Mr. F Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 I looked into my 3g blue rili tank and noticed a strange looking female. She has a red tint to her head and back. I thought maybe she is molting, or at least I hope so... But I have only seen this color change in deceased shrimp... Maybe some of you have seen this before? The only thing I've done lately is a 15% wc two days ago and parameters were normal (with TDS slightly high, I've been battling this for a while) and have been stable since. All the other shrimp are fine, with a few shrimplet running around and a couple berried... I am curious to see what you guys think about her and what might be going on. Here she is: Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d0pey Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 The center looks cloudy/milky to me.. Looks like a bacterial infection.. I would separate any shrimps that have similar symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted March 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 I just went to take a look and found her spiraling around trying to swim. I scooped her up and have her in isolation. I looked for any others with symptoms, but didn't see any, but I did see another very energetic berried female and a few more teeny shrimplets hiding in the back by sponge! So that's a bit of good news. :] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jynn Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 You could try adding a low dose of melafix to the tank, just as a precaution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETAquarium Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 How old is the shrimp? We all must remember that shrimp die of old age, we also need to remember sometimes 1 shrimp death is ok. I agree if their is any doubt to quarantine, but we must not over analyze and begin changing water parameters immediately if only 1 shrimp shows any sign and/or symptoms, especially if all other shrimp are active, and molting. Soothing Shrimp, Mr. F and edgeofthefreak 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcrazy Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 Looks milky. I would start treating with Melafix since it's not too powerful. It will help prevent other shrimp in the tank from getting it, if it is in fact and bacterial infection. I would also start with a water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted March 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 Yeah, I'm hoping it was just old age, because she didnt last long. However, I picked up some Melafix and tetracycline incase. I will start with Melafix then move over to tetracycline if symptoms persist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibebian Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 On 3/19/2016 at 9:00 PM, Mr. F said: Yeah, I'm hoping it was just old age, because she didnt last long. However, I picked up some Melafix and tetracycline incase. I will start with Melafix then move over to tetracycline if symptoms persist. Mr F any update on the Melafix treatment preventing the others from contracting any bacterial infections? I'm wondering how effective Melafix is for bacterial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 I tried melafix with my marmorkreb crays and they all died from the chemical. Not sure how it is with shrimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcrazy Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Melafix doesn't necessarily heal sick shrimp. It is a preventative and you have to be precise with the dosing or it could be deadly. I've did a combo of Melafix and PraziPro with no deaths. It seems like it prolongs the affect of the bacterial infection has, but doesn't fully heal them. I remember one time I separated "sick" when I first started keeping shrimp and used Melafix without measuring and I killed them. Maracyn 2 works the best. If a shrimp is well into the infection most of the time nothing will fully help. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibebian Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Ok thanks Soothing and fishcrazy, this is helpful. I'm mainly trying to find out what is good to keep on hand to prevent and/or treat the dreaded bacterial infection. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted April 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 I did a four day round of tetracycline while dosing 1/2-3/4 dose of melafix for 7 days, following the instructions for both. Stopped the spread of the infection (hopefully eradicated it) and now I have dozens of little babies running around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted April 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Melafix doesn't necessarily heal sick shrimp. It is a preventative and you have to be precise with the dosing or it could be deadly. I've did a combo of Melafix and PraziPro with no deaths. It seems like it prolongs the affect of the bacterial infection has, but doesn't fully heal them. I remember one time I separated "sick" when I first started keeping shrimp and used Melafix without measuring and I killed them. Maracyn 2 works the best. If a shrimp is well into the infection most of the time nothing will fully help. Prazipro is an antiparasitic (for worms and stuff), not an antibiotic (for bacteria). Tetracycline and Maracyn 2 both work for this type of infection because Maracyn 2 is minocycline, a tetracycline derivative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcrazy Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 I used PraziPro because in some cases of bacterial infections involving Neos the parasites can actually mimic bacterial infections. Also, bacterial infections can be a secondary infection caused by a parasite. I agree that Maracyn 2 and Tetracycline is an effective treatment and preventative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted April 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Haven't used prazipro so I can't attest, but I just ordered some cuz I noticed a clear bubble right between the eyes of one of my shrimp. I'm really hoping it was just a bubble and not scut. Haven't seen the shrimp or the "bubble" again yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShrimpP Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Good news is Scutariella japonica is generally easy to treat with simple salt dips. (doesn't really look like a bubble though...) Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcrazy Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 You have to be really careful with PraziPro. I dosed just slightly under the recommended full dosage. The site doesn't guarantee that it's shrimp safe. I used it on my hospital tank and not my main tank. None of my shrimp died. All the shrimp I been treating are actually still alive after a month and one is berried. I don't know if they will gain their color back. You could always try the salt dip on the infected shrimp before you try using a chemical in your tank. Again all the treatments I have tried is on a separate hospital tank. I did do Maracyn 2 treatment in the main tank. Once they gain their color back I will know it was a success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 I was planning on salt as phase two and prazi as phase 3. Phase 1 was taking a breath and waiting a day... No spots on my shrimp anymore! [emoji4] Soothing Shrimp and Wygglz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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