Peppermint Shrimp & Crab Dying

[eab6287]

Hey guys,

 

I have a BioCube 14g that I started up about 3 weeks ago. It initially contained 20lbs live sand and about 10 lbs live rock that was in a LFS's established reef tank (not freshly delivered).

 

I test a few times each week and never saw any ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate (0ppm). The pH was initially around 7.9 and I added some buffer to bring it up to about 8.1. The SG is a stable 1.0245. Temp has been on the high side due to the heat wave we've been having in NYC, even with the AC on 24/7. It does fluctuate between 82-84. So far I haven't been able to precisely stabilize it.

 

I have one small (quarter coin size) mushroom coral that came on a piece of live rock and seems to be healthy.

 

2 days ago, after having about a week of light algae bloom, I bought a peppermint shrimp, 2 astrea snails, 1 "other" snail, and a hermit crab. I assumed that I must have either missed the cycle or not had one since the rock was so established and there was live sand.

 

The snails have all survived, but the peppermint shrimp only lasted about 10 hours. He seemed to be doing great, swimming around, grazing on the rocks, very lively. Looked as if he'd been living there all his life. The next day, I found him lifeless.

 

The crab fared a little better, lasting about 36 hours. Similarly, looked fine, no signs of stress, then found dead.

 

Any ideas? What can I do? This is very frustrating because the parameters seem to be fine so I don't know what's causing this. Purchased two new peppermints today to see how they do.

[JoelRHale]

The same thing happened with my Peppermint shrimp after running the tank for 2 months with zero fatalities. Params where they need to be, he had plenty of food, then about 4 days later he was dead.

 

But I decided that nonthing else has died in my tank and to let the tank mature a little bit before I even think of getting a new shrimp. I'm interested if this is a common thing.

[HVani]

My peppermint shrimp lasted a week. She molted, then died 2 days later. My parameters were all fine, plenty of food, not sure what happened.

 

A week later I tried an emerald crab, 2 days later it died. I waited another week, tried another emerald crab, it also lasted 2 days.

 

My snails, hermits, and corals are all doing very well and my tank has been stable. The only thing I can think of (with the crabs) is I was in a hurry and did not acclimate them very well. No idea on the peppermint shrimp. I've been too scared to try another.

[wartskin]

Are you all sure they are not molts?

[JoelRHale]

I'm 100% positive for mine at least, because I assumed it was molt as it was stuck to the intake. When I removed what I thought was the molted shell I was surprised it was the whole body. That's why I haven't bought another one, I didn't want to replace something I had no idea how I failed keeping in the first place.

[eab6287]

An update...

 

2 more peppermints purchased from a different LFS are also now dead. These lasted only a few hours. I would really appreciate some insight here...I'm afraid to add anything to my tank now and I don't know when it would ever be the right time since I already have zero levels...

 

Are you all sure they are not molts?

 

I'm sure. These are all definitely the bodies.

[Buck0land]

You may think about testing your tank for copper.

 

Were are you buying your shrimps from here in NYC? Most of the LFS I have been to here in the city are rather ruff.

 

An update...

 

2 more peppermints purchased from a different LFS are also now dead. These lasted only a few hours. I would really appreciate some insight here...I'm afraid to add anything to my tank now and I don't know when it would ever be the right time since I already have zero levels...

 

 

 

I'm sure. These are all definitely the bodies.

[eab6287]

You may think about testing your tank for copper.

 

Were are you buying your shrimps from here in NYC? Most of the LFS I have been to here in the city are rather ruff.

 

That's an idea. I am buying from NYC (once from Petland UWS, once from Petco Union Sq). There's one other place on the UWS that's small, inside an old brownstone's basement. Blue Star I think it's called. They seemed better/more knowledgeable but I haven't caught them on their delivery days yet...everything goes fast.

[classic]

did you use the dripping method to acclimate the shrimps to salinity and ph?

[krackerjacksna]

i lost my pep due to temp, wait for the temp to come under 80, then try again, they prolly burnt up

[metrokat]

So, if you can make it to NJ, go visit reef encounters and absolutely fish for healthier livestock. It is worth the bus trip (yes buses from PABT do go there)

 

Second, my BC14 also stays high in temp, keep the lid open to get the temp down. I have some saltwater sitting in the fridge which i use to top up and cool the tank down. Beware tho, water in the fridge will have a higher salinity level.

 

As for the dying livestock, if the current 2 new peps die, wait for a bit, let the tank mature, they may not want to eat what you have.

[eab6287]

did you use the dripping method to acclimate the shrimps to salinity and ph?

 

Used the drip method for the second purchase trip of two peppermints, not the first one (and not the hermit that I got with the first one which is also dead). This could be responsible for the loss of the first pep, however I thought since he was happily eating and roaming around while he was living there was no issue with the acclimation.

 

The second purchase, I used the drip method and the two of them behaved way differently than the first one did (hiding, barely moving, appearing stressed).

 

An update though - though I believed both of the peps from the 2nd purchase to be dead, I woke this morning to find one of them alive and munching on the other one. Should I just allow this and see how my water chemistry reacts to having a little decomposing organic matter, or should I remove him?

 

i lost my pep due to temp, wait for the temp to come under 80, then try again, they prolly burnt up

 

Would it be possible to keep them (and other fish, inverts, corals for that matter) at 81 or 82 if I could get it stable, is the issue more that the temp is fluctuating up and down within ~2 degrees? Or does everyone recommend a lower temp in general?

 

So, if you can make it to NJ, go visit reef encounters and absolutely fish for healthier livestock. It is worth the bus trip (yes buses from PABT do go there)

 

Second, my BC14 also stays high in temp, keep the lid open to get the temp down. I have some saltwater sitting in the fridge which i use to top up and cool the tank down. Beware tho, water in the fridge will have a higher salinity level.

 

As for the dying livestock, if the current 2 new peps die, wait for a bit, let the tank mature, they may not want to eat what you have.

 

Thanks for the advice. No worries about snails, shrimp, or (eventually) fish jumping out with the lid open?

[mike c]

Should I just allow this and see how my water chemistry reacts to having a little decomposing organic matter, or should I remove him?

 

Sounds like your tanks bilogical filter isnt very stable yet. If the carcass isnt consumed in a few hours, id take it out.

 

 

Would it be possible to keep them (and other fish, inverts, corals for that matter) at 81 or 82 if I could get it stable, is the issue more that the temp is fluctuating up and down within ~2 degrees? Or does everyone recommend a lower temp in general?

 

I prefer to keep my tank at 79*. Im pretty sure,correct me if Im wrong, but I think a slightly high but stable temp is ALWAYS better than a fluctuating one. Might want to look into a chiller. I fought with temp issues too, until I got a chiller. Now its a constant 79*, no fluctuation. It'll take tons of weight off your shoulders!

[Builder Anthony]

Wait till you have a nice pod population.Your rock that you think is cured may not be.Either way i wouldnt throw more money out the window on any sort of shrimp.Salt level differences can take them out in literally miuntes so maybe the stores salt is differnt from yours.Id just wait till i see pods.Throw some macro algae in there as well to clean the water.Photos would also help.