5 Maintenance Mistakes That Will Kill Your Shrimp! 💀🦐

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Did you know, I recently wrote the most comprehensive book ever written about keeping, feeding and breeding Cherry Shrimp. Check it out here neocaridina-shrimp-handbook.com

[@Feliciathefishtanklady]

I just received the hard copy version of the book from Amazon. It is very nicely done. :)

[@DashDrones]

Never done a water change since I setup my tank 6 months ago. The neocaradina are thriving and multiplying along with my fish! Glued to it haha

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

💪🏻

[@darkstars-torpedoes-of-truth]

Here's a bit of a different experience regarding water changes, like another commenter, I started with 10 bloody mary's. All good I started with 10% water changes and then went to only topping up, the shrimp thrived and I had around 40 in a few months. However, what I didn't take into account was that I had fluval stratum plus a piece of driftwood and also added almond leaves, the result was the dKh went down to 0 and the Ph was as low as 6 and I lost many shrimp. I have now stabilized the tank by adding crushed coral and doing weekly 20% water changes and they are doing well again now, the water changes are done by the drip method and take at least 2 hours to replenish the water. I'm not saying this method is for everyone, but it's something to think about and what happened to me can happen to others as well. Another unrelated thing was, that I had a major scud infestation, so I added 4 khuli loaches to my tank and almost overnight, I no longer see scuds. As for the shrimp, the khulis and shrimp feed together and the shrimp are still breeding. Sorry for the long rant Richard, your methods are very sound, I just wanted to point out a possibility that can happen, even if it saves just one person from experiencing what happened to me.

[@thebigdaddy9676]

2:30 you say not to rinse out sponge filters cause it kills beneficial bacteria however Prime Time Aquatics has a video where he says there's no harm to bacteria rinsing the sponges and I believe he has a degree in micro biology and he also is a great fish keeper as well.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Thanks for the heads up bill check out Prime Times video. Have a great day 👍🏻

[@Chelokoshka_]

Hi, Richard. Hello from Russia. You have very cool content. Let me partially disagree with the second point. On the Prime Time Aquatics channel I saw a video about a scientific article that says that to kill the beneficial bacteria in a sponge, it needs to be kept in tap water for about an hour, so fiddling with the aquarium water is just extra work, and to wash the sponge properly, sometimes you need to drain half the aquarium. So washing the sponge in tap water is not a big deal at all. But if you do it in hot water, it is already a problem, and you can sterilize the sponge in a few seconds. Personally, I've been washing the sponge in cool tap water for over a year now and I'm doing just fine.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Thanks for getting in touch. It does seem I was wrong on this point. All the best. Richard.

[@Parula06]

I've had a colony of Bloody Mary shrimp in a dedicated 40L tank for five years. I've revamped the tank once, just recently because I wanted to reposition things, in all that time. I have NEVER done a water change. I top off the water that evaporates, that's it. A nano sponge filter and a nano HOB do the filtering. Literally thousands of shrimp have been produced in that tank. I started with 10 individuals.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Sounds like you have the balance just right 🫶🏻

[@EuroGupper]

I also did a tank revamp once, and I have also never done water changes. The shrimp colony seems to grow faster because I suspect keep adding higher concentrations of minerals into the tank

[@IgorEngelen1974]

A no water change approach is working great for me too. Started experimenting in 1 tank and applying what I learned to a 2nd. With the correct balance there's hardly any need for human intervention.

[@EuroGupper]

@@IgorEngelen1974 I even went a step further. I stopped using sponges or filter material. I use use my filter for water agitation (flow)

[@IgorEngelen1974]

@@EuroGupper interesting, must look into that.

[@davidnezadal4190]

You are The main reason why my shrimp acually live and dont die thanks for your content keep creating stuff like this i love it

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hey, thanks for the kind feedback 🫶🏻

[@davidhafner3855]

Thanks Richard I am guilty of washing sponges in tap water sponges in tap water lost 20 plus Shrimp in one only 2 left you answered my questions in this wonderful video again thank you Sir!

[@missy3609]

I like watching your videos because you explain things so well. I can understand and remember what you're teaching us. I only have 2 shrimp but they are important to me so I love learning more about them. Thanks for your videos :)

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. It’s appreciated 🫶🏻

[@jefferybruce2332]

Just setting up my 1st shrimp tank. Great tips for us newbies

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

🫶🏻

[@gregorynull5630]

I don't have a Mechanical filter in my 29 gallon shrimp /snail /scud tank, I use a biological old style under gravel filter with a babbler & negatively charged kitty litter, as ammonia is positively charged, so the ammonia is attracted to the kitty litter where hungry bacteria wait to gobble them up, & it gases off your nitrates because it completes the nitrogen cycle, & I don't vacuum the substrate as I am letting the detritus form soil in the substrate. For some reason, my glass stays clear. The aquarium is like a having natural slice of the shallow areas of streams & ponds that I spent time exploring as a child, I really love this aquarium, my cherry shrimp, scuds & snails do a bang up job on the algae, so I need to leave the light on 8-to 12 hours to grow algae. Love your show, find it fascinating, TY.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hey, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have your set up spot on 🫶🏻

[@gregorynull5630]

@@FishKeepingAnswers I have learned a lot from you, I never order anything online, so it makes it a challenge to find things here in southern Oregon, but the search is part of the hobby, there are many aquatic plants & Manzanita for drift wood, the dry Manzanita wood is so dense that it sinks in about 2 weeks in a 5 gallon bucket & that also removes a lot of the dark tannins that will turn your aquarium water a dark reddish brown, there are & white oak trees for leaves here, Maples, & cotton wood, collecting from nature is much more fun than a pet store! I think we speak the same language, See you on your next video.

[@dax8753]

Another cherry shrimp killer not talked about enough is aquasoil , I did loads of research before getting shrimp but these information slipped past me , first 3 months I lost many shrimp before I realised the mistake . The bag even said for shrimp on the bag , no mention of species manufacturers could do more here as well .

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yeah, I agree. I guess the ammonia did them in. I’m not an Aqua soil kind of guy. Give me sand or gravel any day 🤔

[@woodialasfoor660]

Can you tell me more my brother ?

[@MandyJane123700]

I've got my very first baby cherry shrimp, and I am always so worried I will get a few when I do water changes. I use a small measuring cup and just dip out the water, and I inspect it every time. lol

[@EuroGupper]

If it just water changes, do it from the middle of the water column. If it's gravel vacuuming, my advice is don't. If you look at how shrimp thrive in nature, you would be shocked. The "dirtier" the water, the more they seem to thrive. Keep the water aerated. I have a 110L tank with probably +500 shrimp, and they become more every day. From what I read. Aeration dissolves ammonia through diffusion 🤷🏽‍♂️ Because it's just an airstone (it's cheap, and shrimp can't get sucked in like they do with the fancier filters)

[@laurabustos6560]

Congratulations on your shrimplets!! 🦐✌️

[@MandyJane123700]

@@EuroGupper Yeah, I stopped gravel vacuuming my aquariums that had gravel, and capped them with sand. My little shrimp tank just has dirt and sand as a substrate, so I don't vacuum it. I was actually wondering about all the shrimp poop, and if I should try to get it out, but I guess I don't need to! The only filtration I have on the shrimp tank is a sponge filter, so it makes good aeration.

[@EuroGupper]

​@@MandyJane123700Shrimp poop is very small. It gets broken down in very tiny bits. It's filtered into your sand and gravel and turns into minerals for your plants and micro algae who in turn form biofilter surface for your shrimp

[@MandyJane123700]

@@EuroGupper I know it is weird to say that poop looks nice, but the shrimp poop is basically catappa leaves and makes the substrate look more natural than the pool filter sand I used. I am glad it is safe to leave it.

[@Jammy0024]

Firstly, amazing videos - came across you last night and been watching everything you've done. You've convinced me to buy my first set up, ready for taking my first shrimp order in about 4-6 weeks. Top quality informative content, thank you!!! HOWEVER, this video has put me in a complete panic after focusing on the difference between Neocardina and Cardina. As most of southern UK is soft water, does that mean we cannot easily raise Neocardina? I'm getting put-off by all the articles saying how difficult Cardinas are for newbies, although information online is conflicting. I've only bought a 20L tank, and with some limestone-based rocks, a bag of crushed coral and maybe some simple water conditioner I'm hoping it might be OK?

[@gilinf.2662]

I noticed that shrimps really love decayed leaves, the leaves always get stuck on the intake filter and all begone after 1 night... so my tank is rich of food because of that, I rarely feed my shrimps but they are very healthy (the real reason is because I'm too lazy to maintain my tank regularly😅)

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

🫶🏻

[@igorgilza]

Hi Richard, I plan to set up a 10L/2.6G quarantine tank for new nano fish like neons, rasboras etc. At the same time I would like to selectively breed some cherry shrimp, starting with 5-10 (and maybe potentially selling some). I thought what if I kill two birds with one stone and breed neocaridina and quarantine some nano fish (or vice versa) in the same tank. It's going to be a planted tank with dirt capped by sand and a pile of rocks for shrimp babies to hide. From a quick google search I found that shrimp don't carry or get sick from potential nano fish diseases/parasites (even though I rather trust the source of fish). Since you are a professional fish and shrimp keeper, can I ask your opinion on that idea?

[@jillvalentinedontcryformea8966]

I just lost over 30 shrimps 😢 cuz i used pest sprays in my room somehow it managed to get in my tank i won't 😂use any sprays in tank room hard lesson learned also did 90% water change now the rest are fine.

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yeah, flea sprays etc can wipe out entire shrimp tanks 😢

[@jillvalentinedontcryformea8966]

​@@FishKeepingAnswers true that

[@shrimplycanadian]

Excellent video. I've definitely made a few of these mistakes over the years.

[@MarksShrimpTanks]

Your mistake is having a GF 😂

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

🙏🏻

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

😂

[@shrimplycanadian]

@@MarksShrimpTanks 🤣mine is extremely supportive.

[@janryckmans3902]

Any tips to loose water fleas ? My shrimp tank has an abundance of them. I added some guppies but they've no intrest in hem. Not so keen to add molly's. Restart the tank?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Leave the guppies in and don’t feed them. Those water fleas will start to look pretty tasty after a day or two 👍🏻

[@clementbellande8720]

Thx for this new video. ❤❤❤

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

You are so welcome 🫶🏻

[@laurabustos6560]

I have one set of sponge filters that are the only ones I've ever had to give a squeeze clean in a bucket of tank water and that's just because they're Hygger dual sponge filters that have fine sponge rather than course. They do a really great job of cleaning particulates in the water, the clarity in those tanks is always markedly better, but the sponge tends to clog. Although it's still only a biannual cleaning. 😂

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Nice. Thanks for sharing 🫶🏻

[@laurabustos6560]

@@FishKeepingAnswers I am saving this video specifically. I always point people on forums and reddit your way when they're having issues or seeking info, but this video is perfect. Btw, have you experienced or heard of people having issues adding store bought driftwood to an established tank and having bacterial issues that harm the tank? That might be a good video subject, something like, so you have a simple shrimp tank and now you want to take it to the next level, how to safely add hardscape and wood... I don't mean the white film fungus that new wood tends to get, but I've seen a couple people in forums saying they had a major bacterial bloom and it killed things in their tank and the only addition was driftwood. 🤔 They were both on your side of the pond so the only conclusion was a bad shipment of driftwood that may have poisoned the tank! They were stable, aged tanks. Very curious.

[@TheStormRogue]

Isn't it better to leave plant waste in the tank so that they can feed off it? I'm confused

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Some yes, but not lots. If you have one or two decaying leaves, leave them in. If you have lots, take them out. Hope that helps with the confusion 👍🏻

[@Viking3760]

Can I setup dream blue shrimp breeding tank with out air pump or filter

[@LordChumbley]

Another great video. Thanks

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Thank you 🫶🏻

[@shawndelaney2811]

Great educational video, always find your videos extremely helpful, question on water top ups, I use rodi water for my neo's, when topping up do i remineralize the water to the tds in the tank or just top up with just rodi water?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Thank you. Glad you enjoy my work 🫶🏻

[@MrG.Ivan76]

10% water change today 🤞 Hope they survive it 🙏💚🦐

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Let’s hope so 🤞🏻 Should have a new Shrimp Studio update for you in a few days 😎

[@MrG.Ivan76]

@@FishKeepingAnswers first time dripping fresh water back in 2 hours for 5 litres . . . If they don't survive that summits up 🤣

[@slamboy66]

Watch my shrimp vids to see health. Top off only (with 24hr aged tap water), rinse sponge in tap water, I have no dying plant matter visible. I find acclimating shrimp to my conditions is easier than chasing parameters. I do not test, I do not use chemicals, I do not have dead shrimp. Out of my 4 tanks I sell 200 shrimp a week.🦐🦐🦐🦐🦐

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Wow! Sounds like you have everything dialled in 🫶🏻

[@slamboy66]

@@FishKeepingAnswers May not for everyone but for me, yes👍

[@Nhojsonyab]

How do I reduce copepods on my tank? Currently been running my tank for 5 months, no water change. Just top offs. Algae wafer/ Shrimp baby food rotation fed every other day

[@Jimmysfishtank]

Ive got a 25lt red cherry shrimp tank. Everything is going well other than detritus worms. Ive reduced feeding and added a feeding dish, but still no change. How did you get on with the assassin snails?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Yeah, detritus worms can be a real issue in a shrimp only tank. I have suffered many times. Gravel vacuuming will help along with the reduction in feeding. If appropriate, adding a single Corydoras can make an impact. Ultimately, it’s a long road that you might never fully get to the end of with fully stripping your tank down and starting fresh. To answer your question, I get on well with assassin snails and don’t find they bother the shrimp at all 👍🏻

[@MarksShrimpTanks]

Please share outtakes on whatsapp, good video sir 👍

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Far too many to share 🤪

[@ayushmannath7232]

5:28 ,what are those black spots on red shrimp, i have those on all my shrimps. Is it harmful?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Nope. It’s just the deep colouration 👍🏻

[@AlkisProtopapas]

Hello i have bought your e book 1 month ago and o lost it. Is it possible to have it back?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Not a problem. Please send me the email address you used to purchase the book and I’ll resend you the download link. My email is [e-mail]

[@lewashcliffe]

Great video, as always, Richard. However, I want to take exception with your mistake #2 dealing with cleaning filter media in tap water. This is a common misconception that is repeated so frequently on You Tube videos. I refer you to a video by Jason at Prime Time Aquatics on this subject. Jason is a PhD and professor of microbiology. In his video he presents scientific evidence that simply rinsing your sponge or media under a tap water faucet for the few seconds it takes to clean them, there is actually little loss of the nitrifying bacteria. The link to this informative video is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX-Yd2unbMZ5fck Cheers!

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate you taking the time and I will watch the video you have linked to. Have a great day 👍🏻

[@AlkisProtopapas]

Hello, i have bought you e book from your site 1 month ago, and i lost it i have delete the email also, is possible to have it back?

[@FishKeepingAnswers]

Hi. Email me your details to [e-mail]