Hey fellow shrimp lovers! I’ve been keeping shrimp for over 5 years now, and lemme tell you – proper acclimation is super important for these little guys. Today, I’m gonna share my tried-and-tested method for drip acclimating shrimp that’s helped me maintain thriving colonies.
Why Should You Even Care About Drip Acclimation?
Here’s the deal – shrimp are crazy sensitive to water changes Unlike hardy fish that can handle being plopped into new water, shrimp need a gentler approach Rushing the process is basically asking for trouble
- Stressed shrimp = molting problems
- Parameter shock = dead shrimp (nobody wants that!)
- Quick changes = unhappy shrimp that hide forever
What You’ll Need for Drip Acclimation
Before we dive in, grab these supplies:
- Airline tubing (about 3 feet long)
- Container/bucket (2x bigger than shipping bag)
- Shrimp net
- Water conditioner (I recommend Seachem Prime)
- A bit of patience (trust me, it’s worth it!)
Step-by-Step Drip Acclimation Process
1. Prep Work is Key
First things first
- Turn off those bright aquarium lights! New shrimp hate bright lights
- Get your container ready
- Check tank temperature matches shipping water
- Have your supplies within reach
2. Initial Inspection
Before starting:
- Look for any dead shrimp (hopefully none!)
- Check for signs of disease
- Watch their behavior – active is good, lethargic not so much
3. The Bag Opening Process
Here’s a pro tip many forget: Those sealed bags can trap CO2, which messes with pH levels. Here’s what ya do:
- Add a tiny drop of dechlorinator to the bag
- Carefully pour shrimp and water into your container
- Remove any dead shrimp if found (hopefully not!)
4. Setting Up the Drip
This is where the magic happens:
- Place container BELOW tank level
- Put one end of airline tubing in tank
- Tie a loose knot in middle of tube
- Start siphon (yeah, you gotta suck on the tube – welcome to the hobby!)
- Adjust knot for 1-2 drops per second
5. The Waiting Game
Now comes the patient part:
- Wait until container has 75% tank water
- Usually takes 1-2 hours (perfect time to binge some YouTube!)
- Longer acclimation = better results for sensitive species
6. The Big Move
Finally:
- Use net to catch shrimp
- DON’T pour old water in tank
- Gently release shrimp into their new home
Common Mistakes to Avoid
We’ve all been there! Here’s what not to do:
- Don’t rush the process (seriously!)
- Skip the “plop and drop” method
- Never pour acclimation water into tank
- Don’t expose to bright lights during acclimation
How to Know If Acclimation Was Successful
Good signs:
- Shrimp exploring their new home
- Normal swimming patterns
- Starting to graze on surfaces
Bad signs:
- Frantic swimming
- Twitching or spasming
- Floating motionless
Final Thoughts
Drip acclimation might seem like overkill, but trust me – your shrimp will thank you! I’ve learned these lessons the hard way, and now my colonies are thriving. Remember, successful shrimp keeping is all about patience and attention to detail.
Got questions about drip acclimation? Drop ’em in the comments! We’re all here to learn and share experiences.
Quick Summary Table
| Stage | Duration | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Prep | 5 mins | Gather supplies, dim lights |
| Initial Check | 5 mins | Inspect shrimp health |
| Drip Setup | 10 mins | Create proper drip rate |
| Acclimation | 1-2 hours | Monitor progress |
| Transfer | 5 mins | Net shrimp carefully |
Remember: Every shrimp species is different – some might need longer acclimation times, especially sensitive varieties like Crystal Reds!
Acclimation Methods: Which is Best?
There are two main ways of acclimating fauna to a new aquarium: The “plop and drop” method and the “drip acclimation” method.
The “plop and drop” is a quick and easy way of acclimating fauna that focuses solely on adjusting the temperature of the water. Essentially, you acclimate the fauna to your tanks water temperature simply by floating the bag in the tank for at least 15 minutes before releasing them into your aquarium.
However, the plop and drop technique will not cut it for shrimp or other sensitive fauna because it does not allow them to acclimate to the other water parameters (such as pH, ammonia levels, etc.) Its important to note that the drastic difference between your tanks water parameters and the parameters of the water in their bag could still send them into shock. Temperature acclimation alone will not be sufficient for fairly sensitive species like freshwater shrimp.
On the other hand, the “drip acclimation” method will allow your new fauna to slowly acclimate to all of the water parameters of your tank, making for a smoother transition from the bag to the aquarium. This will lower the chances of the drastic difference between your tanks water and the bags water being detrimental to your fauna.
Shocking your shrimp or fish with methods like the “plop and drop” method can put them at risk of experiencing instant health problems and potentially dying. For that reason, the best acclimation procedure for new shrimp and other sensitive fauna is the drip method.
Green Jade Shrimp grazing on moss
The Drip Method Step-by-Step Guide
Before you begin, be sure to dim, reduce, or completely shut off your aquarium lighting. Suddenly exposing your shrimp or fish to bright lights can cause them to feel stressed with nowhere to hide. Lowering your lighting will allow for a calmer experience as they adjust to your tank.
Afterward, be sure to gather the following:
- Shrimp net – After the acclimation is complete, this net will be used to transfer the shrimp or fish into your tank.
- Bucket or small container – Make sure the container is large enough to contain at least double the amount of the water in the bag containing the new fauna.
- Airline tubing – Small tubing that will be used to siphon water from your tank to the container. To make the process easier, make sure the tubing is about 3 feet long.
- Dechlorinator/detoxifier – Such as SL-Aqua Stabilizer+. Not absolutely necessary in all cases, but recommended. Have a small amount ready. You may need just a drop for Step 3.
Before beginning the dip acclimation process, inspect your shrimp to see how they’re doing. Look for any parasites and for any dead shrimp.
If you see issues (and you bought them online), make sure to take pictures of the affected shrimp in the unopened bag. Upstanding online retailers (like Buce Plant) have a 100% live arrival guarantee and will do their best to make it right as long as proof is provided.
- Side note: Ideally, youll be acclimating your fauna to a previously set up quarantine tank. We understand that many hobbyists dont use a quarantine tank, but its a great safety precaution for aquarium owners who are wary of potentially spreading parasites and disease to their existing tank. If you do notice any parasites, your shrimp will absolutely need to be quarantined and treated appropriately prior to adding to your aquarium.
Healthy Crystal Red Shrimp enjoying their new aquarium
Before opening the bag, its important to understand that if the bag is “non-breathable,” then there may be a buildup of CO2 trapped inside of the bag. This causes the pH of the water to drop. In water with low pH like this, ammonia is less toxic, so the shrimp should be fine if there’s not an overwhelming amount in the water. However, once the bag is opened and the water is exposed to oxygen, the pH may swing and the toxicity of the ammonia can become deadly.
- Note: If there are any dead shrimp, you can add a drop of detoxifier (like SL-Aqua Stabilizer+) to the water once the bag is open. You can still do this as a precaution, even if there were no DOAs (shrimp that were dead on arrival.) This will help neutralize the excess ammonia and improve the water quality. Once the detoxifier is added, you can remove any dead shrimp from the container.
Open the bag and gently pour the water and all shrimp from the bag into a container or bucket that can hold at least double the amount of water from the bag. This is because water from your tank will be added to the container, so you will need more room for more water.
First, make sure that your container with your shrimp is sitting lower than your tank (this will allow for an easy siphon.)
Then, grab the airline tubing and clip a part of the tubing to the tank so that the end will stay submerged underwater.
Next, tie a loose knot in the middle of the tubing. Start a siphon by sucking lightly on the other end to get the water flowing. Once it’s going, quickly tighten the knot in the middle of the tubing until you see that the water is coming out at the other end in droplets. Adjust the knot until you can get a rate of 1-2 drops per second dripping into your shrimp container.
As the water from the tank slowly drips into the container holding the shrimp, the water parameters in the shrimps container will gradually get closer to matching the parameters of your tank.
Wait until the amount of water that was originally in the container doubles before transferring the shrimp into their new home. To better explain, once the total amount of water in the container is 50% bag water and 50% tank water, then it is time to transfer your shrimp. This could take 1-2 hours depending on the drip rate and the original amount of water that was in the bag.
- Note: If you want to play it even safer, you can wait even longer before adding the shrimp, until the total amount of water in the container is 25% bag water and 75% tank water.
When moving the shrimp into the tank, do not pour the water in the container into the tank. You do not want any of the ammonia or any harmful bacteria that is potentially lingering from the bag water to enter your aquarium. In order to avoid contamination, use a shrimp net to scoop the shrimp out of the container and release them into the tank.
Finally, we can step back and watch our new pets in their new home. Observe your shrimp (or fish) and make sure they look like they’re doing okay.
If you notice your fauna twitching/spasming or darting around the tank, this is a sign that they are stressed. For shrimp, if they suddenly jump up and freeze while mid-air (or mid-water?) before slowly descending back down, this is also a sign that they are stressed. If multiple shrimp are doing this repeatedly, that is not a good sign.
However, if they are just crawling around and exploring, then this is a sign that their acclimation was a success.
Blue Bolt Shrimp scavenging for food
Shrimp are quite sensitive compared to other aquatic pets, but if they are properly acclimated into a well-established planted tank, they will thrive in their new homes! Shrimp-only tanks can require less maintenance as there is less waste being built up; especially if they’re kept in tanks with plenty of aquatic plants. Once they’re comfortable in their environment, they can start breeding, and you may soon have a huge colony of shrimp in your aquarium!
For more information on freshwater shrimp care, check out these articles:
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How To Drip Acclimate Shrimp In 4 EASY Steps (And Why It’s Important!)
FAQ
How long should I drip acclimate shrimp?
How long do I need to drip acclimate?
Standard Acclimation:
Do this every 5-10 minutes until the bag is completely full of water. This should take 20-45 minutes depending on the fish and how well they handle the acclimation.
How to acclimate shrimp?
To acclimate shrimp, use the drip method. Drip acclimating shrimp helps reduce shock, which can affect their survival and cause stress or even death. Therefore, acclimating shrimp by the drip method is crucial for their adjustment to a new environment.
How does drip acclimation work?
Drip acclimation is the process of setting up a small tube to slowly drip your new water from a cycled tank into their current water until the majority of the water is new. When receiving new shrimp via a courier, it’s likely they’ve been in almost complete darkness for a day, or longer.
Do shrimp die in triple water?
Once there is triple the water that you had originally begun with, the shrimp are ready to your aquarium. The main reason for this step is to avoid TDS and pH shock for your shrimp. TDS shock is one of the main killers of shrimp especially as they acclimate to the tank. They might not die right away.