TheGlassBox

Yeah, pH 4.5 is really low. I'd try bringing up the KH+ a bit and see if that helps. Bringing up the GH a bit might help as well, as 4 is usually the lower limit. Salty shrimp makes a product that has both GH and KH in it and it's inexpensive...

I'm assuming they're neos? Cherry shrimp? If you're going to keep cherry shrimp, you should only keep 1 color in a tank. If you keep more than 1 color, they'll interbreed and you will loose those original colors. Looks like a clear offspring, (with no color) that's all. You'll most likely get some brown ones as well.

I can't see anything on the picture that looks like chitinolytic infection. He looks pretty healthy... How old is he? (I'm guessing it's a boy from the body shape, but I could be wrong. Would need to see a picture from a side profile). Just like people, shrimp age. And just like people, they tend to look physically more attractive when they're young. People get gray hair, wrinkles and gravity takes it toll on us. With my PRLs, their shell looses it's beautifully white solid color as they get older. Particularly the females. I think it's just the stress of having babies that ages their shells faster than males. By the time they're a year and a half old, they don't look very white at all. And just like people, physical stressors can intensify the negative aspects of physical aging. For example, those of us who sun tanned a lot in our youth tend to have more wrinkles when we're older... Too much smoking and drinking can have an effect as well. Could be prolonged high nitrates may have had an impact on their shells? Maybe? Was their pH above 7 for a prolonged time? Maybe that could have negative effects, as these shrimp really do like softer water... Do you use salts to reconstitute the water? Shrimp live to about 1 year to a year and a half. Could it be he's just getting older? When was the last time you had babies, and how do the babies and younger shrimp look? I'm a 57 year old woman with gray hairs, wrinkles and yeah, this old body doesn't look like it did when I was 25 LOL!!! So maybe it's just age? If you try the anise, I'd definitely try it on the culls. And incidently, I tried BorneoWild White and I didn't have any luck with it. I don't think it made any difference in their shell quality that I could see. Never tried any other brand, and other's mileage may vary on that... But I don't think it did anything to improve the white color on my older shrimp, so I stopped using it. Hope this helps! 😊

OMG that is so cool!!! I would think you'd need a salt water set up. 😊

Yup. That's it exactly. Shrimp have a very tiny bioload. So we can ship the hardier species priority mail with 2-3 day shipping. I'd never try that with fish... That being said, if they're pricier shrimp, I personally always ask if the seller has overnight shipping, and I'm willing to pay extra for it. But Neos are pretty tough little guys... I think the oxygen exchange would be more beneficial for shipping fish... But I still like the poly bags even for those because I just like double bagging. The post office can get pretty cranky if they get a wet, soggy box... And technically you're supposed to double bag all liquids being shipped according to their regulations. Also, I pack all my livestock with cellulose insulation. If the bag is covered with it, wouldn't that effect the oxygen exchange ability of the bag as well? I suppose you could line the outside of the styrofoam liner with a large poly bag to contain leakage. But then the bag might bounce around inside the open space of the box... You'd have to have something to hold the bag stationary... And then you'd loose the benefits of the insulation... I think a perfect shipping method is also governed by the amount the average customer is willing to pay for shipping. So most of us just do the best we can to accommodate everyone that ensures the livestock has a high likelihood of a live arrival. Breather bags aren't a bad way to ship at all. They have some benefits, but they have drawbacks as well. It's just not a perfect world... Sigh...

Yup. I like the idea of the oxygen exchange, and not having air in the bag to cause sloshing. Those are obvious benefits. But when they break, it's game over as you can't double bag them... 😐

JSak - They look beautiful! I'm excited for you! I live vicariously through you at the moment... I hope to get some later in the fall.... 😊

I vote with the old fashioned poly bags too! The one thing I don't like about the breather bags is that you can't double bag them. The manufacturer says not to. I like to double bag. If one bag bursts, there's another bag to catch the water and possibly protect the livestock. Plus it contains the mess so the postal workers don't have to worry about what was in that dripping, soggy box... I buy bags from reputable sellers, but everything is cheaply made nowadays. And as you don't have to worry so much about a possible mess, you can feel better about shipping livestock with more water in the bag. We can pack things as best and responsibly as we can, but once the box is out of our hands, fate can intercede... So until the manufacturer tells us that it's okay to double bag breather bags, I'll stick with the old fashioned poly ones... Oh, and I once had an order that was lost by the post office and delivered after a week and a half. The shrimp were alive and healthy. I couldn't believe it! They were Neos, not anything delicate. But darn Neos can be tough!!! 😂

JSak, definitely keep me posted. If the next shipment is successful, I'll keep that seller in mind...

Those are gorgeous!!! 😊

Beautiful!!! The one in the bottom pic looks like she's developing an ovary. She could be berried next!

Yeah, I think I'd stick with the leaves... I have no idea how the oils in the anise would effect them. It could be too strong. Has the loss of white come on suddenly? Or has it crept in over a few generations? Got any pics?

Oh yeah, I get that the hold for pick up option doesn't work for everyone. It does for me, as I work out of my house and the post office is right down the street LOL. Plus I have a 750 foot driveway, so it's less of a pain to run to run to the post office than it is to run up and down the driveway to the box every 20 minutes or so! (Not that I couldn't use the exercise...) 20 years ago when I worked at another job with less flexibility, it wouldn't have been an option at all. I just like to put it out there as it's good to know about. 😊 It could also be that the seller is simply new, and on the learning curve. Another reason I posted the chart. 😊 Keep us posted on the Cardinals! They've been on my bucket list forever! I swear, this will be the year LOL!

This conversation has been very educational as Cardinals are on my bucket list. Was hoping to get some this year, so thank you for posting! Now I'll know to ask how they're shipped... I'd heard they didn't ship well... The 72 hour heat packs have the most gentle warming action, the shorter length warmers can heat up substantially more... I never ship anything with them even if it's going overnight... And I always use more water and a cardboard barrier between the bag and the heat pack. Anyone new to shipping might find the attached graph helpful. Also, there's an option in most areas of "Hold for Pickup." The post office will hold your package at the post office for you to pickup. That way it won't go on the delivery truck, where it may be very hot or very cold for several hours. It will be held at the post office at room temperature. I always ask for this option when I have livestock shipped to me, as I'm near the end of the delivery route. I'd rather make the trip to the post office and reduce the chance of disappointment... But I understand that it's not practical for everyone. Heat packs always add an additional element of risk, but in the winter they can be a necessary evil. Glad I'm not shipping these guys on a routine basis!

Switching over to regular shrimp salts might be a good idea. It would at least remove one variable. And SS is cheap.