Molting Question
- Thread starter bacffin
- Start date
saltn00b
Active Member
all crustaceans molt im pretty sure. its how they grow. some shrimps and crabs will molt when they are put into a new environment, or there was a drastic sudden change in salinity. i had a pair of CBs that didnt molt until they had been in the tank for maybe 40 days. mean while my arrowhead crab probably molted twice in that time period. it depends on the species and on the stage of its life cycle. i wouldnt worry about it, just let it happen naturally. some people take the molts out , i usually leave them in, the rest of the cleaning crew usually eat it pretty quickly.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by Bacffin
That's it...iodine! I could not remember, thanks. You are right, never dose without testing. Do you know what the proper iodine levels are supposed to be?
Bruce
Don't dose Iodine if you have Shrimp, it's toxic to them at very low levels. Lower than you can test for.
They will molt when they have to, just supply good food once in a while and they'll be fine.
That's it...iodine! I could not remember, thanks. You are right, never dose without testing. Do you know what the proper iodine levels are supposed to be?
Bruce
Don't dose Iodine if you have Shrimp, it's toxic to them at very low levels. Lower than you can test for.
They will molt when they have to, just supply good food once in a while and they'll be fine.
_nix_
Member
I have a cleaner shrimp for about 6 months now, and he has molted 5 times (that I have seen) since I have had him.
I also have a camelback for about 4 months, and I have seen him molt 3 times.
Both have gotten so much bigger than when I bought them. Can't argue there!
That said, I feed them mysis and brine shrimp. I don't know if they get extra calcium from the food, or what. I do keep my calc. up in my tank which probably also helps.
I also have a camelback for about 4 months, and I have seen him molt 3 times.
Both have gotten so much bigger than when I bought them. Can't argue there!
That said, I feed them mysis and brine shrimp. I don't know if they get extra calcium from the food, or what. I do keep my calc. up in my tank which probably also helps.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by _nIx_
That said, I feed them mysis and brine shrimp. I don't know if they get extra calcium from the food, or what. I do keep my calc. up in my tank which probably also helps.
The good nutritious diet will serve them well. Keeping Calcium and Alkalinity levels up are a good thing but Shrimp and other crustaceans don't have any direct use for dissolved Calcium.
That said, I feed them mysis and brine shrimp. I don't know if they get extra calcium from the food, or what. I do keep my calc. up in my tank which probably also helps.
The good nutritious diet will serve them well. Keeping Calcium and Alkalinity levels up are a good thing but Shrimp and other crustaceans don't have any direct use for dissolved Calcium.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by WyattErp
not to cut in or anything and this may be a stupid question but how do you tell the difference between a molt and a dead critter?
That's actually a pretty good question.
Several ways:
1 - Your cleanup crew will only have a mild interest in a molt. A dead shrimp is going to have Bristle Worms all over it in the typical tank.
2 - Molts are typically less opaque than a dead crustacean. Shrimp tend to turn white when they die and a molt will be mostly clear.
3 - A molt won't have any flesh in the tail. A dead shrimp will probably still have meat left in the tail section.
4 - Odor. A dead shrimp will knock your socks off with the horrible smell. A molt will just have a light fish smell to it.
not to cut in or anything and this may be a stupid question but how do you tell the difference between a molt and a dead critter?
That's actually a pretty good question.
Several ways:
1 - Your cleanup crew will only have a mild interest in a molt. A dead shrimp is going to have Bristle Worms all over it in the typical tank.
2 - Molts are typically less opaque than a dead crustacean. Shrimp tend to turn white when they die and a molt will be mostly clear.
3 - A molt won't have any flesh in the tail. A dead shrimp will probably still have meat left in the tail section.
4 - Odor. A dead shrimp will knock your socks off with the horrible smell. A molt will just have a light fish smell to it.
dmitry
Member
I learned the difference the hard way. I had bought a Fire Shrimp several weeks ago and he molted almost as soon as I put him in the tank. About two weeks after that I saw him molting again and several hermits feasting on the molt. Except that I haven't seen the shrimp since then... I suspect he didn't molt at all.
Don't know what didn't suit him in the tank; the Cleaner Shrimp is happy as can be.
bacffin
Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Don't dose Iodine if you have Shrimp, it's toxic to them at very low levels. Lower than you can test for.
They will molt when they have to, just supply good food once in a while and they'll be fine.
OK, so iodine is what could be categorized as one of the "trace elements" supplied in the composition of the salt, therefore I have no need to test it if I am following a regular water change program?
Bruce
Don't dose Iodine if you have Shrimp, it's toxic to them at very low levels. Lower than you can test for.
They will molt when they have to, just supply good food once in a while and they'll be fine.
OK, so iodine is what could be categorized as one of the "trace elements" supplied in the composition of the salt, therefore I have no need to test it if I am following a regular water change program?
Bruce