lost of legs??

[chickenball z]

my amano has been in my office tank for 1 year, and in my possession for ~2-3 years, but just today (after 3 days of not being in the office)... I noticed he was missing all his limbs.... not one left!!! he was moving around using only his flippers....

I can't figure out why, his tankmates are 2 dwarf puffers, and 3 ottos...... I've left the inhabitants many times during long weekends, and nothing of this sort occurs (they basically don't get fed for 3 days)....

I distinctly recall on Friday afternoon, I did a water change, and the shrimp when bizerk (typical behaviour though, I see it all the time in my other tanks during water changes)... he had all his limbs then...

if/when my amano molts, will he get his limbs back?? what caused the missing limbs??

[ragn4rok]

I think your puffers are the culprit. :)

[gr81]

my amano has been in my office tank for 1 year, and in my possession for ~2-3 years, but just today (after 3 days of not being in the office)... I noticed he was missing all his limbs.... not one left!!! he was moving around using only his flippers....

I can't figure out why, his tankmates are 2 dwarf puffers, and 3 ottos...... I've left the inhabitants many times during long weekends, and nothing of this sort occurs (they basically don't get fed for 3 days)....

I distinctly recall on Friday afternoon, I did a water change, and the shrimp when bizerk (typical behaviour though, I see it all the time in my other tanks during water changes)... he had all his limbs then...

if/when my amano molts, will he get his limbs back?? what caused the missing limbs??
If that poor shrimp molt that time, and his companions were hungry.... they should eat legs. Pity. On the other hand, if shrimp can eat and move, then legs will "grow up" after few molts.

[retardo]

Losing all of its limbs may make it difficult for it to eat. The legs will grow back, but I don't think anyone knows how long it will take to grow back. My guess, unfortunately, is that it will die before any/all its legs grow back.

[tsteve]

I've had this happen in my guppy tanks before. Sadly, the shrimp was dead in 2 days. Thats actually the reason why I finally decided to purshase a shrimp only tank. I'm sorry for your loss.

[silane]

Dwarf puffer is not friendly tankmate to shrimps, with it carnivorous nature, they would find shrimp tasty and the wriggling legs like worms.


chickenball,
How is it now, that shrimp still alive?

[chickenball z]

Dwarf puffer is not friendly tankmate to shrimps, with it carnivorous nature, they would find shrimp tasty and the wriggling legs like worms.


chickenball,
How is it now, that shrimp still alive?

the shrimp is still alive, I hope he molts soon...

the puffers have been with amano shrimps for about 1 year now with no problems previously.... and the amano is about 3x bigger than the puffers (yeah my shrimps are fed really well)

[chickenball z]

the shrimp is still alive, and has gone thru at least 2 molts....
it appears he has most of his limbs back, but not all

[gr81]

the shrimp is still alive, and has gone thru at least 2 molts....
it appears he has most of his limbs back, but not all
So it can walk again? Congrats :2thumbsup
As I know, legs will grow slowly to full count in few molts, every molt some leg should be added. This type of regeneration I like on these little creatures.