Fuzzy Cleaner Shrimp...

[cdness]

Anyone know why a cleaner shrimp would get fuzzy growths on it? It almost looks like he is picking up the little brown fuzzy algae I have up and it ends up on his body. Looks like he needs a bath but he's in water...

 

[cdness]

No ideas?

 

[akabryanhall]

Maybe try doing a water change, it obviously needs to molt but won't for some reason.

 

[BobMc]

My guess would be a fungal infection, but that is only a wild guess from the description you posted. i have never personally seen it.

 

[cdness]

I do weekly 15G water changes so I don't think that would be causing it. Also the algae in the tank is only in a few different spots so it's not all over...

I'll try get a picture tonight of the shrimp.

 

[cdness]

here are some pics... Any ideas?

 

[BigFeesh]

i have no idea....he looks like he needs to shave!

 

[Reef UP]

Yep needs to molt lol check your iodide iodine levels do you dose these?

 

[cdness]

I don't have a test kit for them... Would it be safe to do some low level dosing for a bit without a kit to test?

 

[bige]

The test kits are pretty intense. In this case I think dosing some iodide would be ok. Just dont go too heavy.

 

[cdness]

I caught him in the net as you can see from the pictures last night... He had this algae for almost a week so I was getting worried. I tossed him in the fuge section of the sump overnight for monitoring and easier catching if needed. This morning I woke up to a very clean cleaner shrimp...

I don't know if the stress caused of the catch caused him to molt or if he felt safer in the fuge to shed his skin... But all is well with the cleaner shrimp. Thanks for the advice for sure!