Shrimp Question

[nemo's mom]

My cleaner shrimp was "shedding". Is this normal? Do I remove the old "shell"?

 

[mrdc]

I think it may be molting. I think premature molting isn't good but normal molting is ok.

 

[milomlo]

How do you know if it is "premature molting?" I have a peppermint shrimp so I would like to know. I have only had him about 2 weeks. He is pretty small.

 

[mrdc]

All I know is excess iodine causes premature molting and lowers life expectancy. I do not know how you know if it's premature. I guess you have to be careful adding anything containing iodine.

 

[fedukeford]

molting is good, it lets the shrimp grow, and no you dont really have to remove the "shell", your clean up crew should take care of it

 

[speg]

Originally Posted by Nemo's Mom
My cleaner shrimp was "shedding". Is this normal? Do I remove the old "shell"?
Its called 'molting'. It is extremely normal for shrimp to molt just as crabs do. They shed their exoskeleton in order for them to grow. So when you see this.. the shrimp has grown.
Adding iodine like someone else mentioned shouldnt be done with shrimp in the tank. It causes them to molt more often than they should.. obviously this makes them grow larger faster than they should/age faster than they should and ultimately die faster than they should.
It is up to you to leave the molt in the tank or take it out. If you leave it in then it'll end up breaking up naturally. If you take it out... then... you can uh.. throw it away... naturally.
Also for the future.. dont be too alarmed if you see a shrimp 'dead'. It may be just a molt. Keep learning on here about such things too It is necessary!

 

[fedukeford]

if you have a sally lightfoot crab and you see its molt, it looks EXACTLEY THE SAME, it triked me like 5 times!

 

[mrdc]

I should mentioned that I don't add iodine and I saw a piece of shrimp one day and was worried that my cleaner was dead. He wasn't and I assumed that he molted. I left it in the tank and it has since dissapeared. I'm not sure if hermit crabs will eat the molted carcas.

 

[speg]

Well you have a somewhat 'secret' cleanup crew that will take care of such jobs as removing/breaking down empty molts.

 

[1journeyman]

Everything can munch on the molts... it's good for them. kind of like animals eating antler sheds from deer, or salt licks for cattle. Molts are concentrated minerals for your inhabitants.

 

[nemo's mom]

Thanks. You guys are awesome!

 

[mikeyjer]

My Peppermint Shrimp hasn't molted yet....But only had him for about 2 weeks. Should be interesting to see. My hermits molted twice for me, but I had'em for awhile now. I remove their sheddings and dry it up for collections!

:happyfish