dlaunde Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Hey all, My 10 gallon nano is doing great! While I may have added the coral and CUC a little early last weekend, ammonia levels have been slowly approaching 0 (0.25ppm before a water change today), nitrites are at 0, and nitrates are between 5-10. Corals are doing good. LR is in full swing, and I just had my first Diatom "outbreak" from the cycling. However, I haven't seen my peppermint shrimp in two days. All 6 snails are alive and accounted for. I picked up my LR yesterday looking for the shrimp (or it's body if something happened) and not a sign. Even tried looking while the moonlights were on last night but no go. I read that some people can go weeks without seeing theirs. Which is fine with me but I more so want to make sure he didn't die and is decaying in the LR which might cause issues. Any input? Link to comment
Mariaface Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 In a tank that small, I'd assume it died. Is this an all-in-one? I've found my fish in the back chambers on a couple of memorable occasions, and I find snails/limpets in there all the time. Shrimp are pretty sensitive animals, though, especially where ammonia is involved. I wouldn't have added anything until well after ammonia hit zero (and that's with me adding more every day so the nitrifying bacteria don't die out). I say wait it out, make sure nothing else disappears and ammonia/nitrite stabilize at zero, then test all parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alk, cal, mag, salinity, temp) to make sure nothing's out of whack. Add carbon in case of coral toxins, then experiment with adding a peppermint shrimp again. Good luck! Link to comment
dandelion Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 If you think it's decaying it may not hurt to dose some prime just in case either. Link to comment
StevieT Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 They are jumpers so if you don't have a lid check the floor. They also hide out while molting. If you have crabs or other CUC they would consume a dead animal pretty quickly Link to comment
dlaunde Posted September 30, 2016 Author Share Posted September 30, 2016 Top is covered completely and I checked the HOB and he's not in there either. Like I said, if he did die I do not see any signs of decay or waste. And ammonia didn't spike compared to the reads I have been taking every other day. I have 3 bumblebee and 3 astrea snails...can't image they would devour a dead shrimp THAT quickly right? Not to mention the 3 astrea's are always in eye sight on the glass or top of the LR and never go into the crevices. Link to comment
Pjanssen Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 your snails would clean it up quickly. That's what they are there for. Mariaface has excellent advise Link to comment
Mariaface Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 have 3 bumblebee These are carnivorous and eat microfauna; I'm sure they'd love to snack on dead shrimp Link to comment
dlaunde Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 Thanks everyone. I'll keep an eye out for him still but assume the worst unfortunately. It was my fault as I was told my tank cycle was ready but didn't test the water the day I went to my LFS. Link to comment
Clown79 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 With ammonia still present and nitrite at 0 your cycle isn't finished. Shrimp and fish are very sensitive to ammonia, theres a good chance it did not make it. Your cuc could have it cleaned up in no time, peppermint aren't that big. I've seen fish cleaned up in 24hrs by snails and crabs. I wouldn't add anything more until the ammonia has processed to 0 and stays at 0 for at least a week. Link to comment
Canadianeh Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 If you think it's decaying it may not hurt to dose some prime just in case either. what is prime? Link to comment
dandelion Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Seachem Prime. It's a water treatment solution that temporary renders ammonia safe. what is prime? Link to comment
Canadianeh Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 what is considered to be perfect water chemical parameter in saltwater tank? Link to comment
dlaunde Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 On the off chance he is just hiding really really well and I get another peppermint shrimp once the tank finishes cycling, would having two cause an issue (fighting between each other)? Link to comment
dandelion Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 My peppermint shrimp his a lot. After it died I replaced with a cleaner shrimp and that one is a lot more fun to watch. Link to comment
Pjanssen Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 generally you can have several peppermint shrimp in a tank. They do tend to hide tho, and they also tend to become fish food. I usually pick up peppermint shrimp only when I want them to take care of a specific issue in my tank, usually aiptasia. Cleaner shrimps and blood shrimp are much more stunning and fun to watch IMO. Link to comment
dlaunde Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 Thanks for the responses! Link to comment
dlaunde Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 generally you can have several peppermint shrimp in a tank. They do tend to hide tho, and they also tend to become fish food. I usually pick up peppermint shrimp only when I want them to take care of a specific issue in my tank, usually aiptasia. Cleaner shrimps and blood shrimp are much more stunning and fun to watch IMO. Out of curiosity, what are the average life spans of cleaner shrimp? The problem with my CUC's/peppermint shrimp is my fiancee wants to name them...but I realize they are more of a "replaceable" part of the tank to not get attached to lol Link to comment
Clown79 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Peppermints are fine in groups but hide in rockwork and often come out at night. Not seen very often. The downside- they can turn on fleshy corals. Skunk cleaners are far more social and I find them beneficial to the tank. Link to comment
dlaunde Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 .....saw an antenna flowing under a rock and found.....the rest of the peppermint. I guess the snails are very good cleans Totally my fault. I think I will only do cleaner shrimp going forward though based on the opinions of how fun they are to watch Link to comment
Sancho Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Your better off without the peppermint shrimp. They like to munch on corals. Link to comment
dlaunde Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 Is there any reason/need to have more than one cleaner shrimp in a 10 gallon tank with only one (future) clown fish? Link to comment
Canadianeh Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Thank you! From reefkeeping.com Link to comment
Pjanssen Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Is there any reason/need to have more than one cleaner shrimp in a 10 gallon tank with only one (future) clown fish? No, and more than 1 and they'd likely compete Link to comment
Clown79 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Nah, just get one. They are super fun to have and they will clean you when you do maintenance. Link to comment
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