I purchased some inverts about a month ago, three of which were peppermint shrimp, I just recently noticed a bump on the side of one of the peppermint shrimp, and after doing some research, figured out that it could be a parasitic isopode (did I spell that right?). It's also possible that it's just a bump that he will eventually molt off, but I don't want to take any chances and risk infecting fish or other critters, so I'd like to get some opinions. Does this look like an isopode? Should I remove and quarantine the shrimp? Can this affect any other tank inhabitants?
Bump on peppermint shrimp?
- Thread starter R33fk33p3r
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Yep, that is a parasite. Yuck. I would try to catch him and remove if possible. You need to gently cut the little parasite out. Granted, I have never actually done it because I could never catch my infected one prior to death. I do not recall it affecting others though.
Okay, I will do my best to try to remove him (not sure if it'll be possible). I'm mainly just worried about him dying and the parasite moving on to a different host, but if this won't happen, that eases my mind a bit. Any idea how he got this parasite?
From my understanding as I have seen them every now and then (not on my own often - twice I think) but at stores, etc. They get on them wherever they are held or in wild. If captive bred, should not occur, but may have contaminated system.
That's what I figured, I've never seen any parasites in my tank, and I'm guessing this thing wouldn't just be floating around in there with no host. Must be a wild caught shrimp, I asked about it at the store that I bought the shrimp from, they said they've never seen something like that in their tanks, and I didn't see anything like it there either, they said maybe the shrimp is pregnant, but I've never seen a pregnant shrimp, so it's tough for me to tell. I haven't removed it yet, and it's been like that for at least a week now, shrimp doesn't seem bothered by it all, so I'm thinking I may just leave it. Thanks for your help, any other advice is welcome if you have any.
Nope. Shrimp carry the eggs around on their abdominal area. It is a parasite. 
