Inducing exoskeleton shedding in Lysmata sp.?

[ichthyogeek]

Is it possible to induce exoskeletal shedding in Lysmata shrimp? I know that lysmata shrimp get berried post-shedding, and for the purpose of mass culture, is it possible to induce a large number of shrimp to shed on a given day to "align" their shed cycles so they'll all be berried at the same time, and have roughly the same hatch night?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I was always taught iodine (Lugols) can hasten a molt in crustaceans, but in practical application, it never seemed to work for me. I have seen simultaneous molts in giant crabs- I think it is a reaction to hormones released by the first crab setting off the other ones.

Jay

 

[ichthyogeek]

I was always taught iodine (Lugols) can hasten a molt in crustaceans, but in practical application, it never seemed to work for me. I have seen simultaneous molts in giant crabs- I think it is a reaction to hormones released by the first crab setting off the other ones.

Jay

I've definitely seen the BBC molting giant crabs video. But I didn't know about the iodine thing. Was there a specific treatment, or was it more like "iodine supplementation makes them molt faster" ?

Guess I'll add it to the list of things I need to find out....