Shrimps are delicate creatures. If you are breeding shrimps in your fish tank then you must know about the factors that can cause stress to your shrimps. In my research, I have found some signs and symptoms that can help you know if your shrimps are under stress.
The main signs of stress in shrimps are lethargic, change in appetite, and change in their visual color.
It is also important to know what causes the shrimps to stress so you can make sure that your shrimp are safe. These visible signs are very important for you to recognize so that you can take immediate action to save your shrimps.
3 Signs That Your Shrimps Are Stressed
Stress can be caused in shrimps for various factors and I have listed some of the common signs and that might have caused those symptoms.
Coloration
One of the most visible symptoms that can easily tell you if your shrimp is under stress or is affected by any kind of disease is their change in natural color.
Some of the color change that should alert you are:
Milky Washed out color:
It is a sign that indicates that your shrimps are under stress. You can even observe the same effect in red cherry shrimps.
This color change can be caused by Muscular Necrosis disease. It is a very deadly disease for shrimps and should be taken care of immediately when you detect it.
Black and Brown Spots:
When you see black and brown spots appearing on the body of the shrimp it can also be an indication that your shrimps are affected by the Chitinolytic Bacterial disease.
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Lethargic
You would notice that often your shrimps are very lethargic and are not as active as they used to be. In my research, I have found many tank owners to see this problem in their shrimps.
Many of the shrimp owners noticed that the shrimps which used to be active were not moving often and were just hiding.
In most cases, this condition is caused by a change in water parameters. It can be a rise in the temperature or change in pH that can cause the shrimps to be lethargic.
If you notice that your shrimps are less active check the water parameters immediately and if you find anything wrong with the water parameters take action to change the water immediately before it can cause some serious problems to your shrimps.
Loss of Appetite
Most of the shrimps are voracious eaters. When you observe that there are many leftover foods in your fish tank when you didn’t overfeed your shrimps, then it can be a sign of stress.
However, make sure that if they are getting food from natural sources in the tank. If that is the case then you should not be alarmed.
Loss of appetite can be a sign of stress that is caused by diseases like vorticella or other stress factors.
Conclusion
Signs and symptoms of stress help you detect a disaster that is about to happen to your shrimps. Take the necessary steps immediately when you see any of them.
My Top 5 Shrimp Products To Make Your Life Easier! (And Your Shrimps Happier!)
1. API Master Test Kit
When keeping shrimps, you’ll often need to monitor the water parameters to check if everything is alright. With API Master Test Kit, you can check Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and pH right away. I think this test kit is a must have for any aquarium owner. Check the latest price here at Amazon.
2. Matten Filter
Among hundreds of filters, I think Matten Filter will be the best choice for keeping shrimps. These filters are generally a broader version of sponge filter and comes with a large square sheet of foam. This foam is perfect for growing beneficial bacterial colony as well as other microorganism for the shrimps to eat.
3. Bacter AE
Bacter AE is one of the most sought after shrimp foods among shrimp breeders. It is a powder type food especially suitable for the baby shrimps. Bacter AE helps to develop biofilm in the tank which is essential for shrimps. It also astonishingly increases the survival rate of baby shrimps.
4. Substrate for Neo Caridina shrimps
Eco Complete Planted Tank Substrate doesn’t alter the water parameters and perfect for growing live plants inside the shrimp tank. The soil is mainly rich in magnesium, calcium and iron. This is always my #1 recommendation for neocaridina shrimps like cherry shrimp.
5. Substrate for Caridina shrimps
Brightwell Rio Escuro is specifically designed for keeping caridina shrimps like Crystal Red/Black Shrimp, Tiger Shrimp, etc. It lowers the pH and creates a soft water which caridina shrimps prefer. You can check out the latest price on Amazon.
