Problem with our Cleaner Shrimp?

[Lego&Jacub]

I'm taking care of my husband's salt tanks for him while he is away. Just before he left I noticed that his one cleaner shrimp has growths all over his head area/upper body area. They are clearish coloured and more long than round.

Has anyone seen or heard of anything like this before? You would think that he could just pick them off of himself... but I don't see that happening. I have tried unsucessfully to get a picture, but will keep trying.

My husband and I scoured all over the net to find something similar with no luck.

Thanks,
Sandra

 

[LeslieH]

Your description reminds me of the egg sacs of a parasitic barnacle. Take a look at this page http://www.tonywublog.com/20100224/strange-shrimp-in-lembeh-strait.html Does the growths look anything like this?

 

[Lego&Jacub]

I'd say it's definitely simlar looking. They're not as big... wide or tall... and not red-coloured like that. More clear or white. Is there anything we can do for him... or will he die when the eggs hatch (like I read on the link)? I sure hope there's something we can do... I really like these guys... =(

He hangs out next to the other one in the tank... she's pregnant we think. Can it spread to her?

 

[Lego&Jacub]

O'kay I was able to get a couple pics that I think show the problem. Hopefully you can see that they are on his body, his eye stalk, his tenticles and his legs. What do you think, is it barnicles? What can we do?

 

[LeslieH]

Those really do look like parasitic barnacle eggs. I would take it out of your tank immediately so if the eggs hatch the larvae don't attack your other shrimp.

The barnacle lives inside the host. It looks nothing like a normal barnacle. It has no hard plates or exoskeleton; instead, it's just a mass of tissue with extended bits called rhizopods or rootlets that absorb nutrients from the host shrimp. Somehow the parasite takes control of the shrimp's reproductive system & some of it's behavior as well. The shrimp becomes neutered which is thought to keep more nutrients for the parasite. Death for the shrimp is not inevitable and may not happen at all with some species of parasite.

 

[Lego&Jacub]

I thought I'd update the thread. I'm very happy to announce that this little cleaner shrimp has moulted... and he looks like a brand new man!! Fingers crossed that the little bumps stay gone now!!

Sandra

 

[Elysia]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

[mscarpena]

LeslieH is the man well the Woman. That was just an awesome ID. Thanks for the picture. I have never heard or seen that. However, it does seem from Leslies info that they will come back for sure. Also it sounds like they will infect your other shrimp.

 

[Lego&Jacub]

Update #2... they did in fact come back, I'm sad to say. And his tenticles have pretty much all fallen off as well. He's looking pretty sad indeed. He's in his own tank tho, so no risk of his infecting the other shrimp, as it is not plumbed into the main system. He still has a good appetite... so we'll just keep waiting and watching to see if anything happens good or bad.