I purchased a purple reef lobster 2 weeks ago. He (I think it’s him form my Main Lobster anatomy knowledge) now shows terrible symptoms. He seemed to be doing fine even though he had been a rather poor eater. A couple of days ago he started to hang out in the open (away from the live rock he had previously occupied). His movement was reduced and he seemed weak overall. It would take him a while correct his position if turned on the back. Today he doesn’t show too many signs of life (he is alive at the moment but not well at all).
My aquarium is 16 days old and there are 2 shrimp in it doing just fine (so far). A damsel fish looks like he may not go for long but has survived the first 2 weeks. The ammonia measurements show consistent zero (using Mardel ® NH3 Live test), the NO2+ was high today (1 ppm) but the symptoms started earlier when it was at 0.3 ppm. I am using Nutrafin Cycle bacterial cultures to speed up the cycling. In the past 2 weeks one fish (out of 2 ) dyed and that was that. I also have a small hermit crab who seems to be fine. Also, there are small (cca 1 in) bristle worms in my live rock.
Is it possible that the lobster was infected before I purchased him? The symptoms are not form molting (they have lasted for more than 48h) and the water had been within safe measures so far (till today really).
Thanks a lot for any help you can provide!
My aquarium is 16 days old and there are 2 shrimp in it doing just fine (so far). A damsel fish looks like he may not go for long but has survived the first 2 weeks. The ammonia measurements show consistent zero (using Mardel ® NH3 Live test), the NO2+ was high today (1 ppm) but the symptoms started earlier when it was at 0.3 ppm. I am using Nutrafin Cycle bacterial cultures to speed up the cycling. In the past 2 weeks one fish (out of 2 ) dyed and that was that. I also have a small hermit crab who seems to be fine. Also, there are small (cca 1 in) bristle worms in my live rock.
Is it possible that the lobster was infected before I purchased him? The symptoms are not form molting (they have lasted for more than 48h) and the water had been within safe measures so far (till today really).
Thanks a lot for any help you can provide!