HELP: Fire shrimp pincer / antenna tangle

SBJim · 03/04/2006, 04:42 PM

I was away for a week and had my mother-in-law taking care of the tank (she does a good job). Upon my return, she pointed out to me that my fire shrimp was not well. It had its antennae pointed straight back like a whimpering dog's ears, was spending a good bit of time lying on its side or on its back, and was not eating. Worst, my false perc was tormenting it.

I put it in a little breeder container to give it protection from the fish, and I noticed that its right pincer (closest thing it has to a hand) seemed to be stuck on top of its big antenna. See pic below:

I used a tweezer to gently fix it, and that seemed to do the trick! He was moving normally, and eating. I figured I'd leave him in the breeder for the day, feed him some more, and then release him back into the general population.

The problem is that it happened again. And again. Every time, it seems like it needs help correcting the situation.

Thoughts?

nebraskareef · 03/04/2006, 04:48 PM

keep him alive until a molt. a large water change can encourage this.

wrott · 03/04/2006, 04:52 PM

Yes, you can pull/break-off parts--they will come back w/ molt.

colettem · 03/04/2006, 05:04 PM

Or else try a miniature antenna splint - a matchstick lashed on with some thread?!! lol, what a pickle he's got himself in.

SBJim · 03/04/2006, 05:21 PM

I'm thinking of a really little version of one of those "clown cones" that you put on a dog to keep it from licking or biting a wound. Anyone got one that'll fit a shrimp?!

Thanks for the thoughts. I'll do a big water change today, and keep him in solitary for the time being. I can't really bring myself to rip his little arm off just to keep it from getting tangled...

Any other thoughts?

SBJim · 03/05/2006, 11:32 AM

The good news is that the fire shrimp molted in the breeder. The bad news is that its "new" tentacles are all curved. Maybe that's just a function of having recently molted?

I'm thinking of keeping himin isolation for the day (so he can eat), then releasing him after feeding tonight.

I'll post a pic when I have time.

SBJim · 03/06/2006, 01:13 PM

Here are updated pics, post-molt. What do you think: are the bent antennae due to the fact that he was in the breeder when he molted, or is there an underlying issue?

He's back in the general population, getting around better than before, but he's still tangled up in himself. In particular, the left antenna runs UNDER two of his legs. Not getting picked on at the moment.

Thanks for looking! Let me know if you think I should intervene in any way.

reverendmaynard · 03/06/2006, 02:03 PM

It's defective! Return to mfgr for repair/replacement!

nebraskareef · 03/06/2006, 02:28 PM

at this point I would advise just to let it take its course. Can he physically move around? Still doing the "dance" so to speak?

SBJim · 03/06/2006, 05:53 PM

He can move around, but I would not call it normal by any means. Kind of like a "massive full-body twitch" that results in him being transported to a new location.

The only other option I can think of is to snip the offending antenna, and hope that the next molt brings a better one. I think I'll do that if he starts getting harassed again, otherwise just hope for the best, and maybe target feed.

Thanks all for looking. Dang, I KNEW I shoulda' got one o' them extended warranties!

SBJim · 03/28/2006, 06:45 PM

To anyone interested, I target-fed him for about a week (when I could find him), and then he molted again. This time everything seems to be in the right place, and all parts are coordinating as they should.

Dontcha' love a happy ending?

reverendmaynard · 03/28/2006, 06:47 PM

Sweet!

ACBlinky · 03/28/2006, 07:40 PM

Wonderful to hear

My skunk cleaner shrimp went through a few molts where he came out 'curly' and then recovered, I believe it was the result of adding too much iodine to my tank.

SBJim · 04/05/2006, 12:45 AM

Well, just when everything was looking hunky dory, I awoke the other morning to find the hermits chowing down on what was left of Clifford (the big red shrimp).

Expensive meal for those $2 hermits. Though I know it could not have happened unless the shrimp was very weak or already dead.

Bummer. Cleaner shrimp and peppermint are doing great. Don't know what it was.

03/04/2006, 04:42 PM	#1
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	HELP: Fire shrimp pincer / antenna tangle I was away for a week and had my mother-in-law taking care of the tank (she does a good job). Upon my return, she pointed out to me that my fire shrimp was not well. It had its antennae pointed straight back like a whimpering dog's ears, was spending a good bit of time lying on its side or on its back, and was not eating. Worst, my false perc was tormenting it. I put it in a little breeder container to give it protection from the fish, and I noticed that its right pincer (closest thing it has to a hand) seemed to be stuck on top of its big antenna. See pic below: I used a tweezer to gently fix it, and that seemed to do the trick! He was moving normally, and eating. I figured I'd leave him in the breeder for the day, feed him some more, and then release him back into the general population. The problem is that it happened again. And again. Every time, it seems like it needs help correcting the situation. Thoughts?

03/04/2006, 04:48 PM	#2
nebraskareef MFCEO Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,495 Blog Entries: 1	keep him alive until a molt. a large water change can encourage this. __________________ Originally Posted by tmz "Now if I drink the vodka the colors do look much better than if I drink the vinegar."

03/04/2006, 04:52 PM	#3
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Yes, you can pull/break-off parts--they will come back w/ molt. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

03/06/2006, 02:03 PM	#8
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	It's defective! Return to mfgr for repair/replacement! __________________ Think for yourself. Question authority. Current Tank Info: 125 gal AGA, setup on 1/1/06; 29 gal seahorse tank, setup 10/21/06

03/06/2006, 02:28 PM	#9
nebraskareef MFCEO Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,495 Blog Entries: 1	at this point I would advise just to let it take its course. Can he physically move around? Still doing the "dance" so to speak? __________________ Originally Posted by tmz "Now if I drink the vodka the colors do look much better than if I drink the vinegar."

03/04/2006, 05:04 PM	#4
colettem Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 191	Or else try a miniature antenna splint - a matchstick lashed on with some thread?!! lol, what a pickle he's got himself in.

03/04/2006, 05:21 PM	#5
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	I'm thinking of a really little version of one of those "clown cones" that you put on a dog to keep it from licking or biting a wound. Anyone got one that'll fit a shrimp?! Thanks for the thoughts. I'll do a big water change today, and keep him in solitary for the time being. I can't really bring myself to rip his little arm off just to keep it from getting tangled... Any other thoughts?

03/05/2006, 11:32 AM	#6
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	The good news is that the fire shrimp molted in the breeder. The bad news is that its "new" tentacles are all curved. Maybe that's just a function of having recently molted? I'm thinking of keeping himin isolation for the day (so he can eat), then releasing him after feeding tonight. I'll post a pic when I have time.

03/06/2006, 01:13 PM	#7
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	Here are updated pics, post-molt. What do you think: are the bent antennae due to the fact that he was in the breeder when he molted, or is there an underlying issue? He's back in the general population, getting around better than before, but he's still tangled up in himself. In particular, the left antenna runs UNDER two of his legs. Not getting picked on at the moment. Thanks for looking! Let me know if you think I should intervene in any way.

03/06/2006, 05:53 PM	#10
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	He can move around, but I would not call it normal by any means. Kind of like a "massive full-body twitch" that results in him being transported to a new location. The only other option I can think of is to snip the offending antenna, and hope that the next molt brings a better one. I think I'll do that if he starts getting harassed again, otherwise just hope for the best, and maybe target feed. Thanks all for looking. Dang, I KNEW I shoulda' got one o' them extended warranties!

03/28/2006, 06:45 PM	#11
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	To anyone interested, I target-fed him for about a week (when I could find him), and then he molted again. This time everything seems to be in the right place, and all parts are coordinating as they should. Dontcha' love a happy ending?

03/28/2006, 06:47 PM	#12
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	Sweet! __________________ Think for yourself. Question authority. Current Tank Info: 125 gal AGA, setup on 1/1/06; 29 gal seahorse tank, setup 10/21/06

03/28/2006, 07:40 PM	#13
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Wonderful to hear My skunk cleaner shrimp went through a few molts where he came out 'curly' and then recovered, I believe it was the result of adding too much iodine to my tank. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

04/05/2006, 12:45 AM	#14
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	Well, just when everything was looking hunky dory, I awoke the other morning to find the hermits chowing down on what was left of Clifford (the big red shrimp). Expensive meal for those $2 hermits. Though I know it could not have happened unless the shrimp was very weak or already dead. Bummer. Cleaner shrimp and peppermint are doing great. Don't know what it was.