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Hi everyone, I know this is sudden but I created this account out of desperate need of help from seasoned shrimpkeepers like yourself. I have had a vorticella infestation for about 2 months now and I cant seem to get rid of them. As for some background info on my little tank/container. It is a cycled 4 gallon that has been established for two years. I bought some blue neocaridinia shrimp without realizing that they had the disease until they reached my home. I realized that a contributing factor to the population growth of vorticella had been the over abundance of detritius and shrimp waster. So for the last week or two I've been cleaning up the bottom and trying to remove molts. I have tried to use the salt bath method on the infected shrimp. I collected about 8 fl oz or a cup of water alongside a teaspoon of salt( I am confident it was a teaspoon) and gave them a 45 second bath. The first time I accidentally used too much salt and the shrimp I placed in that salt bath died from the shock. But suprisingly under my magnifier, the vorticella were still attatched on. I have also used Safeguard( Dog dewormer) which contains 22% fenbendazole. As followed i ensured that I utilized 0.1 grams of the product and placed it into the tank about a week ago. But alas, it didnt really do much to get rid of them. I havent performed a water change since using Safeguard to ensure the concentration of fenbendazole was present. 2 days ago I decided to take the risk and add another 0.1 gram of safeguard, hence doubling the safe dosage. The shrimp were suprisingly alive but again the vorticella were still alive. I honestly am feeling hopeless and have no idea what else to do. I am on a very tight budget and it did cost me some money to get the appropiate salt and Dog dewormer. I would be grateful for feedback from anybody who has dealt with vorticella. If you look closely the leg and head region have white specs/fuzzy like thing on them on them . I am confident that they are indeed vorticella and not Scutariella japonica as I have also dealt with them in the past and been sucessful in handling them using salt bath. They do not seem to be fungus as they have very small stalks @Zoidburg @jayc Sirs, I have seen your advice before on this forum , I would greatly appreciate your input on this. Thank You

Yup, I was myself surprised my device did shot such a blue photo. May be it focuses on the blue spectrum. At eye sight, the light is close to sunlight... I will try H²O² on a sample of this thing, see if it turns red, that should confirm it belongs to BBA. At the moment, what confuses me is that, this "black cotton" doesn't stick at all on where it settles, it just covers, and very easely comes off by hand...

Excuse the blurry pictures, but by chance, could these be eggs?? 2 of my cherry shrimp look like this, very "plump" around the back.

It may be worth trying this as it is for Planaia/Hydra (as JayC above) and is from sources in the US which I think is where you are. It worked well for the hydra I had and it is a natural product, really easy to use and harmless to shrimps so i would give it a go. Just add a dose once and that is it (a repeat may be needed). https://buceplant.com/products/sl-aqua-bio-protector-z1?variant=12225133609041 https://www.jungleaquashrimp.com/sl-aqua-bio-protector-z1-planaria-hydra-remover/ Simon

Where are you located? If you have tried the salt bath and fenbendazole, and both didn't work you could try meds for planaria/hydra. I'm really surprised fenbendazole didn't do the job. Technically the planaria hydra meds are fenbendazole based as well, but it might be safer doses for shrimp. Either the product you used didn't have the right amount of fenbendazole, or it's not vorticella we are dealing with. Please note, I cannot see it in the pictures you have supplied properly. I see something on the shrimp, but I cannot ID it 100%. If you truely believe it is vorticella try using - Genchem No Planaria, Benbachi planaria zero, etc. Try those. Half dose it for the first week. Then add full dose the 2nd week. And 3rd week. 50% water change just before adding in a dose. Or you can try hydrogen peroxide H2O2. Measure the water volume of your aquarium. Take into consideration (approximately) substrate, decorations, etc. Use 3% Hydrogen peroxide at 1.5ml per gallon or per 4.5 liters once weekly. Keep this up for 3 weeks. Normal weekly water change.

Thanks Simon. I'll introduce them like you said a few at a time. Maybe if I add more moss to the big tank that might help with the babies in the future. Thanks again

That’s what I was thinking. If I can make it another week or so, hopefully the rest survive. The baby shrimp are running around in the open much more now, they have grown well. I really only see 5 at a time, but there might be more than 5. I don’t know if 5 out of a hatching is a decent ratio, but, I imagine at best I have 5-7. Still, the same mother is berried again already, so I’m not too worried about it. Did a water change today. As well as changed one sponge on the filter. Trimmed some moss and plants, too. Tanks looking great, and everyone seems to be happy!