Fire Red pass away while shelling

**nick_tks** · 16th Sep 2010, 09:25

Dear brothers,
i need some advises from you. Isn't normal to see shrimps dies off while they change their shells? What could be the possible some this to happened? I just saw my fire red pass away last nite after struggling to remove it's shell. Thanks

**eviltrain** · 16th Sep 2010, 10:12

you have to check your water parameter. i guess its due to the water hardness.

**sword28** · 16th Sep 2010, 10:15

if it dies while struggling to remove its shell, this means the shell is too hard and the water GH might be high.
if it dies a while after removing its shell, this means the water might be too soft and it has difficulty forming new shell to protect itself.

**nick_tks** · 16th Sep 2010, 10:26

Oh, so tats the case... Thanks for your valuable advises...

**nick_tks** · 16th Sep 2010, 14:32

by the way, is there any ways to improve on the condition of the water if its too hard? i think my water might be too hard due to the shrimp dies while struggling to remove its shell. Thank you for your valuable advises

**nick_tks** · 17th Sep 2010, 11:17

Is soft water better condition for the shrimps to breed? How do i improve on the water condition if its too hard? Thanks

**sword28** · 17th Sep 2010, 11:45

Originally Posted by nick_tks

by the way, is there any ways to improve on the condition of the water if its too hard? i think my water might be too hard due to the shrimp dies while struggling to remove its shell. Thank you for your valuable advises

you might want to read this thread
have you measure your GH?
measure it first before doing anything.

**Navanod** · 17th Sep 2010, 12:05

Firstly, please go get a GH test kit. Don't "think" that your water is too hard, confirm it. GH kits are not very expensive, especially considering that you're keeping fire reds and not cherries.
Both very hard and very soft water will cause problems for shrimps. You have to strike a balance and not just lower hardness all the way till the water is too soft