cleaner shrimp

[rphman]

has anyone had this happen before with their cleaner shrimp...
i have 2 cleaner shrimp in my 75 gallon...they molted...and i have noticed that their antennas are "nubs"..they have molted before and never had that happen? ideas or thoughts??? this happened a lilttle over a week ago..
Thanks
Wade

 

[dingus890]

Originally Posted by rphman
http:///forum/post/3169689
has anyone had this happen before with their cleaner shrimp...
i have 2 cleaner shrimp in my 75 gallon...they molted...and i have noticed that their antennas are "nubs"..they have molted before and never had that happen? ideas or thoughts??? this happened a lilttle over a week ago..
Thanks
Wade
What fish or other inverts are in the tank with them? They could have been attacked.After molting they are usually very susceptible to being attacked. I had my cleaner attacked by a 6 line wrasse and he lost his white antennas. Took a few molts to grow them back after I moved him to a different tank.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by dingus890
http:///forum/post/3169716
What fish or other inverts are in the tank with them? They could have been attacked.After molting they are usually very susceptible to being attacked. I had my cleaner attacked by a 6 line wrasse and he lost his white antennas. Took a few molts to grow them back after I moved him to a different tank.
+1
sounds like you have a nipper going at them.

 

[kingsmith]

Not sure about the shrimp specifically but I had a lobster that ripped his own arms off with a molt, they were back by the next molt

 

[crazydave]

I wonder if your iodine is low?

 

[rphman]

my livestock...
2 false percs
1 flame angel
pajama cardinal
yellow tang
fairy wrasse
bicolor blenny
fairy and blenny newest additions...i never see them getting nipped at..one of the shrimps antennas are growing back..slowly..other one not really growing back...
is there a test for iodine? why would this affect that...my calcium is ok...i have some additives to put in the tank for corals..i will look to see if one has any iodine in it?
thanks
Wade

 

[dingus890]

I would suspect either the Flame angel or the wrasse. They could be getting nipped at at night when the tank lights are off.

 

[crazydave]

Dosing iodine helps shrimp with the molting process. There are tests you can get to test you iodine levels.

 

[btldreef]

They probably got nipped after they molted and their skeleton hadn't hardened all the way yet. It was probably your Flame or the Wrasse as stated above, but could be any of your fish really.
I've had shrimp molt and not sit still and then their antennas are all screwy, they've been twisted, bent, snapped off, etc all by their own doing.
Whatever caused it, it won't hurt them.