Sexy Shrimp Infection ID

[Shawn.B]

just wondering if anyone is able to help me identify this infection / issue with my sexy Shrimp? I have 14 in the tank and at least 4 are showing signs of this white/clear film

 

[EmdeReef]

I don’t have too much experience with shrimp diseases but usually similar in appearance would be molting start or a parasite. Vorticella will do this in freshwater species but I don’t think it survives in saltwater.

How long has this been going on for?

#reefsquad?

 

[Shawn.B]

I don’t have too much experience with shrimp diseases but usually similar in appearance would be molting start or a parasite. Vorticella will do this in freshwater species but I don’t think it survives in saltwater.

How long has this been going on for?

#reefsquad?

It's been at least 2 weeks now which is what really stumps me.. I've done some research and I've found documentation of marine Vorticella but no pictures or treatment stratiges

 

[Jason mack]

Do sexy shrimp molt like other shrimp ...could they be getting ready for that ...I dont know much about them I'm afraid ...

 

[EmdeReef]

It's been at least 2 weeks now which is what really stumps me.. I've done some research and I've found documentation of marine Vorticella but no pictures or treatment stratiges

You could try isolating 1 and treating with antibiotics. I would start with kanaplex then add in furan and metro one by one unless someone had experience treating with all 3 immediately? Are they behaving normal any other issues? Hiding? Not eating?

In general shrimp should tolerate antibiotics.

 

[Shawn.B]

You could try isolating 1 and treating with antibiotics. I would start with kanaplex then add in furan and metro one by one unless someone had experience treating with all 3 immediately? Are they behaving normal any other issues? Hiding? Not eating?

In general shrimp should tolerate antibiotics.

Thanks for the advice, from what I can tell the shrimp are behaving normal, eating pellets and frozen, they seem to be out and about like normal also

 

[rkpetersen]

You could try isolating 1 and treating with antibiotics. I would start with kanaplex then add in furan and metro one by one unless someone had experience treating with all 3 immediately? Are they behaving normal any other issues? Hiding? Not eating?

In general shrimp should tolerate antibiotics.

This is wild, I've never seen it on my sexy crew, it looks like thousands of tiny particles in a thick layer of mucus. And they're acting normally? OP, if you wind up doing anything like this, consider taking 2 and sacrificing one for some microscopic images, if that's at all available to you. If it's a protozoan and not bacterial, antibacterial treatment might not do much.

 

[Shawn.B]

This is wild, I've never seen it on my sexy crew, it looks like thousands of tiny particles in a thick layer of mucus. And they're acting normally? OP, if you wind up doing anything like this, consider taking 2 and sacrificing one for some microscopic images, if that's at all available to you. If it's a protozoan and not bacterial, antibacterial treatment might not do much.

I have access to a microscope and gram stain kit at work, my GF is a vetrinary student.. we are waiting to hear back from one of here aquatics professors then we may attempt a scraping

 

[sdcosta]

To me it looks like it could be a fungus (when you compare it to freshwater shrimp which I believe is treated with erythromycin), if its been on the shrimp for so long Id say its not molting. Def interested in what you find from a scraping

 

[andrewkw]

I've kept Sexy Shrimp several times for several years and I've never seen anything like this. It is good they are acting normal. If you are going to treat I'd start with one to see how it does since there does not appear to be much information. Are there any water quality issues in their setup?

One possible suggestion would be to feed them a bit more and hope the problem corrects itself after they molt.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I had what looked similar to this in one of my nano tanks that has a pair of sexy shrimp. Again similar, I was stumped with what it was, and a friend of mine who has a ton of fire shrimp suggested I test my iodine and see where it stood. Well, it was almost nonexistent. I started to dose Iodine (the safe kind) and a few days later they molted and have been good ever since. I do not dose more then a few drops a week, but the shrimp have been so much more colorful and molt more often now. My LPS also seem to like the Iodine as well and have gotten slightly brighter. Now this may not be your issue, but mine looked just like the "fuzz" that is on yours. It is at least worth a check, before sacrificing one for testing.

 

[Katrina71]

Please post your progress with pics. I am getting some of these guys in the near future. I'm learning.

 

[Shawn.B]

I've kept Sexy Shrimp several times for several years and I've never seen anything like this. It is good they are acting normal. If you are going to treat I'd start with one to see how it does since there does not appear to be much information. Are there any water quality issues in their setup?

One possible suggestion would be to feed them a bit more and hope the problem corrects itself after they molt.

The setups water quality is fairly good, I'm growing Seagrass also and I'm actually doing nitrate and phosphate to keep the levels above 0

 

[Shawn.B]

I had what looked similar to this in one of my nano tanks that has a pair of sexy shrimp. Again similar, I was stumped with what it was, and a friend of mine who has a ton of fire shrimp suggested I test my iodine and see where it stood. Well, it was almost nonexistent. I started to dose Iodine (the safe kind) and a few days later they molted and have been good ever since. I do not dose more then a few drops a week, but the shrimp have been so much more colorful and molt more often now. My LPS also seem to like the Iodine as well and have gotten slightly brighter. Now this may not be your issue, but mine looked just like the "fuzz" that is on yours. It is at least worth a check, before sacrificing one for testing.

Very interesting! Unfortunately I don't know if I can get my hands on an iodine test fast, but at this point I'm not against a blind dosing at a low level, I'm currently using IO and do weekly water changes, perhaps it's lacking the trace iodine they need

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I use Seachem Reef Iodine and just dose what the bottle says, mine are in a 20 gallon DIY all in one (20l tank) that uses IO as well. I think its a cap full (5ml for every 50 gallons, hence me using a dropper lol) every few days. I add a few drops to my nano every week as it may be a 20l tank, but having the DIY all in one area, and sand, rocks, it maybe has 10 gallons of actual water in it. The only reason I use this brand, as the tank is at work, and there is a Petco 2 miles from work. There may be other brands to use that will achieve the same thing.

Again, this is just a guess, as it worked with my pair in only a few days. But I cannot say it will fix it for you.

Either way, keep us posted, as I just put 20 of the little ones in my 45 JBJ to run all over the bubble nems that are in there lol. if it is something I haven't seen, would like to know the solution if I ever encounter it.

 

[rkpetersen]

Very interesting! Unfortunately I don't know if I can get my hands on an iodine test fast, but at this point I'm not against a blind dosing at a low level, I'm currently using IO and do weekly water changes, perhaps it's lacking the trace iodine they need

The available hobbyist iodine test kits aren't very good anyway. To get a reasonably accurate number, an ICP-OES test should be sent in. If blind dosing, exactly right start it out low, perhaps 1/4 - 1/2 of what the particular product recommends.

 

[andrewkw]

Very interesting! Unfortunately I don't know if I can get my hands on an iodine test fast, but at this point I'm not against a blind dosing at a low level, I'm currently using IO and do weekly water changes, perhaps it's lacking the trace iodine they need

Never used iodine test kit but you can get this shipped to you next day
http://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-store/Salifert-Iodine-Test-Kit.html

 

[Eagle_Steve]

The available hobbyist iodine test kits aren't very good anyway. To get a reasonably accurate number, an ICP-OES test should be sent in. If blind dosing, exactly right start it out low, perhaps 1/4 - 1/2 of what the particular product recommends.

Thanks for bringing that up @rkpetersen . I completely forgot that part. Mine was tested with an ICP test initially, as I had no issue waiting for it as the shrimp were doing fine, just looked funny, and already had the ICP kits for all of my tanks. It did make me get off my butt and send the samples in quicker lol. But you are right in the do not do a full dose. I only dose 2-3 small drops a week, and the product recommends 1ml for my water volume. Will be sending another battery of kits out after the holidays to see where all mine are at though.

 

[Stigigemla]

Giesemann has a pretty good Iodine test. It is much easier to read than Salifert.
It is a German brand and I dont know it is available in the US.

 

[Shawn.B]

Giesemann has a pretty good Iodine test. It is much easier to read than Salifert.
It is a German brand and I dont know it is available in the US.

good to know, Thanks!