Let me tell you something interesting – when I first started keeping shrimp, I used to panic every time I found a dead one in my tank. But after years of experience, I’ve learned when to worry and when to let nature take its course. Let me share what I’ve discovered!
Quick Answer
In most cases, you should remove dead shrimp from your tank as soon as you spot them. Dead shrimp can release harmful ammonia and potentially spread diseases to your remaining shrimp colony. However, there are some situations where it’s okay to leave them – I’ll explain more below!
Why You Should Remove Dead Shrimp
1. Water Quality Issues
- Dead shrimp decompose quickly in warm water
- Release dangerous ammonia into the tank
- Can trigger dangerous ammonia spikes, especially in smaller tanks
- Even small amounts of ammonia (above 0.03 ppm) can harm your shrimp
2. Disease Risks
- Dead shrimp might have died from illness or parasites
- Can spread diseases to healthy shrimp
- Better safe than sorry – if you don’t know the cause of death, remove it!
When It’s OK to Leave Dead Shrimp
Sometimes, I actually leave dead shrimp in my tank. Here’s when it’s generally safe:
-
Large, Healthy Colony
- When you have lots of healthy shrimp
- If the shrimp died from old age (not disease)
- Other shrimp will usually eat it within 24 hours
-
Bigger Tanks
- Larger water volume dilutes harmful chemicals
- 10-gallon tanks handle dead shrimp better than 2-gallon tanks
- More stable water parameters
-
Active Clean-up Crew
- Living shrimp are excellent scavengers
- They’ll typically clean up dead tankmates quickly
- Just make sure to remove any leftovers after a day
Pro Tips for Removing Dead Shrimp
Here’s what I’ve found works best for removing dead shrimp:
-
Tools You Can Use:
- Airline tubing as a mini-siphon
- Long tweezers (12-inch)
- Plastic pipette with enlarged opening
- Chopsticks (if you’re skilled with them!)
-
Hard-to-Reach Places:
- Use airline tubing to suck them out
- Try during water changes
- Consider moving decorations if necessary
Don’t Get Fooled! Molt vs Dead Shrimp
Here’s a funny story – when I first started, I used to mistake molts for dead shrimp all the time! Here’s how to tell the difference
Dead Shrimp
- Changes color
- Solid body
- Might look cloudy
- Often curled up
Molt:
- Clear/translucent
- Split down the middle
- Empty inside
- Looks like a ghost shrimp
Pro tip: Don’t remove molts! Your shrimp actually eat them to recover calcium.
Common Causes of Shrimp Death
If you’re finding dead shrimp, check these common causes:
- Poor acclimation
- Sudden temperature changes
- High ammonia/nitrites
- Copper exposure
- Disease
- pH swings
- Chlorine in water
- Pesticides from new plants
Monitor Your Tank
After finding dead shrimp, I always:
- Check water parameters
- Look for signs of stress in other shrimp
- Monitor ammonia levels
- Watch for unusual behavior
Bottom Line
Look, losing shrimp is part of the hobby – it happens to all of us! The key is being proactive and knowing when to intervene. In my experience, it’s better to err on the side of caution and remove dead shrimp when you spot them, especially in smaller tanks or if you’re not sure why they died.
Remember, every tank is different, so you’ll need to find what works best for your setup. Keep an eye on those water parameters, and your shrimp colony should thrive!
Want more tips about shrimp keeping? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear about your experiences too!
Healthy shrimp colony
The risk of spreading diseases, illnesses, and parasites are lower if the shrimp just died of old age. So, if you see that they all seem to be pretty happy and healthy, there is no need to panic.
Shrimp are one of the best scavengers you can wish for. They have a reputation for being amazing aquarium cleaners. It means that they can eat any organic matter that falls on the bottom of the tank, including other dead shrimp.
Number of dead and live shrimp
Even if your shrimp died of old age, the main risk would be the release of ammonia.
Therefore, your shrimp colony should be large enough to consume the dead corpse within a day. In most cases, in a shrimp tank with large colonies, you will not even see the loss.
If for some reason dead shrimp is still in the tank – ‘leftovers’ must be removed anyway.
For more information, read “How Often and How Much to Feed Shrimp”.
Note: Dead shrimp also give off toxic byproducts like cadaverine and putrescene. However, because shrimp are pretty small animals, they do not release as many toxins as a dead snail or fish.
10 Most Common Reasons Why Shrimp Die!
FAQ
Can I fish with dead shrimp?
Ways to effectively rig and fish dead shrimp are endless. A small piece used to tip the hook of a jighead/plastic tail combo can be the spice that makes all the difference. Tied under a cork and tossed close to the bank or on a point is a most-effective way to catch a fish, especially redfish.
Are Ghost Shrimp dead or molting?
As long as they shrimp are there, all is good. The important thing to know is that Ghost Shrimp molt as they eat and grow. So as long they are actively feeding and moving about, it’s normal for them to molt often. Molting just means they are healthy and growing larger.
Can you leave dead shrimp in a tank?
As a rule of thumb, if the death was natural, like old age, it’s probably safe and healthy to leave the dead shrimp in the tank. Shrimp are detritivores, meaning they’ll eat both plants and dead organic material, so will happily eat other late shrimp. Eating their own is strangely a great way to ensure they get all of the nutrients they need.
What happens if a shrimp dies in a tank?
Having a dead shrimp in the tank can potentially spread infectious diseases and parasites to other shrimp. This is why, to avoid such incidents, they often should be removed from the tank immediately. At the same time, the level of risk also mainly depends on your tank set up and how the shrimp died.
How long should a dead shrimp colony last?
Therefore, your shrimp colony should be large enough to consume the dead corpse within a day. In most cases, in a shrimp tank with large colonies, you will not even see the loss. If for some reason dead shrimp is still in the tank – ‘leftovers’ must be removed anyway.
What happens if a shrimp dies of old age?
Even if your shrimp died of old age, the main risk would be the release of ammonia. Therefore, your shrimp colony should be large enough to consume the dead corpse within a day. In most cases, in a shrimp tank with large colonies, you will not even see the loss.
What happens if you eat a decomposing shrimp?
A decomposing shrimp body will quickly rot in the warm releasing large amounts of ammonia (NH3) into the water. Ammonia poisoning can be a real danger to other shrimp. Exposure to ammonia can increase the risk of pathogens emergence because it leads to a weak immune system.
Are shrimp good scavengers?
Shrimp are one of the best scavengers you can wish for. They have a reputation for being amazing aquarium cleaners. It means that they can eat any organic matter that falls on the bottom of the tank, including other dead shrimp. 2. Number of dead and live shrimp Even if your shrimp died of old age, the main risk would be the release of ammonia.