HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 16, 2016 Report Share Posted April 16, 2016 Hi! I just got my first ghost shrimp. Never raised them before. I only started off with one, will add more later. Before getting my shrimp, I tested the water and everything was perfect. Water temp is a constant 69, I have live plants in there too. My shrimp has been hiding out behind a rock all day! He has hardly moved, and isn't active at all. Is there something wrong? Is it just the shock? He's been in there for about 5 hours. Was swimming around right after I put him in. Please help!! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Do you know your water params? How did you acclimate him? Is there any other creature in the tank too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 It's a nano tank. He's the only critter in there. My water parameters: ph: 7.8 constantly temp: 69 constantly chlorine/chloramines: 0 ammonia:0 I also have an air pump powered filter. I acclimated him by floating the bag for about 5 mins an then drip acclimation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Was getting ready to feed the little guy, but he vanished!! Checked the filter, all around the tank, and I even dropped some food to see if it would make him come out but it seems to have diasapeared;( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Lol, I'm talking to myself but I found the little bugger! It was sitting inside the filter, munching on a piece of leftover food, and completely unharmed. fishface 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Well, for starters- let's put something over the filter inlet so that won't happen again. heh Han sells stainless steel inlet covers so shrimp won't get sucked in, or you can use a sponge. Sometimes they just need time to adapt as well. How long has your tank been cycled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 I got my tank about 2 1/2 weeks ago and immediately set it up. It's been cycling since then. It's a 2 gal tank, which is teeny, but seeing as I will only have 1-2 shrimp in there it's okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 I see. So you are using the shrimp to help cycle your tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Kind of. I wanted to get the initial ammonia spike over before getting any fish and once the levels were okay I decided to get him. I am a fan of fishless cycling though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShrimpP Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 The beneficial nitrifying bacteria colony will only grow to the size that will support the bioload. Shrimps have very little bioload, so you would only build a very tiny amount of nitrifying bacteria, and that amount of bacteria would not be enough to support even one fish. I would recommend dosing ammonia (ammonium hydroxide or ammonium chloride) with no fish or shrimp (return the shrimp or keep in another tank/container and do occasional water changes, add airstone) in the tank (fishless). That way you can dose enough ammonia to grow a bacteria colony large enough to support a higher bioload/fishload. EDIT: Oh, just saw it's a 2 gallon "tank"? I am personally not a fan of having fish in such small tanks (just not enough room). But regardless a little shrimp's bioload is much less than one fish's bioload. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Thanks for everyone's help. I do agree that it's a teeny tiny aquarium. I was just planning in having one or two shrimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 You should be fine then. Just do your 10% water change weekly for the first month until the bacteria s established. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Keep in mind also, before the ghost got to you- it probably wasn't kept well. They were meant for feeders and are kept as such. Many people experience deaths shortly after buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloUnderwaterWorld Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 That's what kind of sucks about keeping fish that were meant to die anyway. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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