NanoAddict

i have a 10g with 2 platies and 6 ghost shrimp

Ive had my ghost shrimp for over a month now and 2 weeks or so ago, i found that one of my ghosts was pure white, not clear at all, white as snow.

i didnt know what to think but it looked fine, and all my parameters are in check.

but now i noticed that ANOTHER shrimp is white!!!

has anybody had any experience with this?

could they be a different breed accidently tossed in with these shrimp?

Alessa

nop... unfortunately, when they turn white they are sick, or sensitive of water conditions and will probably die.


it happened to me....

Lucy

I think (not sure) that when they're ready to molt or just after, they can turn white.

sirdarksol

Yes, they do turn white when they are ready to molt (or, at least, every other creature, including Amano shrimp, turn white when they're ready to molt). That you are seeing them in this condition is a concern, however. Most shrimp that are about to molt will hide. If they're turning white and not hiding underneath a rock or something, I'd go with Alessa's guess of illness, or, perhaps, a lack of iodine that is keeping them from completing molting.
Try giving them a little bit of nori (the stuff they wrap sushi in, you can usually find it in the Asian section of the grocery store). Your fish will like it, too.

NanoAddict

well they arent hiding or anything, so they might be sick.....
so i can try iodine and ill do a little research

musicman4567

The only problem I can see with nori is that you might be relying on the salt in it to get the iodine. If you have a planted tank, the salt can damage those... Just a head's up.

sirdarksol

Salt is not the source of iodine in nori. Nori is a type of sea vegetable that is very, very high in iodine. The nori that I get has absolutely no salt in it at all. It is pure pressed sea vegetable.

musicman4567

I'm well aware of what Nori is (I regularly make sushi), however, there are salted and non-salted versions (my boss is known for handing out the salted version so she can "protect your thyroid"). I guess I didn't state that very well. I was trying to say not to get the salted kind. They also sell seaweed strips at most LFS' that I've seen. Dunno if that is quite as high in iodine though.

NanoAddict

well i did find out that the pellets ive been feeding them has copper sulfate in it, so im gonna have to spoil em and feed them nothing but blood worms for a few days haha

NanoAddict

well i lost a shrimp, and 2 more are white........

soldieroffortune1974

The copper sulfate is definitely the culprit with the shrimp turning white.The copper accumulates in their body.I would quarantine them,change the water in the aquarium they are in to remove the copper dissolved in the water from the pellets.

Clean water over a period of time (without feeding) will remove the copper from the shrimp.Change the water daily adding fresh clean water,should help their recovery.

NanoAddict

yeah i figured

Babygirl

I also have a white shrimp. It has been white for about 2 months now and it is still going strong. I dont know why or what happened to it but it all of a sudden turned white. We have had our water tested and everything is perfectly on and it doesnt seem sick. I swims around 24/7 eats just fine and doesnt seem to have any problems just that its white unlike all the rest of our ghost shrimp.

Lucy

This is a pretty old thread.
I'm sure the situation has been resolved by now.

cmoreland

I'd like to add that my remaining Ghost Shrimp has been white for over a week now, seems lively as ever but the last one died about a week and a half ago. I am treating the tank for ICH with more salt and warmer water. Could this be causing the cloudiness in the shrimp?

I can quarantine him but I don't have any kind of filter or heater or anything like that for it...

Babygirl

Whenever you are treating sick fish you should always remove the ghost shrimp, bottom feeders (unless they are the ones you are treating). They are really susceptible to the medication.

cmoreland

no meds...just a bit more salt than usual.

Babygirl

Then you should be fine.