Molting Blood Red Shrimp

[idgy]

I went away on Friday to retrun on Sunday and found what I thought was a dead Blood Red Shrimp. When I saw the litte guy came out at feeding time I knew for sure he had gone through the molting process. Why do they do this and how often? I have only had him about a week!

 

[idgy]

PS Should I remove his old shell or leave it in the tank?

Thanks!

 

[wrightme43]

It depends on how much he eats and how big he is. They also need iodine to molt. I always leave the shell in thier so the iodine that is in the old shell stays in the system. I dont add iodine to my systems and the shrimp some molt every few weeks and some every few months. Just kinda up to the shrimp. LOL

 

[Blazer88]

My pistol shrimp has molted a few times and I just leave his shell in there. It never seems to stay around for long, so I don't think it's a problem. I also don't add iodine to my tank since I don't test for it.

 

[NaH2O]

I also leave the molt in the tank.

Here's a quote from "Reef Invertebrates" by Calfo and Fenner, page 263

As mentioned with crabs and other crustaceans, iodine is necessary for most shelled invertebrates to achieve successful molting. Although iodine does not stay in solution very long (weekly water changes cannot come close to keeping a stable level), many foods are rich in this element, and small daily feedings of krill and the like will adequately support ecdysis (shedding the exoskeleton). It's recommended that you leave the shed, nutritious molts of shrimp in the aquarium for them or other creatures to consume. Freshly molted shrimp are quite soft bodied and vulnerable to predation for several days while they swell with water and their new shell hardens. During these brief reclusive periods, remarkabley, missing or damaged parts of a shrimp can be regenerated with enough successive molts.

Hope this helps!

 

[clayswim]

Just like Hermits, the molting seems to happen without rhyme or reason. I've had them molt every week for several weeks, then not molt for weeks at a time. The Cleaner Shrimp I have now molted the night I brought it home.

Clayton

 

[Detri]

I have had my Hermit Crab Molt the day after I got him, in a new tank none the less