aquariumgirl16
Member
My shrimp molted this morning, and I thought, oh, everything's normal. I just got home, and I see that hekeeps jumping and wiggling like he's uncomfortable. What's wrong? What should I do?
Crazy Shrimp
- Thread starter aquariumgirl16
- Start date
S
saxman
Guest
What kind of shrimp is it?
How often does it molt?
What tankmates does it have?
Any chemicals used near the tank?
Shrimp that are in trouble can often "overmolt", which eventually kills them. They can also get "stuck" in a bad molt, or parts of the cuticle may still be partially attached, which it would still try to molt off.
How often does it molt?
What tankmates does it have?
Any chemicals used near the tank?
Shrimp that are in trouble can often "overmolt", which eventually kills them. They can also get "stuck" in a bad molt, or parts of the cuticle may still be partially attached, which it would still try to molt off.
aquariumgirl16
Member
Scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
Once every 3 weeks
2 firefish, 1 Royal Gramma, 1 Cherub pygmy angelfish.
no chemicals used near tank.
he molted this morning. could he be stuck in a bad molt? Could he die from a bad molt? My other one died before it even molted.
It looks like he's trying to shake something off like underneath his back, near his tail.
aquariumgirl16
Member
Please help. any help would be appreciated.
S
saxman
Guest
As I mentioned, it may have some pieces of the molt it can't remove. Did the cast-off cuticle look complete, or was it "in pieces"?
Yes, crustaceans can indeed die from a "bad molt", altho I can't say whether it's similar to "shell rot" on a mantis or something different. We lost one of our mantises to shell rot, so we've seen it firsthand.
About the only thing you can do at this point is wait and see, and keep the stress down.
Are you dosing the tank with any supplements?
Yes, crustaceans can indeed die from a "bad molt", altho I can't say whether it's similar to "shell rot" on a mantis or something different. We lost one of our mantises to shell rot, so we've seen it firsthand.
About the only thing you can do at this point is wait and see, and keep the stress down.
Are you dosing the tank with any supplements?
aquariumgirl16
Member
Not dosing the tank with anything. when I took the molt out, it was all one piece. His underside looks fuzzy. still wiggling and jumping.
aquariumgirl16
Member
He has a big black spot on his back now. I'm worried, because my other shrimp got this before he died.
S
saxman
Guest
OK...that sounds like shell rot...I'm afraid the shrimp is a goner unless it molts, but if the spot is large, it's likely too late.
This is what's likely happening inside your shrimp:
Those photos are of our deceased P. ciliata mantis. As you can see, the "rot" literally grows into the shrimp's body, and there's no way it will come off. The cause has been linked to excessive lighting in mantids, and larger males tend to be more easily affected.
This is what's likely happening inside your shrimp:
Those photos are of our deceased P. ciliata mantis. As you can see, the "rot" literally grows into the shrimp's body, and there's no way it will come off. The cause has been linked to excessive lighting in mantids, and larger males tend to be more easily affected.
aquariumgirl16
Member
Oooh. Hoping for the best.