Hi all,
i know thats a forum dedicated to fish disease, but i still think its the right place to ask:
In our main tank (320 g mixed reef) we are having huge problems keeping shrimp alive. We tried different species (Lysmata amboinensis, Lysmata debelius and Lysmata wundermanni) in the course of over a year, and werent able to keep one longer than maybe a month.
The picture is always fairly similar: First the shrimps seem active and feeding, but they go into hiding more and more. Also they dont seem to offer cleaning services to fish anymore. Usually one morning they are just missing not to be seen again.
First i suspected i mantis shrimp (there is a small one in the tank...) but today morning i found the last Lysmata amboinensis (added about 4 weeks ago) lethargic and close to death without any signs of physical injury. - So i dont think its a predator. Furthermore the predator therory would not explain the behavioral change in the animals.
In some of the shrimps i could see darkened gills, like in this picture taken from the wetwebmedia page, directing towards "black gill disease":
Further observations:
I could witness any of the shrimps motling and also never found a skin of a molted shrimp.
In a frag tank (same water as in the main tank) a Lysmata kuekenthali lives already for many months without apparent problem, also molting without issues.
Salinity is at 35.5 psu, all common chemical parameters are within range, ICP is testing negative for elevated heavy metals and iodine is supplemented daily. Water is exchanges weekly (5-10%).
I also tried letting the main tank fallow on shrimps and didnt add a new one for over 2 months... without any success.
I would really like to be able keeping those fantastic creatures since they also add a lot of value to the fish population. Any help would be very much appreciated!
Best regards,
Christoph
i know thats a forum dedicated to fish disease, but i still think its the right place to ask:
In our main tank (320 g mixed reef) we are having huge problems keeping shrimp alive. We tried different species (Lysmata amboinensis, Lysmata debelius and Lysmata wundermanni) in the course of over a year, and werent able to keep one longer than maybe a month.
The picture is always fairly similar: First the shrimps seem active and feeding, but they go into hiding more and more. Also they dont seem to offer cleaning services to fish anymore. Usually one morning they are just missing not to be seen again.
First i suspected i mantis shrimp (there is a small one in the tank...) but today morning i found the last Lysmata amboinensis (added about 4 weeks ago) lethargic and close to death without any signs of physical injury. - So i dont think its a predator. Furthermore the predator therory would not explain the behavioral change in the animals.
In some of the shrimps i could see darkened gills, like in this picture taken from the wetwebmedia page, directing towards "black gill disease":
Further observations:
I could witness any of the shrimps motling and also never found a skin of a molted shrimp.
In a frag tank (same water as in the main tank) a Lysmata kuekenthali lives already for many months without apparent problem, also molting without issues.
Salinity is at 35.5 psu, all common chemical parameters are within range, ICP is testing negative for elevated heavy metals and iodine is supplemented daily. Water is exchanges weekly (5-10%).
I also tried letting the main tank fallow on shrimps and didnt add a new one for over 2 months... without any success.
I would really like to be able keeping those fantastic creatures since they also add a lot of value to the fish population. Any help would be very much appreciated!
Best regards,
Christoph
