Q´s about L. debelius.

[LaloV.]

The last weekend I bought a pair of blood cleaner shrimps (L debelius.) and I realized (quite late) that one has a broken leg, and is missing another leg and a claw, so I was wondering: When it molts will it recover its lost parts?

And another question how can you know when a shrimp is ready to molt? I mean, is there any signal that can announce the molting?:?:

 

[wrightme43]

No I dont know of any way to know in advace of a molt. There may be I just dont know.
On the missing legs and claws deal. If you water is high quality, and you have a good supply of ca, alk, iodine, (usually its just fine if you do water changes) and feed them, they will grow back no problem.

 

[NaH2O]

The leg and claw should grow back next molt. If they aren't full size after the next molt, then they will likely grow to full size after successive molts. Cleaner shrimp normally molt anywhere from 3-8 weeks. I don't know when my shrimp are going to molt, until I see the molt the following morning. I imagine they probably hide more when getting ready to molt, so they don't get picked on during or following the process....other than that, I'm not sure if there are any other signs to look for.

 

[liveforphysics]

Iodine levels and water temp both indirectly vary with the amount of time between molts. You can generally trigger a molt with a rapid increase in Iodine as well, but if you arent low to begin with thats a foolish game to play.

Im pretty sure that eye stalks are the only thing that doesnt often grow back with a molt (or sometimes a series of molts like Niki said).

I find that the shells beging to look kinda hazy and fuzzy starting about 2 days before the molt, but thats not always the case. I also leave the molted skeleton in the tank to be consumed by the amphipods and other things. Most people will tell you to remove them, but since the pods gulp them to nothing in about 2 days, I figure its likely full of good things for them, but I dont really know.

 

[NaH2O]

I agree - the eye stalks are the only part that doesn't grow back. A local reefer here has a mantis that lost one of its eyes, and it never grew back. Instead it grew some strange antennae thing in its place.....I'm sure its picking up satellite signals or something (if you've heard of Tim the supermantis...that's who I'm talking about).

As for whether or not to leave the molt in the tank....I've read to leave it in for the molting animal to eat.

 

[LaloV.]

Thanks wrightme43, NaH2O and liveorphysics.

Yes, I´ve read that you should leave the molt in, so the shrimp would get nutrients that will help him after the molting.

Well, the one-legged, (etc) boy is just "hiding" beside a power head, and when he arrived its body looked like it was "peeling" and he was not as red as its partner, also he does not want to eat. Maybe it is preparing to molt.

 

[LaloV.]

Update:
Well yes it was trying to molt and it did, he still´s hiding but he ate some flakes.
Maybe the molting announcement is the change of colors, the shells looking fuzzy and the behavior is hiding and reluctant to do anything.

Thanks again.