Cobalt Blue Lobster

[Daphanie]

I am a new fish aquarium owner. I actually don't know all that much about it at all. I have had my tank up for over a year, with all the same fish I had at my first purchase. I have a few gouramis, spotted catfish, silver dollars, angel fish, bala sharks, and a cobalt blue lobster. The lobster has been in my tank for over a year, has done a fair amount of shedding his shell (not sure of the exact terms). He hasn't shed his shell thing for nearly 3 months now; he used to do it more often. I'm not sure if this is normal.. However, the last time he shed it, his long claw pincher things came out deformed on his right side. They are kinda closed too far, like a broken pair of scissors, and kinda rotated as well. Instead of opening up and down, they are set to where they open left and right. It hasn't seemed to be an issue. There is only one of the lobsters in there, so he doesnt really have anyone to defend himself against. However, recently I have noticed this red spot on his pincher as well. It almost looks like a blood blister kind of thing. Is this something to worry about? Can someone please help me out here?

Thanks again!

 

[raptorrex]

I am a new fish aquarium owner. I actually don't know all that much about it at all. I have had my tank up for over a year, with all the same fish I had at my first purchase. I have a few gouramis, spotted catfish, silver dollars, angel fish, bala sharks, and a cobalt blue lobster. The lobster has been in my tank for over a year, has done a fair amount of shedding his shell (not sure of the exact terms). He hasn't shed his shell thing for nearly 3 months now; he used to do it more often. I'm not sure if this is normal.. However, the last time he shed it, his long claw pincher things came out deformed on his right side. They are kinda closed too far, like a broken pair of scissors, and kinda rotated as well. Instead of opening up and down, they are set to where they open left and right. It hasn't seemed to be an issue. There is only one of the lobsters in there, so he doesnt really have anyone to defend himself against. However, recently I have noticed this red spot on his pincher as well. It almost looks like a blood blister kind of thing. Is this something to worry about? Can someone please help me out here?

Thanks again!

I'm gona assume you have a Procamberus alleni, that is unless you are in the UK, then i hope you have not.

first dont worry about the increase in time between moults, this is quite normal. it will eventually extend to a year or more between them. problems during moult are far from uncommon. the loss of whole limbs is not unknown. they do however grow back, the time this takes depends on the size and severity of the damage. adding iodine to the tank can help with the moult, also reducing the amount of protein/meat being fed.

now the real problem, the blister and the rotted look to the damage. If you do indeed have a Procamberus alleni, it should on no account be kept at tropical temperatures. there are several reasons for this, its unnatural, stresses the cray because the warmer temperatures reduces the O2 content of the water and it promotes the growth of bacteria. the last of these i fear is the problem with your cray. it sounds very much like shell rot, with the possible addition of a bacterial infection.

this is where my advice shudders to a halt, i have never had to deal with illness or infection in a cray. follow the cray related link in my siggy. there is no place better to go when you need advice. take on board what Paul and the guys say, if you would, post your progress here, it could well become invaluable to future cray keepers on this forum.