STRANGE Happenings(?)

[storrsms]

Yesterday one of my Cleaner shrimp molted(normal), and in the morning I found it fully encased in a clear mucus sac. There also seemed to be 'strings' similar to what corals and some inverts put out for feeding/defense. I have star polyps,Christmas tree worms,
encrusting montipora,mushrooms, and a small frag of Staghorn acropora(about 1"x2").
The shrimp was dead, and I have NO idea what this mucus sac could be- it was like jelly,crystal clear, and looked like 'snot'-anyone have any possible explanations of what this was and/or what could have caused this?

Thanks for any/all input.

Mark:confused:

[OrionGirl]

Wish I could help--it sounds like the shrimp may have gotten tangled in feeding tentacles, and then it died. The new shell failed to harden, resulting in the jelly? Just a guess, but I know that if a crustacean can't harden, it will sort of ooze some nasty stuff.

[storrsms]

thanks, oniongirl. I am seeing more frequent feeding 'string' type stuff coming from my LR- some of this appears to be coming from feather duster/calc worm tubules(mainly spiral-shaped,red in color and small-about the size of a mechanical pencil lead).

I dose iodide,magnesium,strontium,calcium, but this is not t say that the shrimp didn't die/get offed before its shell hardened. this is just one of those rhetorical-type questions that may not have an answer without a Lab analysis.

I enjoy this site, and also the friendly'bantering' that goes on with people. keep up the good work!:cool: