Why did cleaner shrimp die so quickly?

[ItalCanadaReefer]

I introduced a cleaner shrimp to my newly setup tank, and it died within 48 hours. I currently only have a pair of clowns in there and they weren’t even paying attention to the shrimp at all. I noticed that he got “sluggish” within the first 12 hours and did not move much at all (he would pick a spot and stay there without much movement for hours). I noticed that the salinity in the shipping bag from the LFS was at around 30 PPT and my tank is at 35PPT and is very stable in terms of salinity due to ATO. I acclimated by first floating the bag for about 20 mins to temp acclimate, then adding about half a cup of water into the bag every couple of minutes for about another 30 mins until the water in the shipping bad was around 33PPT. I then put the shrimp in. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[laverda]

Hard to answer without more information on your tank and parameters.

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

Salinity = 35 PPT (1.026 SG)
Temp = 78
Alkalinity = 7.0 dKH
Calcium = 500
Mag = 1500

 

[Alexreefer]

Any copper in your tank? Inverts will die extremely easy in copper.
Sorry for your loss

 

[00W]

Sorry to hear. Some of my favorite guys over the years.
These guys are super sensitive to acclimating especially in regards to salinity. They are actually quite fragile.
Mine usually live for 4 years. When I get another I take 3 hours or so to acclimate.
That's just me.
I've also never put one in a tank less than a year old.
Hope that helps and once again sorry for your loss.

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

Any copper in your tank? Inverts will die extremely easy in copper.
Sorry for your loss

Thanks, never fun. There’s no copper to my knowledge, I always carefully take fish out of shipping bags carefully with my hands as to not add any of the water.

 

[amps]

That was a really big salinity change, likely too much for it to take. With inverts, I usually go 4+hrs using drip acclimation and even then you see issues if the salinity change is too much.

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

Sorry to hear. Some of my favorite guys over the years.
These guys are super sensitive to acclimating especially in regards to salinity. They are actually quite fragile.
Mine usually live for 4 years. When I get another I take 3 hours or so to acclimate.
That's just me.
I've also never put one in a tank less than a year old.
Hope that helps and once again sorry for your loss.

Never fun. Interesting.. why don’t you add to a tank under one year? What is the specific reason?

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

That was a really big salinity change, likely too much for it to take. With inverts, I usually go 4+hrs using drip acclimation and even then you see issues if the salinity change is too much.

Ok thanks a lot I will be more cautious next time around. I was worried this was the case.

 

[Tamberav]

He needed a longer drip method. Fish can go in pretty easy but not inverts. I probably would not buy shrimp from a place that does not keep them at reef salinity. Not worth it.

 

[00W]

I never add any inverts to any young tank. Maybe snails.
I just feel like they need a stable more mature environment with lots to do lots to see and lots to eat.
Just me. I'm sure others have different opinions but salinity is super hard on inverts. Always drip.
Good luck.
Joel

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

He needed a longer drip method. Fish can go in pretty easy but not inverts. I probably would not buy shrimp from a place that does not keep them at reef salinity. Not worth it.

Agreed. Definitely not buying inverts there ever again.

 

[noobreefer2]

My lfs said that cleaner shrimp need an established tank to thrive/survive. I don't know If that's true

 

[laverda]

I have never heard of any LFS keeping inverts at low salinity before. Almost all keep fish that way for a variety of reasons.

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

I have never heard of any LFS keeping inverts at low salinity before. Almost all keep fish that way for a variety of reasons.

Yes, same.

 

[MichaelReefer]

You dosing high amounts of h202 by any chance? I've had my cleaner for three years. He isnt even bothered when I dose 15ml of h202 twice a day but I know some are.

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

You dosing high amounts of h202 by any chance? I've had my cleaner for three years. He isnt even bothered when I dose 15ml of h202 twice a day.

No, I’m not. I’m pretty certain now that I just didn’t acclimate carefully enough.

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

I never add any inverts to any young tank. Maybe snails.
I just feel like they need a stable more mature environment with lots to do lots to see and lots to eat.
Just me. I'm sure others have different opinions but salinity is super hard on inverts. Always drip.
Good luck.
Joel

Hmmm thanks for that Joel. More established tank and a more thorough acclimation is a theme here. Thanks!

 

[Jekyl]

I've had my cleaner shrimp since week 2 or 3 of my tank being cycled. Maybe a PH issue? Maybe you just got one that wasn't doing well?

 

[ItalCanadaReefer]

I've had my cleaner shrimp since week 2 or 3 of my tank being cycled. Maybe a PH issue? Maybe you just got one that wasn't doing well?

I’m new to reefing so I am starting to learn about PH influences and I believe mine is low. I haven’t tested specifically for it yet though.