What is that on my Cleaner Shrimp?

[Blake423]

Hi,

I just got this cleaner shrimp about 2 weeks ago, today I noticed there is a black mark on its body.
Anybody know what that is and how to remove it?

 

[JGT]

There is a disease called black spot that affects shrimp. Could be that.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi,

I just got this cleaner shrimp about 2 weeks ago, today I noticed there is a black mark on its body.
Anybody know what that is and how to remove it?

Lysmata shrimp frequently show up with a parasitic epicaridean isopod living under their shells, but those are white. There is another issue that affects captive crustaceans that we call "black spot disease". It is usually bacterial, at the site of an injury. There is no treatment for this - a shrimp's shell does not grow or heal. The only thing is if the shrimp molts it may lose the infection because the outer skin is shed and new skin replaces it underneath.

Jay

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Probably a birthmark

 

[Blake423]

Update!

My cleaner shrimp just moulted this morning, and the black mark is gone. But there is a scar on the same spot. Hope the next molt will take care of that scar.

Funny thing is my cynarina coral tried to eat the molt.

Thank you all for your knowledge and information, great forum, greate people!

 

[ariellemermaid]

Is this similar to what you were seeing?

One of my shrimp looks perfect, one has all these black spots.