weird black spot on cleaner shrimp

[Whisk]

Sadly, my new cleaner shrimp passed away after a couple days of having him. He had a weird black spot on him, anybody have any idea what it is? i think its what killed him because he was doing fine and eating for awhile. ???

 

[zambavi]

I've seen this serveral times over the years in tanks of friends and mentioned on the reef boards.... typically the black spots disappear after the shrimp molts. It may not be what killed it.

 

[badbread]

Sometimes my cleaner will get very dingy looking, like brown spots on antenna and they go away after the molt. Never seen a black spot on his body.

 

[zambavi]

Black Spot Disease...

Found on http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/28/shrimp-diseases-methods-of-prevention

Taura Syndrome Virus - TS and Penaeus vannamei
Taura Syndrome generally attacks juvenile P. vannamei (0.1 to 5.0 g) within two to four weeks after stocking in growout ponds or tanks. TSV is primarily an illness of the cuticle epidermis (outer exoskeleton) in shrimp. Shrimp in the chronic phase of TSV have scattered, black-spot lesions along their outer skin or shell. During TSV outbreaks, dead and dying shrimp will often be seen in seines or cast nets used for routine population sampling or found lying along the bottom of the grow-out tanks or raceways. Shrimp afflicted with the acute phase of TSV appear weak and disoriented, have soft-shells, and have expanded chromataphores (pigment spots) that may alter their color slightly. Infected shrimp also have empty digestive tracts.

 

[Whisk]

yikes black spot disease. poor little fella. Well, now i know to keep a lookout before I buy at the LFS.

Thanks guys.

 

[sfsuphysics]

The upside is those shrimp typically only have life spans of a couple years IIRC, and if you get a large one from the store, it could already be on it's last leg(s)

 

[GreshamH]

[quote author=zambavi link=topic=5925.msg74764#msg74764 date=1232043573]
Black Spot Disease...

Found on http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/28/shrimp-diseases-methods-of-prevention

Taura Syndrome Virus - TS and Penaeus vannamei
Taura Syndrome generally attacks juvenile P. vannamei (0.1 to 5.0 g) within two to four weeks after stocking in growout ponds or tanks. TSV is primarily an illness of the cuticle epidermis (outer exoskeleton) in shrimp. Shrimp in the chronic phase of TSV have scattered, black-spot lesions along their outer skin or shell. During TSV outbreaks, dead and dying shrimp will often be seen in seines or cast nets used for routine population sampling or found lying along the bottom of the grow-out tanks or raceways. Shrimp afflicted with the acute phase of TSV appear weak and disoriented, have soft-shells, and have expanded chromataphores (pigment spots) that may alter their color slightly. Infected shrimp also have empty digestive tracts.

[/quote]

White spot and black spot from what I know (from talking with shrimp farmers on the issue, which is a huge issue in the aquaculture trade) only attack "white shrimp" aka Penaeus vannamei.

 

[zambavi]

Yep... the only thing I could find out there that resembles this though. Any ideas on what it is Gresham?

 

[Gomer]

magic marker? 8)

 

[GreshamH]

[quote author=zambavi link=topic=5925.msg74846#msg74846 date=1232061690]
Yep... the only thing I could find out there that resembles this though. Any ideas on what it is Gresham?
[/quote]

Not what you posted, that's for sure

I'll ask a few invert specialists I know but most likely a picture of a spot won't help much

 

[zambavi]

It seems fairly common... I've read threads on a couple dozen sites over the years asking about this and there has never been a "cause" established that I have found. Most say that the shrimp get over it and the spots disappear the next time they molt. The thing that I posted is the closest thing I've ever found on the internet. Not saying it is it but it seems pretty close based on symptons and pictures I've seen on many threads. It is speaking to Penaeus vannamei specifically in that article but I wouldn't completely discount it yet as a possible... I say this because some of the threads i've seen out there have reported that it had spread to other shrimp in the tank that were not Cleaner Shrimp. I have a contact I've purchased from a few times down in Florida that specializes in inverts that I'll put an email to also.

 

[GreshamH]

I do as I have been told point blank white AND black spot will not carry over to other shrimp. I asked as vectors are a huge concern for us at our farm and I wanted to have shrimp in our tank. If cleaner shrimp could carry those problems I couldn't house them here

I've seen the problems for years and it almost always is resolved with a molt. I used to import thousands at a time and very very few ever had it. Most common problem with them is an actual parasite.

I'm talking scientists, not collectors True shrimp specialists

 

[zambavi]

Cool... I have no Scientist friends... The black spots being resolved with a molt is the consesus I've seen out there. The fact that white and black spot can't carry over to other shrimp certainly kills that. Whatever this is does happen to more than just cleaner shrimp so it may just be an issue with poor water quality, lack of specific nutrients or the like.

 

[GreshamH]

Yup, every Lysmata sp. (peppermint, cleaners, etc) I've seen seems to be prone to it I've never seen it on any other though (sexy, camel, etc).

 

[Elite]

One of my cleaner shrimp has black spots for a while now. I'm not sure if that black spot is the problem. Have you test your water?

 

[zambavi]

my guess is that its a water quality issue also...

 

[Lyn]

Sorry to hear about your cleaner shrimp. They can be sensitive to environmental changes. Just moving them from the store to your tank water can stress them. Did you slowly acclimate it? Are all your water specs on target? They prefer higher salinity like corals do. 1.025-1.026.

For the future, be careful in your selection. Besides the animal looking to be in good condition, I always look for feeding behaviors, general alertness, and curiosity. It's not bullet proof, but I think it cuts down on the losses.