Shrimp Molted and then Died

[taichimaster]

I have had my cleaner shrimp for one year now. It molted every three weeks. It just molted yesterday. I saw him late in the afternoon fine as ever and then I found him laying helpless at the bottom of the aquarium in the evening. Any Ideas? I did add a few new specimens( clam, 5 hermits, and two emeralds). Could this be a reason?

 

[Velamondry]

could be wrong, but I think cleaner shrimp only have a life span of a few years if that, you might be seeing the end of its cycle.

 

[mattleycrue76]

Sorry to hear that. RIP

 

[NC2WA]

Most cleaner shrimps have a life span of 1-2 years.

 

[returnofsid]

When they molt, they're very vulnerable to any other type of predator since it takes awhile for their new "skin" to harden. Usually, they hide very well as soon as slipping out of their old skin.

 

[edwing206]

That's weird. Mine just died today. It usually hung out under a rock overhand but today it was wandering around the tank. Then I looked an hour later and it was dead. I had it since Barrier Reef's Grand Opening Sale. Not sure if it was getting old or what.

 

[Boomer]

The shrimp may have had a bad molt cylce. Did you do anything to the water a day or two before ?