Broken shrimp tail

[luenny]

Hi,
Recently I saw 2 of my CRS's tail is broken. How should I describe it? Okay, normally, if you look at a shrimp's tail from the top, it should be triangle. But 2 of them got one of the tip missing, making it look a bit odd. Does anyone know why this happen? It is a shrimp only tank so it should not be the case where some fish nip off part of the tail. Can anyone advice on what I should do? Thanks.

- Luenny

[Rupert]

I presume that you are talking about the “telson” is missing,
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/galle...hp?i=2036&c=10

I have no idea how this could happen in the absence of other critters.

[luenny]

I'm not really sure what telson is but if it is the middle part of the tail like in the diagram, that's not the part I'm talking about. I'm referring to the part where the white tip is at the end of the fan.

Upon close inspection, I see another shrimp where one of the white tip at the tail is bent. This is what initially happen to the other 2 also. This is so strange. Are they in some sort of trouble or something? Their behaviour is still normal as far as I can tell.

[Neon Shrimp]

Is there something in the tank, sharp or mechanical that could injure the shrimp?

[luenny]

The only moving part thing in the tank is the filter, but the intake is already covered with cotton so I do not think that is causing it. Other than that, I have lots of mosses, some driftwood and some stones. Oh, I also have some wire mesh hanging at the side of the wall where I cultivate some moss - hoping to set up a moss wall soon. The mesh is just hanging by a piece of string and is not secured anyway. Could that be the problem? Thanks in advance.

[Neon Shrimp]

This really could be the problem. Especially when the lights are off at night. You siad that the shrimp are healthy otherwise, so this could possibly be the problem. Let the moss wall grow to cover the mesh and we will know if this is it! I'm sure in time the missing part of the tail will grow back after the shrimp molts!

[luenny]

Hi all,
Thanks for the reply. I think I'll find some way to remove the mesh and cultivate my moss somewhere else. By the way, I did see the shrimps fighting when it is feeding time. So maybe I wasn't feeding them enough and they injured their tail when they're fighting for food? Do you think that is possible? Thanks again.

- Luenny

[Neon Shrimp]

I have not seen shrimp fight to the point where they injure eachother like that. I am speaking from my experience, anyone else see this happen?

[kemp]

never encounter such happenings either

[richietay]

Read that shrimps sometime had their limps stuck in the old shell when moult. or they could be attacked after moulting, it's shell are still rather soft.

[luenny]

Hi,
Just to update. I removed the wire mesh from the tank and so far no more broken tail. So, that could be the culprit. I'll update this thread if I see anymore broken tails. Thanks for the response.

- Luenny

[luenny]

Hi,
Another update. Some of my shrimps have grown new tails already. So, I guess the root cause is the wire mesh. Thanks again for your response.

- Luenny