can't keep fire shrimp alive

[shan820]

Can anyone help me figure out this fire shrimp death trap I have created???

Last week I bought a fire shrimp, acclimated as I always do, and added him to the tank. Looked good that night. Day two... missing. Day three... found an empty shell. Figured he was dead and someone ate him. Day four... a miracle he re-appeared. Apparently the empty shell was just a molt. Day five... dead again. But completely unscathed, no bites.

This week, made a second attempt. The exact same thing happened! After having him for just two days he molted and died! We also added two halloween hermit crabs, 2 pep shrimp, and 5 snails the same day we added fire shrimp #2. As far as I know those guys are still alive.

Quick summary on the setup. About a month ago upgraded from a 40 gallon to a 75 gallon. All inhabitants survived the move with no trouble. This includes: 1-6 line wrasse, spiny urchin, pistol shrimp, purple lobster, snails, ~30 lbs live rock (including several soft corals and anemones). The majority of the water in the tank is 'new' since we had to buy more than 30 gallons of RODI from the LFS. But after three weeks with all the LR it should have been pretty good.

Todays params:
Temp: 76
SG: 1.024
pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0
Phosphate: 0

What am I doing wrong? Been in the hobby for years, thought I knew what I was doin. I feel really bad. Not only have I wasted alot of cash but I have lost two beautiful shrimp. I really want to add a couple fish now that I have the big setup, but I am afraid to.

[otiso777]

What are your calcium and alkalinity levels?

[kar93]

how do you acclimate them?

[shan820]

Originally posted by otiso777
What are your calcium and alkalinity levels?

Calcium is pretty low.... dosed a little bit with kalkwasser but need to be more regular about it...

Ca: 340 ppm
CO3: 143.2ppm KH

I didn't realize that Calcium affected inverts but I should have. I know their exoskeletons are made of calcium carbonate. Thanks for pointing that out! That could have been part of the problem, but why would he molt in the first place? Too much stress?

[shan820]

Originally posted by 07kar93
how do you acclimate them?

I hang the bags in the tank, with the lights off to reduce stress. Use a baster to add a few mL of new water every 10-20 minutes until I have about a 50/50 mix. Then I pour out most of the contents, and continue to add a few mLs at a time. Whole process takes an hour or two.

I know this is a crude way of doing it, but never had problems in the past.

[kar93]

I would probably recommend drip acclimating rather than just letting it float in the tank

[CeeGee]

from what I understand shrimp are extremely sensitive to salinity fluctuations. That being said it could very well be the way you are acclimating them.

[Snowboarda42]

What's your nitrate level? Most inverts cannot tolerate high nitrate levels.

[dendro982]

Mine 2 survived pretty difficult conditions, so I would rather suspect pistol shrimp, purple lobster or some hitchhiker - have no idea, what they could do without biting marks. Or high iodine levels.

They able to stand very light ammonia in short term, nitrates 80 ppm, phosphates 0.5 ppm, Ca - 380 ppm, alkalinity in short term 6 and 14 dKH, salinity fluctuations from 1.028 to 1.026 in 1 hr.

When I did acclimation (like you, bag in the tank, only used cup for the same doses), it took 15-20 min at all, every 2-3 min a little, up to 75% water mix in result. Too long acclimation, maybe?

They are pretty hardy. Next time try the big and healthy one from another LFS.
Good luck!

[shan820]

Nitrate and Nitrite both zero...

I did suspect the lobster at first. If I could get rid of him I would! But their bodies really didnt show any damage.

My boyfriend is at the LFS now so they can test our water. Maybe they will pick up on something we didnt. I suppose it could have been the salinity. We dont own a refractometer so the level may fluctuate. But given the fact that the fish and other inverts are ok, I thought the salinity was ok.

[kar93]

i would take the relocate the lobster just incase

[shan820]

Originally posted by 07kar93
i would take the relocate the lobster just incase

Easier said than done!!

[aaron7405]

I have read than Shrimps are very sensitive to IODINE, it makes them mod premature and finally die.

Have you check that? or are you puting any iodne base suplement?

[Animal Mother]

If they are all molting right before they die, there is something chemical going on. Not a predatory issue. Shrimps and crabs can and sometimes do molt because of stress. I would not accept this as coincidence.

I feel your pain. Had 2 Cleaner Shrimp die during acclimation... everyone else including corals, doing fine. I just don't buy shrimp now.

[thecichlidpleco]

Iodine supplementing is what killed my fire shrimp and two peppermints.

[shan820]

I only add CoralVite and Essential Elements, but I do not have a test kit for Iodine.

I guess I have to stop buying shrimp now too. Especially when they are $40 a pop!

The 75 is so much larger than the 40 that is just looks so empty to me. Was hopeing to add some excitement with a couple of shrimp. But they just hid all day under the rock work anyway.

Maybe I will try starfish. I'm afraid to try an actual fish. We want to add a koran angel, but I dont want it to die. Have to figure out whats wrong first.

The LFS was closed last night so I still don't have any better measurements on the water quality.

[Amoore311]

All ornamental shrimp I have dealt with have been extremely sensative.

You really need to drip acclimate these guys for 1 1/2 - 2 hours to be safe. I drip acclimate everything that goes into my tank.

Also, just some input on the molting. Shrimp do molt when stressed, every shrimp I have put into my tank has molted within 12-48 hours after being put in the tank.

Sometimes when I order online, they have molted in the bag they are shipped in lol.