Fire Red Shrimps, please check immediately

[Ningning]

Dear bros and sis..

Those of you who has bought fire red shrimps recently, please check the heads of the shrimps for a needle worm like creature.

I recently went to a certain shop, (pls pm me for name) and my bf bought a packet of fire red shrimps. again, some of these shrimps have the worm, esp those that are real fire reds. Only the sakuras and cherries that were mixed into the packet does not have it.

This not a just recent case. About 3 - 4 months ago, i bought 4 packs of fire reds.. most had this problem. I thought i was seeing things because my bf and his friends could not spot the worms. So i just ignored it. But now, my sister pointed the worms out to me again. so im very sure that its there.

Guys, i know u all not very zi xi on such things and most of you will not spot it.. look very very closely and press your forehead to the glass if not you will miss it.

Attached is a video ( not mine) about the worms. WARNING.. VERY GROSS!!


This is when the shrimp is still alive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGxqARvkoJQ


This is when the shrimp is dead.. look carefully at the body please.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CuxSveJdzY

The leech apparently is called Rhynchobdellida Glossiphoniidae.it is a jawless leech that has a needle like syringe that it uses to peirce into its victim. I cannot say whether these are babies or adults. these guys do walk like an inchworm indicating they have suckers at both ends. Also they inject a saliva that keeps the wound open. so when a bunch come out like that, the shrimp is dying and not providing them with enough blood, the holes they leave will ensure death. - this was identified by one of the commentors so i dunno how true it is but after reading up on it, it makes the likeliest answer.

Im not going to experiment on using salt bath. hope it works..

[Xmant]

I would say such parasitic is a norm for neo-caridina species. They can spread to other shrimp too.

Remember to quarantine your shrimps before putting in your main tank.

[Ningning]

Yup, they are all quarantine. But its just a heads up for others who bought fire red. I dont think that only this shop is affected.. I think its the supplier problem.

[silane]

If it is supplier problem, then severals shops will get affected. Anyway, salt solution should be able to solve it.

[Xmant]

Yes, it can happen to other shrimps too. I usually ensure my shrimps are parasites free before putting them in my tank with proper treatment if needed to, especially those bought from lfs.

Sometime, these parasites could come from your very own tank because of high nutrients. They grow and populated very fast. Therefore, one has to maintain the quality of the water. You happy and the shrimps are happy too.

[sword28]

thanks for the heads-up.

Hi Ningning,

Thanks for sharing this important information.
Need to go home check on my 5 sakura shrimps liao..

Thanks for sharing, checked all my fire reds, lucky nothing found so far.

[newlife]

Ning Ning.....great info shared.....up for you...

The video looks very very disgusting...

[iewnuj]

thanks for sharing. tonight need to take out magnifying glass already.