Parasite?

[sorab]

I noticed these things on the shrimp recently. I wonder if its a parasite, it does not seem to trouble the shrimp that I can see, they are breeding and behaving normally. They are only on the 'hairs' under the plate like things as in the pics. As all my cherrys were from an origional four I got some new blood a few months ago so I guess thats how the things got here. I can only see them through the lens, I doubt there is anything that can be done but I thought I would show them for interest anyway.

Cheers
Peter

[Palinurus]

Hi Peter

I think, it´s a species of ciliates. This form like a bean or kidney is often to be found among ciliates like paramecium. This slipper animacules like to gather e.g. at the edge of a torn paper. This behaviour is called thigmotaxis. May be that´s why they gather on that bristles. May be that even much smaller bacteria are there, attracted by rests of food, or there is a permanent stream of water to the gills. But I agree with your observation, that they ain´t a threatening for the shrimp.

Cheers
Wolfgang

[sorab]

Thanks Wolfgang, that fits with what I was thinking about the little critters. I guess its more phoresy than parasitism.
Cheers
Peter

[Robin]

Peter, that last picture showing the close-up of the shrimp eye is amazing..... gorgeous pictures even if they are parasites!!

Robin

[Kim]

I love seeing Peter's pictures. Can't help you with the rest tho!

[sorab]

Thanks Robin and Kim, yeah I was getting a pic of the eye, am still aiming to get a better eye pic, the compound structure is very interesting looking to me.
Now I am a bit more concerned about these critters. I saw a fresh moult and through the lens could see lots of these little critters zooming about inside the moult. I took it out and did a few pics, this is a section of the tail, I expect with the speed they were going they got out of the resto of the moult. This suggests that they could be living under the shell, which seems more ominous, don't think the shrimp can like having these passengers. I don't see any difference in the shrimp or any problems. Don't expect that anyone can offer any advice but it may add to our collective 'crusta' knowledge.
This is the moult pic and its a section of tail the circular little blobs are the critters. I used my friends lens which is much better than mine.

[Ulli Bauer]

Oh Peter, it's such a pity you don't have Caridina magazine as common reference, in the latest issue there's an article on ectosymbiontic worms on and in shrimp by Werner Klotz (his name here: wklotz, maybe you can ask him)...

Cheers
Ulli

[sorab]

Thanks Ulli I might contact Werner. German speeking crusta keepers are fortunate! Just seeing the little things scuttling about gave me a shock. I wouldn't know about them if it wasn't for this super macro lens. The shrimp are fine but I might run a UV filter for a bit, it won't do any harm, the critters must be free swimming at some point. I won't be giving the excess away or to the shop I usually sell them to until I know that its not a problem.
Cheers
Peter

[wklotz]

Dear Peter!

Don´t worry about the little things on the scaphocerite of your shrimp. As Wolfgang already suggested these little critters are ciliates living as epibiontes on the cephalothorax of freshwater shrimp. These ciliates are feeding from detritus and other fine structures like bacteria disturbed by the mouthparts of the shrimp. But they do not harm the shrimp itself!
The protocoans inside the exuvia on your 3rd picture are different from those attached to the scaphocerite. Silimal protozoans can be found on (insinde) EVERY exuvia after very few minutes after molting.

Cheers
Werner

[sorab]

Thank you very much Werner, great to know and very interesting information.
Cheers
Peter