Health and disease
Investigate unusual behaviour, molting problems and deaths using observations, measurements and appropriate first steps.
Suspected low oxygen in shrimp: measure and act promptly
Several shrimp suddenly moving high in the tank, gathering at the outlet or losing balance calls for immediate checks of gas exchange and water. Support deficient aeration while…
Salt dips for shrimp are not a default treatment
A salt dip is not a default response to a lethargic shrimp or a white patch. The sources reviewed do not supply a generally applicable salt-dip recipe for all freshwater dwarf shrimp.…
Is my shrimp ill? Assessing behaviour and appearance
Assess change relative to the normal behaviour of the same animal or group. Paler colour, hiding or a brief pause in grazing does not establish disease. Loss of balance, rapid…
Isolate a sick shrimp or keep it in the main tank?
Do not automatically move an abnormal shrimp into a separate jar. First identify the purpose: closer observation, limiting contact or carrying out a targeted treatment. Housing must…
Vorticella or another white growth on a shrimp?
A white fuzzy coating is an observation, not a confirmed Vorticella diagnosis. Vorticella belongs to the ciliates, but different groups of attached organisms occur on crustaceans.…
Shrimp molting problems: assess a white ring or trapped shrimp
When a shrimp visibly appears trapped in old cuticle, record what you see and check water, equipment and recent changes. Do not pull the shell away or add minerals on suspicion alone.…
Scutariella on shrimp: assess white worms carefully
White moving projections near the head can fit an attached organism, but do not prove Scutariella japonica. Take clear photographs or a short video, record attachment location and…
Rust-coloured spots or shell damage on shrimp
A dark or rust-coloured patch alone does not establish “shell rot”. Assess whether only colour has changed or the surface is changing too: pits, ragged edges, open areas or damaged…
Quarantine new shrimp: prepare, observe and decide
Prepare a separate functioning holding system before buying new shrimp. Keep the new group apart from your existing colony and use dedicated equipment. Quarantine provides time to…
Emergency plan: shrimp collapsing or dying suddenly
For several suddenly affected animals, loss of balance or continuing deaths, restore obvious equipment failures, support gas exchange and investigate water while seeking prompt help.…
Milky or white shrimp: what does the appearance tell you?
A newly milky appearance deserves investigation, but “white” is not a diagnosis. First distinguish a colour pattern, material on the shell, an empty molt and a change within the body.…
Hydra or planaria in a shrimp tank: identify and assess
Hydra and planaria are different animals. Establish the shape and movement first. Their presence does not prove that they killed a dead shrimp or ate missing young. Record the…
Green growth beneath a shrimp: eggs or Cladogonium?
The name “green fungus” is often used for an irregular green growth beneath freshwater shrimp. One documented organism associated with such growth is Cladogonium , a green alga rather…
Recognise a shrimp molt: empty shell or cause for concern?
A molt is the discarded exoskeleton, often translucent and hollow, which can retain the shape of a shrimp. Look for tissue and movement before deciding an animal has died. An empty…
Hygiene between shrimp tanks: separate equipment and water
Give each tank or separated group its own wet equipment, and avoid unnoticed transfers of water, plants or filter material. Start maintenance with tanks without known problems and…
Why are my shrimp dying? Investigating the causes
“My shrimp are dying” alone does not identify a reliable cause. Build a timeline of losses, measurements and changes, and test possible explanations separately. During active severe…
Shrimp medication: what must be clear before treatment?
Use a treatment only when its intended target, exact product and suitability for your shrimp are clear. “For aquarium use” or “copper-free” is insufficient. When suitability is…
Found a dead shrimp: check, remove and record
Remove a confirmed dead shrimp even if other animals are feeding on it. This limits decomposing material left in the aquarium and helps you track losses. First establish that it is…
Chlorine, pesticides or cleaner exposure in a shrimp tank
Stop the suspect addition or water source and record what was used, how much and when, in or near the aquarium. During acute losses, support gas exchange and seek informed help…
Bacterial infection in shrimp: what supports a diagnosis?
Lethargy, discolouration, wounds or deaths do not establish bacterial infection. Water problems and other conditions can coexist. A normal water test therefore does not prove that the…
Cloudy water in a shrimp tank: bacterial bloom or something else?
A white or milky haze can fit suspended bacteria, but appearance alone cannot confirm this. Dust after substrate disturbance, tiny bubbles and other suspended particles call for…