Sexually Frustrated Fauna

[illumbomb]

Hi,

Just a thought, if we keep say a same species of fish or shrimp in a specimen tank but only keep all of the same sex (either male or female), will this lead to sexual frustration of the fauna and if yes what are the effects (i.e. commit suicide, go bonkers, etc)? Anyone have any experience?

I am asking this because I have a 2.5 months old nano shrimp tank (25cm tank) with GEX substrate, no CO2, no fertilisation, sparsely planted with cryptocorynes and hornworts (after removing all the APP to reduce maintenance), 8hrs of 11W PL light, 30% water change weekly, no ammonia (with test indicator). I had about 10 juvenile male cherry shrimps therein and they are slowly dying on me (i.e. one every week) so I was wondering if it is due to sexual frustration???

Regards,
T S Wang

[torque6]

Not that i know of....

[KeIgO86]

I believe that cherry shrimps only have a life span of a few months. I think your shrimps are dying of old age instead. Its only that in a proper breeding tank, dead carcasses of old shrimps get consumed very quickly by the new generation so you don't observe them dying.

[illumbomb]

Errr, don't really know about the lifespan of a cherry shrimp, but I believe my case should be due to the sudden change in water parameter (other than ammonia, maybe pH?) due to the fact that it is a nano tank. Its just happened that all the shrimps are male shrimps so this thought about the effects of sexual frustration to fauna came into my mind (I have experience of my friend's male doggy which always thumps my leg when I am at his house and thus thought that fishes may display some similar signs too when frustrated).