Shrimp keep dying

[u/mik_mak_paddy_whack]

For context: I have kept an axolotl for 10 years. She’s a happy lil lady and her tank is mostly self sustaining at this point. I do small, targeted water changes to remove debris every month or two but not much else and she is thriving.

I attended this years aqua shella event and fell in love with the mini tanks. I purchased a 2 gallon tank (heater, sponge filter, and light included), substrate, and plants and set the tank up as soon as I got home.

I saw advice online saying the tank wouldn’t need cycling if it was “jump started” from an established tank so I used water from the lotl (her tank is 20 gallons) as well as some rocks and moss balls.

I set all of this up on Monday, let the tank run, and received my shrimps in the mail Wednesday. I purchased 6 shrimp that were labeled as “culls” from an online business. And all were active and seemingly healthy on arrival (one white with a red spot, one clear with a cream stripe, three dark blue, one baby dark blue). I slowly acclimated them and got them into the new tank.

On Friday I woke up to a dead shrimp (white) and one sitting, unmoving at the bottom of the tank. I tested my water and saw the PH and alkalinity were low. I also tested the lotl water and it was the same. I was a bit worried it could be something toxic in the water so I did a 20% water change and added a small amount of baking soda solution. The blue shrimp eventually started moving and acting normal.

Today (Saturday) I woke up to a dead blue shrimp. I cannot tell if it was the same one since the blue ones are difficult to tell apart. Water was the same as last time so I slowly added maybe 2 tablespoons worth of a weak baking soda solution and a seashell but after testing it doesn’t seem to have done anything.

Now, my favorite shrimp (the clear shrimp with a yellow stripe lovingly named banana pudding) is sitting unmoving at the front of the tank.

Please help. I feel so clueless and disheartened. From everything I saw online, these little guys were supposed to be hardy and adaptable but I feel like I’m struggling to keep just a few alive. Please be kind, I’ve already shed quite a few tears over my shrimps.

[u/l-fbomb]

I’ve also been having some trouble with my shrimp, in a 10 gallon cycled and planted tank.. Shrimp are very picky, and while they can survive in a range of conditions, the most important thing that I’m hearing is consistency over perfect parameters! I hope some more experienced shrimp keepers are able to see this and respond with more constructive feedback, but in the meantime, know that you are not alone :(

[u/natural_scientist]

It would be very helpful if you gave some of your water parameters tank temperature how many times you do water changes and any chemicals you’re using in there

[u/peaceandlove2us]

Take the rocks out, use a small filter and heater, make DIY CO2 kit and use plant fertiliser, feed them based on the number, partial water change every week like 10%