Blue Velvet Shrimp

[Crystal Jade]

So recently I got 8 Blue Velvet shrimp (this was around Tuesday last week), my tank has been cycling for 2 weeks about right now. I did a small water change 2 time sover the past 2 weeks. My water has a green tinge to it and I have 4 live plants (including a java fern), a moss ball, an indian almond leaf, and a rock in my tank. I lost 2 shrimp today - my Blue Dream (which I had before my Blue Velvets), and two Blue Velvets and I am not sure why. My parameters may be off possibly?? 

 

My GH is a 5-6 

My KH is a 5 

My Nitrite is at 0 ppm 

My Nitrate is at 0.25 ppm 

My pH is at 7.6 

 

I still have no clue why I have this issue - maybe I need to do a 50% water change? I use tap water and shrimp start from aquavitro as well as I just finished the bacterial seed additions from aquavitro on thursday. The only possible problem I can think of is maybe I overfed them if my parameters are fine. Maybe my water changes weren't enough or maybe I have an iron problem? 

 

I know my water was warm when I got it to refill my tank but that means there could have been iron in my water considering how the iron is form the pipes when warm/hot water is used. 

 

How would one go about water changes and still not have water shock occur? Also I have 1 small snail in my tank (7.5 gallons) and I am fairly worried too because I have tiny shrimp in my tank... but can't find them. I have 4 small 1/2 inch slightly transparent Blue Velvets as well as a few darker ones. I want to take really good care of my shrimp but it seems like my luck just doesn't stay and I don't want to keep trying only to fail. Should I maybe not add new ones until I am positive everything is fine with my tank? Are my parameters off? 

[Ale]

I wouldn’t add any new fish to the tank until you are for certain it’s all good. Your water parameters seem fine, over feeding can’t really kill your fish or shrimp. You may just have gotten some bad shrimp, an iron problem could still be a possibility but if your not dechlorinating the tank with a good water conditioner then that shouldn’t be a problem, considering you cycled for 2 weeks with a hopefully good quality water conditioner to dechlorinate, iron really shouldn’t be a problem.