Omg My Cleaner Shrimp Shed Itself!

djbabylove

Member
What the heck ... is it normal for a cleaner shrimp to shed? And do I need to get that skin out of the water?
:help:
 

nas19320

Active Member
It generally is a result of growing the shrimp will molt and shed its exoskeleton. I leave the molt in the tank for my clean-up crew, but you can remove it if you want.
 

nflnutswif

Member
Hello Kitty! Yup It's normal, and they do it frequently. No need to get the skeleton out if you have bristle worms or hermits!
have fun!
 

djbabylove

Member
OK thank ... it really threw me off when I looked in my tank and had TWO cleaner shrimp. Had to take a second look. Right now it seems that the Bristleworms are dineing on it.
 

bigarn

Active Member
Yup.....Perfectly normal, my peppermint shrimp molted 2 weeks ago. I also kept the "skin" in the tank for the critters.
 

sailfin

Member
I believe that the molts add calcium back to the system. Just leave it in.
Keep a reefin' :happyfish
 

wocka

Active Member
i take mine out, and i have a toothpick stand i let them dry out on... it looks pretty cool when there done. like fossils
 

badkharma

Member
Mine molts about once every 3-4 weeks. The hermits and starfish race towards the leftover molt - whoever gets there first, wins. Usually it's the hermits. :)
 
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