Rummy Nose Tetras And Cherry Shrimps?

Cherry shrimp are supposed to be one of the easiest shrimp in all types of water. But I'm having problems with them. I bought a total of six of the bright red ones from 2 different shops and I have 1 left. Mine have all died with a crack across their backs which googling leads me to believe is a failed moult, possibly caused by either a diet too rich in protein or one lacking in calcium. And google also found sites saying that the really bright red ones like mine are suffering from over breeding.

Are yours the really bright red ones or the not very red ones? Have yours definitely been killed by the rummies or do they too have a white crack across their backs?

I have no idea how you stop shrimps from eating protein rich fish food. But I have been feeding the tank finely chopped spinach (which is also fine for endlers) in the hopes that will help. I've also bought some more from a third shop, these are red but not bright red. So far I've found three shed skins so at least some of them are moulting successfully.

Hi Sue and Jesnon,
Thanks for the replys.ialsofound 2 skins succesfully shed but out of 5 shrimps those could be from one of the 3 still living. i did buy 4 bright red and one half red half clear like little spots when looking close.
Im not really sure if the rummies are biting the shrimp or if they have just died thats why i was asking if anyone else keeps them together.
As for cracks along the back i cant say i noticed but if i have any more casualties then i will be sure to look for this but hope thats the end of the casualties

Thanks

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the new not-so-red ones. I do know that females are redder than males but I also know that some of my new ones are females. I got three from the third shop week or so ago and I think 2 were males as their abdomens were very shallow. The third has a saddle so is female. We went back on Sunday and I got some more. I appologised the the woman first and asked if she would be prepared to catch me specific shrimp. She said yes so I came home with 2 berried females and one saddled female, a couple more adults of indeterminate sex and some babies about 1/4 inch long. They were priced at so much for 6 and there were 9 in the bag.
I now have 12 paler red shrimp of vaying sizes and 1 bright red. I'm lucky if I can see more than 4 at any one time. I've found 3 shed skins since I got the paler ones, and no dead shrimps. Oh, and I found a very small skin in the bag after I'd acclimated them.

From things I read after my bright red ones started dying, it seems that cherry shrimp are doing a guppy, if you see what I mean. Cherry shrimp are all selectively bred to get the red colour but the very red ones (fire shrimp, sakura shrimp) are even more selectively bred. That's why my new lot are not the bright red kind.



Edit:
I've just found the last bright red shrimp dead with a white crack across its back