my peppermint shrimp died....?

squishifishi · 03/13/2013, 04:43 PM

I bought a peppemint shrimp for my new tank about 4 days ago. this morning i saw that it was sitting in a corner, it looked completely normal but it wasn't moving...at all. i watched it for a long time, then squirted water at it.no reaction. i pocked it and it just fell over.i removed it and observed it a bit more just to be safe then proclaimed it dead. so, what may have happened? my tank is cycled, and the crabs and coral are doing fine. the shrimp was a female with eggs under her tail if that matters. thank you!

squishifishi · 03/13/2013, 05:26 PM

here are my water params:
ph-8.0
ammonia-<0.25
nitrite-0
nitrate-<5
and i am using ro water.
other notes:
there are only tankmates are a hermit crab, a nass. snail, an emerald crab, and some coral. all are doing well. i should also note that the shrimp was rather large, over 2 inches and also rather dark with some brownish coloration.
all input on this is greatly appreciated!

Cymonous · 03/13/2013, 06:01 PM

How old is the tank? How long did you let it cycle? You should not have any ammonia at all if it was properly cycled. Are you sure it was not a molt? Shrimp do that every now and then. Was the body very fragile or pretty thick?

SushiGirl · 03/13/2013, 06:05 PM

I've found the larger ones don't live long, usually they're older. Maybe the shock of a different tank was too much for its age. I've had it happen before with the large ones that are dark like that (old).

squishifishi · 03/13/2013, 08:48 PM

the tank has been up and running for over a month now, and has had critters for about 3 weeks. i could be reading the color chart for ammonia wrong though because 0 is like schoolbus yellow and it's not even that colour when the chemicals first go in. anyway, i'm working on that!
i think the whole age thing makes a lot of sense though. I was hoping he'd give me one of the active, small ones but instead he grabbed this one from under a rock and i was like 'woah, that thing is massive!' lol. i'd been bugging the poor guy for like 3 hours though, so i felt bad to make him put it back and get a iff one. and yes, i'm positive this was not a moult. it still had the eyeballs and everything and was very solid. plus, i set up my rocks very carefully so there are no hiding places where they are completely hidden from me. (i'm super paranoid about something dieing in a hole and never being found...) I did consider that possibility though!
thanks!

kenc87 · 03/14/2013, 01:01 AM

It may have just been natural causes. I've never had luck with peppermint shrimp. I have two year old cleaner shrimp but peppermint shrimp due in two weeks. Sometimes you just can't figure out why

squishifishi · 03/14/2013, 06:38 AM

ok, thanks. i guess i just won't have any saltwater shrimp.

my tank is too small for cleaner shrimp. i guess the snails crabs and clown goby will have to keep me satisfied.

03/13/2013, 04:43 PM	#1
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	my peppermint shrimp died....? I bought a peppemint shrimp for my new tank about 4 days ago. this morning i saw that it was sitting in a corner, it looked completely normal but it wasn't moving...at all. i watched it for a long time, then squirted water at it.no reaction. i pocked it and it just fell over.i removed it and observed it a bit more just to be safe then proclaimed it dead. so, what may have happened? my tank is cycled, and the crabs and coral are doing fine. the shrimp was a female with eggs under her tail if that matters. thank you! __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

03/13/2013, 05:26 PM	#2
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	here are my water params: ph-8.0 ammonia-<0.25 nitrite-0 nitrate-<5 and i am using ro water. other notes: there are only tankmates are a hermit crab, a nass. snail, an emerald crab, and some coral. all are doing well. i should also note that the shrimp was rather large, over 2 inches and also rather dark with some brownish coloration. all input on this is greatly appreciated! __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp Last edited by squishifishi; 03/13/2013 at 05:28 PM. Reason: typos

03/13/2013, 06:01 PM	#3
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	How old is the tank? How long did you let it cycle? You should not have any ammonia at all if it was properly cycled. Are you sure it was not a molt? Shrimp do that every now and then. Was the body very fragile or pretty thick? __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

03/13/2013, 06:05 PM	#4
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	I've found the larger ones don't live long, usually they're older. Maybe the shock of a different tank was too much for its age. I've had it happen before with the large ones that are dark like that (old). __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

03/13/2013, 08:48 PM	#5
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	the tank has been up and running for over a month now, and has had critters for about 3 weeks. i could be reading the color chart for ammonia wrong though because 0 is like schoolbus yellow and it's not even that colour when the chemicals first go in. anyway, i'm working on that! i think the whole age thing makes a lot of sense though. I was hoping he'd give me one of the active, small ones but instead he grabbed this one from under a rock and i was like 'woah, that thing is massive!' lol. i'd been bugging the poor guy for like 3 hours though, so i felt bad to make him put it back and get a iff one. and yes, i'm positive this was not a moult. it still had the eyeballs and everything and was very solid. plus, i set up my rocks very carefully so there are no hiding places where they are completely hidden from me. (i'm super paranoid about something dieing in a hole and never being found...) I did consider that possibility though! thanks! __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

03/14/2013, 01:01 AM	#6
kenc87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 610	It may have just been natural causes. I've never had luck with peppermint shrimp. I have two year old cleaner shrimp but peppermint shrimp due in two weeks. Sometimes you just can't figure out why

03/14/2013, 06:38 AM	#7
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	ok, thanks. i guess i just won't have any saltwater shrimp. my tank is too small for cleaner shrimp. i guess the snails crabs and clown goby will have to keep me satisfied. __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp