Coral Banded Shrimp lost his LEGS???

[the Wizard]

Hi Guys,

I have a relatively new tank, a few months old. It has various Damsels, Yellow and Sailfin Tangs, misc crabs snails and abelone. I added 2 Coral Banded Shrimp. After the second day, one of the shrimp lost one of his long front legs, the big bright one with color. And then the very next day he lost the other. I can see it laying there.

What do you guys think happened? He seems to not be bothered by it, and is cruising and eating well. The other shrimp is fine. Is there any natural explaination to this, or is he being picked on? One of the Domino Damsels is rather aggressive but I've never actually seen him do more than chase.

Help!

 

[Anonymous]

Your CB's outta be able to ward off the damsels...however im willing to bet its not the fish at all...You said you have two Coral Bandeds...Are they a mated pair? If not, that maybe your culprit...IME, they tend to chase off most shrimp...Mine has chased off my emerald crab and my peppermints..never hurt any of them, but he lets them know whose boss...And the arm should be back on your shrimp within the next molt or two...

8)

 

[the Wizard]

Hey Lord,

Yeah, I bet that's it. I seem to remember reading something about that. So much to learn. My son picked these up at the LFS, and they came out of two tanks, so I assume they are not a mated pair. But it seems like they're acting like the "mated pairs" I know...haha!

How often do these guys molt? Sounds like they grow limbs fairly quickly?

 

[John_Brandt]

He might just be pissed at being called by the wrong name.

It's Banded Coral Shrimp :wink:

 

[the Wizard]

You know what...I looked that up before posting...went to marinedepotlive.com. This is how they have it:

Coral Banded Shrimp - Stenopus hispidus
Also known as: Banded Coral

 

[John_Brandt]

Shame on them.

 

[Anonymous]

TomAto Tomato...Boxer Shrimp.... :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Wizard...mine has molted a couple weeks between molting....Iodine is a must supplement i add daily to ensure molting...I use Kent CONCENTRATED iodine..I use a very small amount cuz i only have a 20 gal...I assume you have a larger tank over 55 gal due to having tangs, so follow the directions :wink:

8)

 

[Anonymous]

I've never added iodine to my tanks, and my Lysmata amboinensis pair used to molt every couple weeks. Regular water changes should suffice.

It sounds like you don't have a compatible pair to me. Stenopus hispidus is a pretty aggressive little shrimp towards its own kind. Thus, you see them being kept separately in dealers' tanks while most cleaners are kept in groups.

 

[the Wizard]

Just a wrapup on this one......8 days later and this little guy molted.....and NEW FRONT LEGS! Isn't nature cool!!!

Do you guys think these two Banded Coral Shrimp will ever become friends?

 

[Anonymous]

See i told you his legs would grow back...As for them being friends...Its unlikely but they just may grow to love one another, you never know in nature

8)