Several Shrimp Dying

Maybe, maybe not.

Are your water parameters stable? GH, KH and TDS?

76-80 is considered too warm and many recommend 68-72. Warmer temps also mean higher chance of bacteria and potentially a shorter lifespan for the shrimp.


Any changes to the tank?

You say that you add a little water each week due to evaporation loss. Are you also doing a water change on a regular basis? If not, toxic substances are building up in your water and the weak/less healthy shrimp will be the first to go. Do you have test results for your tank water? Posting them will help everyone help you. Zoidburg is right on the temp thing, you should lower it a bit if you can.

I will definitely lower the temp. And when I add water I don't do a full water change, so that's probably why some possibly weaker shrimp are dying off. All my Ammonia and Nitrite are 0 Nirates are 5-10 and my ph here is sort of soft 7.0, but they've been breeding and living fine in this water. Just recent random deaths.

Get KH, GH test kits and ideally a TDS tester as well (it's even more specific).

In the meantime, approximately how much water do you add with each top off? Are you topping off with tap water, or water from a bottle? If tap, do you dechlorinate the water before adding it? If bottled, what kind of bottled water is it? Do you match the water temperature when you top off? What are the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH levels (KH and GH too, if/when you get those test kits) of the water you use to top off?

How long have you had your shrimp, and are the ones dying adults? It could just be some random deaths from old age.

When you top off do you top off with tap water? If you are using tap water that may be leading to a creep in the TDS.


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Tap water with Prime for top offs. I dont have GH KH test kits and neither do LFS. My tap water only has a small trace of Nitrates. The shrimp dying have been some older ones, and some younger adults. They are just random deaths, all the other shrimp act fine and are breeding readily.

If I water change, won't berried females try to molt and die? Is there anyway to add some egg shells or something for extra calcium?

Ethan2213 said:

Tap water with Prime for top offs. I dont have GH KH test kits and neither do LFS. My tap water only has a small trace of Nitrates. The shrimp dying have been some older ones, and some younger adults. They are just random deaths, all the other shrimp act fine and are breeding readily.

If I water change, won't berried females try to molt and die? Is there anyway to add some egg shells or something for extra calcium?

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It's quite possible to do water changes with berried females and not have them molt and drop their eggs.

The issue you may be having is that you have *TOO MUCH* calcium and magnesium with a high TDS. However, without getting those tests, we have no way of knowing for sure.



You can easily go on Amazon and pick up the GH and KH liquid test kit (either API or Sera - which can also be found from Petco) and a TDS meter all for under $30. If you want the best accuracy, also pick up a TDS calibration solution.

I'd also be on the lookout for planaria or hydra. I was seeing sudden, unexplained deaths and finally put it together when I read white planaria are predatory.

It's a good idea to check for planaria or hydra. Otherwise, what are your water parameters? It's important to be able to test these in an emergency, at the very least.

No its none of those I havent seen any signs of parasites, Ive listed the parameters in a previous response. Ill gravel vac the bottom of my tank since I havent done that in awhile because I only top off. Maybe the group is toxic or something.

Bump: No its none of those I havent seen any signs of parasites, Ive listed the parameters in a previous response. Ill gravel vac the bottom of my tank since I havent done that in awhile because I only top off. Maybe the group is toxic or something.