Shell Disease?

[dave3d]

Today my G. Terna isn't looking or acting very healthy. I can't tell if he's about to molt or if he's got a shell disease of some sort. His shell appears to be stiff and cloudy and he's having a hard time moving around. He's out and about slowly moving about the tank...sometimes struggleing due to the shell stiffness. If he was about to molt I would expect him to stay hidden somewhere safe. I'll post a couple of images in a 2nd post.

--
David

 

[dave3d]

Here are a couple of pictures

--
David Miller

 

[Gonodactylus]

This animal has shell disease. It has not molted for a long time. I'm not sure what to recommend except good food, a dark cave, and great water.

Roy

 

[FlyGTI]

Roy, aside from the above items, what has to happen for the animal to recover? Another molt or something of that nature?

 

[Gonodactylus]

O. scyllarus and G. chiragra with shell disease have successfully molted and recovered in my lab. I'm sorry to say that the four or five G. ternatensis that I've had with shell disease didn't make it when they tried to molt. Hope you have better luck.

Roy

 

[dave3d]

So far he's hanging in there but I'm not sure for how much longer. I've dosed my tank with iodine and have been feeding him 2 large meals a day treated with Kent Marine's Zoe (LFS was out of Selcon). I left my lights off for a day but have now gone to a 3 hour photo period a day due to my corals. He doesn't seem to be eating as much lately though. Last night and this morning he took the food but then tossed it. I'm not sure if he's full or if he's just getting weaker. He's been constantly moving around the tank very slowly which surprises me a little. I would have thought that he find a place that he feels safe and stay put.

Hopefully he manages to molt. I'll keep you guys posted on his condition.
--
David