Care library / Health

Health guide, not a diagnosis · Serious if left

Failed moult (shrimp)

Also called white ring of death, moulting problem, molting

Signs

A white ring between head and tail
Shrimp dying during or after moulting

Cause

Water too soft or too hard, big swings in water values, or poor diet.

What to do

Keep water stable with small, matched water changes; check GH and KH for the species; feed mineral-rich food.

If a fish is badly ill, talk to an aquatic vet.

Prevention

Stable water; no big water changes.

Species often affected

21 species

Cherry shrimpNeocaridina davidi

Easy3 cm18–28 °C

Amano shrimpCaridina multidentata

Easy3.5 cm20–28 °C

Crystal red shrimpCaridina cantonensis

Moderate3 cm20–24 °C

Ghost shrimpPalaemon paludosus

Easy4 cm20–27 °C

Bamboo shrimpAtyopsis moluccensis

Moderate7 cm23–28 °C

Vampire shrimpAtya gabonensis

Moderate15 cm24–29 °C

Blue bolt shrimpCaridina cantonensis

Moderate3 cm21–25 °C

Taiwan bee shrimpCaridina cantonensis

Hard3 cm21–25 °C

Tiger shrimpCaridina mariae

Moderate3 cm20–25 °C

Cardinal shrimpCaridina dennerli

Hard2.5 cm28–30 °C

Sulawesi spinata shrimpCaridina spinata

Hard2.5 cm28–30 °C

Malawa shrimpCaridina parvidentata

Easy1.5 cm16–30 °C

Red-nose shrimpGracidina gracilirostris

Easy4 cm20–28 °C

Babaulti shrimpCaridina babaulti

Easy4 cm24–28 °C

Ninja shrimpMarosina serratirostris

Easy3 cm24–28 °C

Bumblebee shrimpCaridina sp. (bumblebee shrimp complex; often sold as Caridina cf. breviata)

Moderate3 cm17–24 °C

Singapore flower shrimpAtyopsis spinipes

Moderate7 cm22–28 °C

Giant freshwater prawnMacrobrachium rosenbergii

Moderate32 cm25–30 °C

Whisker shrimpMacrobrachium assamense

Zhangjiajie shrimpNeocaridina zhangjiajiensis

Australian glass shrimpParatya australiensis