Why can't my shrimp just live??

[handtlkr]

Ok..2nd try with a cleaner shrimp...my tank is a 24G Aquapod about 5 months. 1 clown, 1 cardinal variety, 1 dwarf pigmy and 1 watchman. 2 snails, 3 hermits and 4 pieces of coral. First try I'll chalk up to too new of a tank. This time water params are as close to perfect as I can get. I acclimated him drip style for 3 hours, he was a happy camper for 2 days and I haven't seen him since. Is there some magic to keeping these guys??? Everything else is happy.......:confused:

[El Camaron]

he could have molted and is just hiding, have you found any remains?

[weimers75]

Shrimp are more susceptable to water conditions. If your water parameters aren't perfect and not "as close to perfect as I can get", then you shouldn't be trying.

Also, cleaner shrimp will get too large for your tank size very fast...I had one in my 75 that I had to trade because he was too large, his antennae were more than 6" alone. A better bet would be a peppermint shrimp or pistol shrimp that would stay small.

[handtlkr]

I have not seen anything as far as body parts live or dead. Maybe I'll do the peppermint. What about a blood shrimp??

[Jimbo327]

I would give it at least a week. Chances are he is just hiding and he is still alive.

Put some cyclopeeze or some good food in the tank. See that will draw him out.

[Robgixxer]

yeah my cleaner shrimp has disappeared too. haven't seen him since sunday night.

[MJT82]

Mine tends to "disappear" every now and then around the time it molts... Give it some time. :-)

[melanotaenia]

the shrimp are VERY sensitive to nitrate levels, so unless these are extremely low, you will constantly run into problems with keeping them

[jmp21677]

I have had shrimp disapear for a week or two when they are first added to the tank. I agree with putting food in that they can't resist. Try some shrimp roe.

[mccrat]

I had added to very small cleaners, about a inch long each, that night I thought maybe one of my hermits got them and I didn't see either of them for about a month. One night when I was watching the tank after the lights went off one appeared....I fear the worst for the second though.....that said, yes, they do do tend to hide.