Molting Shrimp

[Pamela]

When I looked into my tank Sunday morning, I was amazed to see that my banded coral shrimp had shed his old clothes during the night. Of course I knew this would eventually happen, but didn't think it would be so soon. I also had no idea he would strip off everything including antennae! I have no idea how his "new self" was crammed into his old suit! Longer antennae and all. I'd have loved to have watched the process. How often should I expect this to happen? Also, I removed the old shedding from my aquarium. Was this right, or did my shrimp need to nibble on it or something?

 

[Thomasj616]

I have 2 blood shrimp in my 125 mixed reef. My guys are always cleaning their tank mates as well as love to chow down when I feed my corals. Honestly it's every 2 - 3 weeks and one or the other sheds. It's deffinitly a sight to see!!! Always happens in the middle of the night. I don't clean up the "extras". My hermit crabs go to town on that!!! The first time it happened I was ticked, I thought the shrimp died then one came out and it was all good!!!
It's actually a sign of good feeding and conditions so keep up the good work

 

[Pamela]

Oh, thanks for the encouragement! Yes, that's really exactly what I thought when my eye fell on the discarded clothes. I thought to myself, "Oh, no! He looks awful! He must be dead." Then I saw a "second" shrimp and realized what happened. It was so cool. I reached down in there and pulled out the old whatever-it-is. It was simply amazing - those tiny claws and everything. A perfect and complete, fully colored animal, just without his little soul.

 

[Waters]

Yeah, every time mine molts, I search the tank to make sure he is still alive. I usually find the exact replica molt stuck in my torch coral.

 

[jd371]

I have a cleaner and fire and they both molt once a month. Usually one will molt and the other a day or two later.

 

[jgvergo]

I'm amazed at how ofter they molt! The first time it happened I also thought one had died, but they are all happy and healthy.

 

[Pamela]

I'd only had "Sousa" for 5 days when he molted. I hope sometime I'll get to see him do it. He's getting very comfortable his new home. He chose a spot, front and center, to hang upside down. When I feed my clowns, Sousa springs to life and scurries down to grab himself a pellet and shove it in his mouth. It's really very amusing. Yesterday, my son asked me whether my shrimp is my favorite, because I keep pointing out the things he does. He really is a very entertaining little guy (or girl?).

 

[jgvergo]

I kept freshwater shrimp for a while. Every time I looked at a saltwater tank that had a Blood Red Fire Shrimp, I developed shrimp envy. No more

 

[Pamela]

Ha! I'm going to have to get one someday. Will it get along well with my banded coral shrimp? I somehow had the idea that Sousa would be a "lesser" creature in my aquarium, under the fishes, but not so!

 

[jgvergo]

Ha! I'm going to have to get one someday. Will it get along well with my banded coral shrimp? I somehow had the idea that Sousa would be a "lesser" creature in my aquarium, under the fishes, but not so!

Interesting! I know what you mean about "lesser" creatures. Now that I have my tank up and running, I don't have "lesser" creatures. I really enjoy them all in their own way. On a related point, I've been considering adding Xenia to my tank but it clear I will have to "weed" it out on occasion. The thought is doing that is somewhat unsettling! I've been reading and studying about keeping corals for so long that the idea of intentionally killing a coral has become very foreign.

 

[jgvergo]

Ha! I'm going to have to get one someday. Will it get along well with my banded coral shrimp? I somehow had the idea that Sousa would be a "lesser" creature in my aquarium, under the fishes, but not so!

...and, I don't know about compatibility with banded coral shrimp.

 

[LetItReef]

Ha! I'm going to have to get one someday. Will it get along well with my banded coral shrimp?

I have also have Fire shrimp with Skunk Cleaner and Coral banded. I must say CB is aggressive even I added him last. They have their own spot in the tank but when they meet you see them box but no serious injuries.

 

[Pamela]

Interesting! I know what you mean about "lesser" creatures. Now that I have my tank up and running, I don't have "lesser" creatures. I really enjoy them all in their own way. On a related point, I've been considering adding Xenia to my tank but it clear I will have to "weed" it out on occasion. The thought is doing that is somewhat unsettling! I've been reading and studying about keeping corals for so long that the idea of intentionally killing a coral has become very foreign.

Oh wow, I can't imagine purposely killing off coral, either! I'm not even to the point of considering my first coral. I know I want them in my future, but have miles of research before that time. Still, I hear you on the thought of weeding after working so hard to provide a stable, healthy living environment for something.

 

[Pamela]

Oooh, I put mine in first, which could make him even more of a shrimp bully. Hmmmm. That is to say, if he develops a tendency toward that with future smaller shrimps. As of right now, he's a perfect angel and my kids have even remarked how my clowns aren't afraid of him. It is amusing to watch them flit around in the immediate proximity of those pinchers without a care in the world.

 

[Zoey]

Ive got 1 fire shrimp, 1 peppermint shrimp and 2 cleaner shrimp. they molt about once a month or after a big water change. my nems love to eat the molts!

 

[zoomonster]

Coral banded can be tricky and aggressive. I had one with other shrimp before but they kept their distance in a larger tank. CB may also kill and eat some fish too. I never saw that but the CB was usually too busy with bristle worms in my old tank. This tank just has a pair of blood shrimp. I had a pair of cleaners but made the mistake of buying a large pair who died after about 1.5 years. Didn't realize they only live about 3 years. Love blood shrimp (supposedly live longer too) but they just aren't as active/outgoing as cleaners. If they didn't happen to live on the end of my tank I would probably hardly ever see them.

All of them molt fairly often and remember iodine is key. Without adequate iodine they will have issues molting and die. No need to rush out and buy iodine though. Normal water changes and many additives provide it.

 

[Pamela]

Great to know. Thanks, everyone, for your stories of shrimp. Just this evening, I dropped in a few pellets for Sousa, and he hopped down from his spot and scurried over to the pellets. He picked up one in one of his right hands and held onto it while picking up a second pellet in one of his left hands. He stuffed the second pellet into his greedy little mouth and continued to cling to the first. My clowns, incidentally, are too small to fit even "small" pellets into their mouths. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to slice a pellet in half? I do.

 

[jgvergo]

Great to know. Thanks, everyone, for your stories of shrimp. Just this evening, I dropped in a few pellets for Sousa, and he hopped down from his spot and scurried over to the pellets. He picked up one in one of his right hands and held onto it while picking up a second pellet in one of his left hands. He stuffed the second pellet into his greedy little mouth and continued to cling to the first. My clowns, incidentally, are too small to fit even "small" pellets into their mouths. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to slice a pellet in half? I do.

I've been grinding the pellets for my small clowns. It works well.

 

[Pamela]

Crushing them is a great idea! I have nothing to grind them with. I supposed I could attempt to carefully crush them with the head of a hammer.

 

[cmcoker]

Crushing them is a great idea! I have nothing to grind them with. I supposed I could attempt to carefully crush them with the head of a hammer.

Pill crusher at the pharmacy counter is only a couple bucks and would work well.