Source for Cryptocaryon irritans/Marine Ich

[SheilaMeanie]

They are dead. They have molted before so I know what that looks like but now they don't act right for a day or two and then they die. This morning I took the emporer crab out of the aquarium because he was laying on his back and starting to act the way the shrimp were so I put him in my other - fish only - tank. He was up and walking around before I left for work this morning. The watchman goby seems to be fine. I don’t know what a mantis hitchiker is or how I would know if I had one but right now I am open to any suggestions.

Thank you!
Sheila

 

[fishfanatic2]

A mantis shrimp is a predatory shrimp that will eat your critters like small fish and inverts. It could have come in on the new piece of LR. If you hear a popping or clicking sound at night, then you probably have a mantis. Otherwise, I would hold up on the iodine. The fact that the crab did fine when you put him in the FO tank seems that this is the most likely cause. While shrimp can benefit sometimes from iodine, too much is definitely not good. I think most iodine is supplied by the salt mix, to determine whether you need to add more you would probably need an iodine test kit.

 

[Anonymous]

Has your tank ever been treated with copper for ich?

 

[SheilaMeanie]

You have so helpful, Thank you very much!

No, No copper has ever been used in this tank and I use Red Sea Salt for the saltwater mix. I do regular water changes so I am going to stop using the iodine. I never had a problem with the shrimp before but the petshop insisted I needed to add it if I was going to keep shrimp. Sales tactic for the uneducated I guess.

After going home and reading every saltwater book I have I found that somehow the levels of phosphates went through the roof and what I was seeing with the shrimp was them going into shock. My poor cleaner shrimp - I had to put it in the fish only tank and hope he would survive my puffer fish. Needless to say - he didn't. I had nothing else to do with him. The good news is that I now know what is happening and the tank is already turning around. The two corals, the goby, one shrimp, and the crabs survived. I thankfully did not have a lot in there. I can only guess what caused the phosphates to go crazy like that. Any ideas?

Again, thanks for your help. Now I know all about mantis too!

Sheila