Peppermint Shrimp is a MENACE!

[SaltWaterAdam]

mucus, like excess slime?
can you post a new pic?

Not really excess slime, more like sloughing scales...that make sense?

Here are a couple pics I just snapped. Let me know. BTW I really appreciate everyone's input! Sure helps a new guy!:beer:

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

Update 8/14/13.... Damsel: dead

 

[Rea17]

Sorry to hear that =/ It's hard to tell exactly what was wrong from the pictures. Almost looks like brooklynella to me, an ailment clownfish are known for.

 

[Travis Rohrbach]

That's bizarre did you rule out the peppermint for sure?

 

[desjardinii]

I know you said it tested 0 but the symptoms do sound like ammonia, ragged fins, scales sloughing, lethargy etc. Could explain the missing shrimp to. Tank been set up for long?

 

[Wolverine]

Sorry to hear about it.
Aside from the hitchhiker possibility, you also have to make sure that what you have are true peppermint shrimp. There are a few species that look similar, but behave very, very differently, and I've seen them mislabeled as "peppermints" in stores.

As for the one disappearing, I wouldn't be so sure. You'd be amazed at how well they can hide. I had one in a 20g tank that would disappear for months at a time (including me watching for many nights and feeding at night). I still have no idea where it went during those times.

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

I know you said it tested 0 but the symptoms do sound like ammonia, ragged fins, scales sloughing, lethargy etc. Could explain the missing shrimp to. Tank been set up for long?

I tested ammonia daily and have been getting undetectable amounts, so I would rule that out... also Dominos are one of the hardiest of the damels when it comes to crappy water conditions... I'm thinking Fin Rot or maybe like someone posted above it could have been Brook.

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

Sorry to hear about it.
Aside from the hitchhiker possibility, you also have to make sure that what you have are true peppermint shrimp. There are a few species that look similar, but behave very, very differently, and I've seen them mislabeled as "peppermints" in stores.

As for the one disappearing, I wouldn't be so sure. You'd be amazed at how well they can hide. I had one in a 20g tank that would disappear for months at a time (including me watching for many nights and feeding at night). I still have no idea where it went during those times.

Ya, I'm going to keep an eye out for the missing shrimp. I've heard they can go days without being seen. So far it's been about a week since I've seen him, but who knows.

 

[desjardinii]

Yes fair enough.

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

Update x2: Look who I found in my refugium... he must have went into my overflow box... down 10 feet of tubing into my basement into my sump and has been chilling in there for a freaking week.... AHHHHH.... this Saltwater stuff is going to make me old quick... hahaha. BUT I am glad to have him back!!! :bounce3:

 

[Rea17]

Nice! Glad you found him. It's a good idea to cover the tank and overflow boxes so that critters can't jump out or sucked in. I think it's happened to everyone, no matter what precautions we take.

 

[peasofme]

that's an actual peppermint and they are weaklings. dominos are devils. i highly doubt the shrimp did it. if it's not disease, you could have a hitchhiker. mantis, crab, eunice, etc. as far as hitchhikers go, my money is on crab. i've seen crabs take out damsels. a mantis would likely kill the fish, not just injure it. i don't see a eunice shredding a tail. that is definitely a crab thing. if it is disease. i guess that's the problem with fish cycling.