Why are shrimps dying

Basically there are 4 signs you should look out for to give you a sense if the shrimps are still actively feeding or hiding from stress and shock.

If the shrimps are hiding constantly it means the shrimp is in stress. Usually cause either by internal or external factors.

When they’re not actively feeding due to hiding, then it is a telltale sign something is amiss and need to be rectified.

In addition, if they are not breeding it could mean somewhere there are deterrence to that. Lastly if there were cases of fail molt, it is best to keep observing.

This is as simple as it get, why are my shrimp dying? What are the main causes of shrimp death?

1. Water Parameters
   • This is the first reason that your shrimps are dying by the numbers – 1-2 per day or weekly. Why is water parameters the number 1 reason for shrimp death? The old adage goes like this, if you want to keep good quality shrimp, first learn how to keep good water parameters. If your tanks have good water parameters, everything else will fall in place.
   • I have in my other post talk about water parameters and my water parameters recommendation.
2. Too little or too much water change
   • • i usually recommend at least 10% water change and if the tank volume is large (100L) and a few shrimp, a 5% water change will do.
     • On a very stable tank and shrimp, even changing 50% at once hasn’t proven to be an issue (Remember point 1 and point 2)
     • Stirring too much soil up during water change, creating a sudden spike and then returning back to normal
3. Itchy hand syndrome
   • There is no need to add bone meal, Cutterbone, decorative item, tons of plants, feeding excessively, adding wood, adding rock, adding any other thing other than reminerizer during WC
   • Mixing source A,B,C,D shrimp in 1 tank –  stick to your trusted source
   • Putting your hand in there every few hours to move decorative item around.
   • Feeding more than twice a day – if you have a lot of shrimp
     • Your feed should be altered to the number of shrimps and should consume all of the feed within 2-3 hours. If not, cut the feed to a smaller portion and feed. if not, consider adding more shrimp.
   • Adding new soil in large quantity inside an established tank, tried that – adult shrimps does ok, shrimplets die.
4. Insufficient biofilm and too high male:female ratio
   1. When there are insufficient biofilm and with a high male to female ratio increases cannibalisms very significantly which causes female to die.

External factors such as :

Transportation and packing: 

This is important as when the shrimps are transported it is a stressful event with the water swirling around. A good packing method is required to reduce the stress of shrimp. Inverted double bag will be good.

Temperatures:

Large swing in temperature upwards during heat wave of sudden day high above 28 degrees Celsius is dangerous. The heat stress can impact the shrimps and cause issue a few days later.

Shrimp like all living things die

All living things die – we like it or not. There is no way we can keep all 100% of our shrimp alive and this is esp. true if they’re genetically weak. For example i haven’t experience a PRL die for a long time but occasionally i still get a selectively line bred shrimp dead (it’s part and parcel of shrimp keeping)