plenty of hiding spots with plants and decor for new shrimp to retreat to once they’re done scouting out their new home. This allows them to destress and adjust to the tank. As long as activity levels return to normal within a couple days, this behavior is nothing to worry about in new shrimp.
Stress From Poor Water Quality
The most common trigger for shrimp frantically swimming is stress from water quality issues. Shrimp are extremely sensitive to their aquatic environment. Any deterioration in parameters like ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, temperature, hardness and more can induce stress. Prolonged exposure leads to strange behaviors as they try to escape the harmful conditions.
Test water parameters and perform frequent partial water changes to maintain a safe, stable environment Here are optimal levels for freshwater shrimp
- Temperature: 68-78°F
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Ammonia & Nitrites: 0 ppm
- Nitrates: Under 20 ppm
- GH: 6-8 dGH
- KH: 3-5 dKH
Overfeeding Causing Frenzy
Another possibility is overfeeding, which can spark a feeding frenzy as shrimp rush to grab floating food particles. Uneaten food quickly deteriorates water quality as well, compounding the issue.
Stick to a strict feeding schedule of just a few shrimp pellets or a small amount of powdered foods once or twice daily. Remove any uneaten portions promptly to prevent build up. This prevents water fouling and overexcitement at feeding time.
Pre-Molting Energy Burst
Increased swimming may also be observed in female shrimp preparing to molt as their activity levels heighten leading up to shedding their exoskeleton. This pre-molt energy burst is perfectly normal.
Provide additional calcium-rich foods like spinach or supplements to support a successful molt. Test for mineral deficiencies like low calcium and magnesium just in case as well.
Mating Activity
Frenzied swimming in primarily male shrimp may signal the females are ready to mate. Females release pheromones into the water to attract males when their molting cycle aligns for breeding. The males frantically search out ready females.
This mating ritual can last a few days until the female is successfully bred. Ensure you have at least a 2:1 female to male ratio to avoid excessive harassment of females.
Lack of Oxygen
Inadequate oxygenation and surface agitation can also lead to frantic swimming as shrimp seek out higher oxygen levels towards the top. Use an air stone, powerheads or adjust filter outflow to increase surface turbulence and circulation.
Overcrowding and high bioload contributes to oxygen depletion as well. Reduce livestock density and up maintenance to remove waste if water movement alone doesn’t help.
How To Stop Constant Swimming
If you notice prolonged, abnormal swimming behavior in your shrimp, take action to identify and address the underlying issue:
- Test and correct water parameters if unstable or outside ideal ranges
- Reduce feeding amounts and siphon excess waste if overfeeding
- Add aeration if oxygen levels seem insufficient
- Look for pre-molt females preparing to breed
- Cut down on bioload and livestock density if overcrowded
Making the necessary adjustments to your shrimp’s environment and care will calm their activity levels back down to normal resting and grazing. Consistently frantic swimming is a sign of chronic stress, so be proactive about identifying the cause and making appropriate corrections to ensure shrimp health and wellbeing.
4 Copper, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Other Toxins
Toxic substances enter the shrimp through its gills instead of its skin (hard shell), which is a much more direct and dangerous way to take them in.
Since their bodies don’t have any other parts that could protect them, the toxins go straight into their bloodstreams.
This means that toxic levels can quickly make shrimp weak enough to get sick or be infected by other pathogens if they are not treated right away.
Often, the effects of the toxins that build up can be seen in changes in behavior; for example, shrimp quickly react by moving around more.
The list of toxins, any shrimp keeper should be aware of, include:
- Copper contamination (Cu, even in small numbers can be lethal).
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S, it smells like rotten eggs).
- CO2 poisoning (shrimp are in danger when CO2 levels are above 25 to 30 ppm)
- Heavy metals, chlorine, and chloramine (these chemicals irritate the gills and block the cells that carry oxygen, causing shrimp to suffocate)
- Pesticides.
- Medications and fertilizers (some aquarium additives may have copper or other harmful chemicals in them) Thus, they have to be used with caution).
Solutions:
- Read the product description. A lot of companies label their products as “shrimp safe,” but you need to look at what’s in them and choose the one that’s best for your aquarium.
- Quarantine everything. To avoid pesticides, everything must be kept in a separate area, especially plants before they are put in shrimp tanks.
- Provide enough oxygen. It is possible to neutralize the hydrogen sulfide in the tanks with oxygen. When hydrogen sulfide gas meets oxygen, it changes back to sulfate, which is not dangerous.
- Pollutant binders. Before you use it, let the water age and treat it with a water conditioner. You will get rid of this problem right away if you do that.
For more information, read my articles:
3 Large Water Changes
Large water changes (more than 20%) usually make shrimp swimming all over the aquarium. It is a fact but why?.
Assuming the new water doesn’t have any chemicals that are bad for you, there is only one reason for that: big changes in the water levels in the tank
And what is worse, it happens very suddenly for the shrimp. The downsides are pretty significant, large water changes will likely:
- stress the shrimp out,
- prevents them from molting (“White Ring of Death”),
- make them molt too soon, which can kill them in the worst cases.
Note: Some aquarium owners may say that they have been doing this for years and that it was fine, even when the water changed. In the hobby, cherry shrimp are thought to be some of the toughest shrimp, so this may be true.
However, being fine and thriving are completely different things. There is no need to test their limits.
I have to repeat it once again.
Shrimp require a stable environment to thrive. Going along with this theme, try not to do sudden large water changes.
Why do we need to change a lot of water, though? Is there something else we can do?
In this case, instead of making a big change all at once, slowly add new water to the tank so that they have time to get used to it before a bigger change is made.
You can also read “How to Do and How Often to Do Water Change in Shrimp Aquarium”.
Proof Red Cherry Shrimp are the Ultimate Clean Up Crew!
Why do shrimp swim around a lot?
The main key reasons for shrimp swimming around a lot are: If you’ve only just added the shrimp into a new tank, it’s perfectly normal for them to either start exploring the tank or to hide. Typically, most shrimp will immediately try to seek protection, climbing into small gaps and hiding amongst plants until they feel more comfortable.
What are the side effects of eating shrimp?
Shrimp allergy can be identified from signs and symptoms that appear after consuming shrimp or smelling it, such as itching, the appearance of red plaques on the skin, swelling in the face, especially in the eyes and mouth, and in the throat creating the feeling of a lump in the throat.
Why does my shrimp keep swimming around my tank?
They will keep doing what they usually do – eating. However, if you have any doubts, if shrimp started swimming around the tank right after you changed something (feeding them, dozing plant fertilizers, doing water changes, planting plants, introducing new livestock, etc.) – it might be a very bad sign.
Why are my shrimp so active?
My shrimp get very active when I am doing things in their tank. After water changes, cleaning, feeding, or just simply picking out some litter. Usually they are mostly on the surfaces in the never ending search of food, but when things get stirred up they get very active.