Hey shrimp lovers! Today, I’m gonna share everything you need to know about drip acclimating your new aquatic friends. As someone who’s kept shrimp for years, I can’t stress enough how important proper acclimation is. Let’s dive right in!
Quick Answer
For most shrimp, drip acclimation should take:
- 1-2 hours: When water parameters are similar
- 4+ hours: When water parameters are very different
- 12+ hours: For sensitive species or extreme parameter differences
Why Drip Acclimation is Super Important
Listen up – shrimp aren’t like fish! These little guys are mega sensitive to water changes. Here’s why you absolutely MUST drip acclimate them:
- Prevents osmotic shock
- Helps them adjust to new water chemistry
- Reduces temperature stress
- Keeps their stress hormones in check
- Gives you time to watch for problems
What You’ll Need
Before we start, grab these items:
- Airline tubing
- Container or jug
- Airline valve (optional but recommended)
- Water dechlorinator
- Patient mindset (trust me, you’ll need this!)
Step-by-Step Drip Acclimation Guide
1. Prep Work
- Turn off those bright aquarium lights
- Get your tank water ready (make sure it’s cycled!)
- Check your new shrimp for any health issues
2. Setting Up the Drip
- Fill a jug with 3x the amount of water your shrimp came in
- Place the jug higher than your shrimp container
- Create a siphon with the airline tubing
- Adjust flow to 1-2 drops per second
3. The Waiting Game
Keep dripping until about 75% of the water is new tank water. During this time:
- Monitor shrimp behavior every 30-60 minutes
- Test water parameters
- Adjust drip rate if needed
Warning Signs to Watch For
Your shrimp will tell you if something’s wrong! Look out for
- Frantic swimming
- Twitching
- Sudden molting
- Clamped tails
- Lethargy
If you see any of these SLOW DOWN the acclimation process!
Pro Tips from My Experience
- Don’t rush it! I’ve learned this the hard way
- Keep the bag dark during transport
- Use a cloth or moss to give shrimp something to hold onto
- Avoid temperature swings during transport
- Never dump old water into your tank
Special Considerations
Different Types of Shrimp
- Cherry shrimp: Pretty hardy, but still need proper acclimation
- Caridina species: Super sensitive, need longer acclimation
- Ghost shrimp: Can handle faster acclimation, but why risk it?
Tank Conditions
Make sure your tank is:
- Fully cycled (3-8 weeks minimum)
- Ammonia and nitrite at 0 ppm
- Nitrates below 20 ppm
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing the process (seriously, don’t!)
- Skipping water parameter tests
- Not using dechlorinator
- Adding too much light during acclimation
- Dumping bag water into your tank
Y’all I know it seems like a lot of work, but proper drip acclimation is literally life or death for your shrimp. Take your time be patient, and your new shrimpies will thank you with long, healthy lives!
Remember: When in doubt, go slower rather than faster. It’s better to spend an extra hour acclimating than to lose your whole batch of shrimp!
Got questions about drip acclimating your shrimp? Drop ’em in the comments below! I’d love to help out fellow shrimp keepers!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this article further?
Plan your day
The acclimation process takes a few hours so it is important to be prepared. That means having all the equipment necessary for proper drip acclimation along with 3-4 hours to pick up and acclimate the shrimp without being rushed. This is not to say you can’t do anything else during that time, but it is recommended you check your acclimation setup every 30-60 mins to ensure water isn’t overflowing.
Depending on how you are buying your shrimp, the process may vary slightly:
Picking up shrimp in-stores: It is important to figure out how to make the trip from the store to your tank as stress-free as possible. The key is to avoid:
- Significant temperature change
- If buying them on a very cold or warm day, then the small amount of water in their bag may change temperature rapidly during your trip home. To avoid this, put the bag in a cooler, Styrofoam box, or other insulated package. Adding ice or a heating pad may seem like a good idea, but they could cause excessive temperature changes as well so it is best to avoid using them.
- Excessive movement
- Just as we do not enjoy earthquakes, your shrimp do not enjoy being sloshed around in the bag when coming home from the store. Don’t be Darla!
- To prevent excessive movement, bring a clean piece of cloth (something that doesn’t leach chemicals into the water) or moss with you to place in with the shrimp. This gives them something to hold onto and reduces their stress levels. Also, avoid having too much air in the bag. More air means more room for the water to move around. If the trip home is less than an hour, then an inch or so of space at the top is all that is required to ensure they have enough oxygen. Lastly, keep the bag somewhere that it won’t roll or shift during the journey home, whether that is in your lap (if you’re not driving) or in a container that won’t slide around.
Ordering online: This is the easiest option that requires little planning, as most online sellers already take the precautions mentioned above to avoid stressing your shrimp. All you need to do is be around for delivery so the package doesn’t sit outside and get too hot or cold, depending on where you live. This concern can be avoided if the seller uses insulated packaging for shipping, which most do.
Once your shrimp arrive safely, it is time to acclimate!
Step Ensure your tank is ready
If you are putting your new shrimp into a freshly cycled tank, it is important to verify that it is actually cycled. This means ammonia and nitrites consistently at 0 ppm and nitrates below 20 ppm for at least a few days, which generally won’t happen for 3-8 weeks after initial setup. If cycling is not done properly, then ammonia levels may shoot up and kill your shrimp. No one wants that.
How To Drip Acclimate Shrimp In 4 EASY Steps (And Why It’s Important!)
FAQ
Is it necessary to drip acclimate shrimp?
Do you really need to drip acclimate shrimp? Well… maybe not. That being said, for as infrequently as you’re going to either get in new shrimp or relocate ones you already have, and given how easy the acclimation process is to do, you might as well give it a go.
How fast should you drip acclimate?
Start Acclimating
Now that the bag is in the drip chamber allow the drip to continue for at least 30 minutes. This will gradually introduce the water from your established tank to the bag, allowing your aquatic life to comfortably adjust to the changing environment.
How soon can you add shrimp to a new tank?
If you do larger water changes, it’s even more important to temperature match the water. Since they need biofilm to graze on, and are very intolerant of ammonia and nitrites, it’s usually recommended to let a tank run for at least 3 months before adding shrimp, and 4 months is better.