OK, so how dumb was this?

[Lindtball]

Not having a quarantine tank, I blithly put in a ghost shrimp in my all male guppie tank. So....

a) Do ghost shrimp carry nasty stuff like fungus, ick and other parasites?

b) Do Ghost shrimp shed their shells like salt water shrimp?

c) I think they are ok with guppies but, just going to ask that as well because if not, better know sooner than later?

Thanks fo any input.


P.S.
I am so stoked that my pond goldfish have successfully spawned and some have actually survived past the "fit in the mouth" stage.... counted 5 so far. Tricky to spot those brown teeny ones, but one is for sure a calico shubunkin and way beyond dinner size . :clap:

 

[msjinkzd]

They cannot transport most illnesses that fish can get. Rarely a ghost shrimp can harbor an internal parasite. They will likely be ok with your guppies. They do molt regularly, often after introduction and water changes.

 

[pixl8r]

All crustaceans must molt. In rare instances shrimp can carry a fungus, but it usually coincides with a female shrimp that is berried (carrying eggs attached to her swimmerets). The eggs are what the fungus grows on. However, when a shrimp molts the fungus is discarded, with the old exoskeleton.

Shrimp can't get ich, but like msjinkzd said, they can have an internal parasite that looks like a tiny tape worm. They are often able to pass the worm, and continue living.

 

[Lindtball]

msjinkzd & pixl8r,

Thanks for the info you guys. Hopefully no fungus or worms present. If I notice an exoskelleton laying around it will be removed ASAP.

I was being compassionate to my neighbors kid who just had no clue how to take care of a tank and the one ghost was all that was left. Why parents let kids take on something without teaching them or having them learn about it first is beyond me, especially when it involves life forms.

 

[jaysen]

you should leave the molt in since they usually eat it and it gives them much needed calcium.

 

[thebullit]

yer i would leave the molt in.