Cleaner Shrimp Molting Problem

[Siegemaster]

I have a cleaner shrimp that lives by himself, aside from the snails and crabs, in a 4G nano. I have had it for almost a year now, almost since I set up the tank, and has always been very healthy with an active personality, except when he molts. Every time he molts, his shell becomes very milky white and he develops this thick mass of little white balls in the bely fins. this always appears immediately after the molt, and goes away within 2-3 days with a does of some Rid-fungus stuff. I supplement the tank weekly with a few drops of Calcium, Micro-Vert, Coral-Vite, Iodine, and trace Elements. What is this stuff and how can I make molting a better experience for my shrimp?

 

[sostoudt]

only thing i can say is water changes. sorry not much help

 

[philter4]

They are probably eggs and because it is alone they break down in a few days and it either releases them or they just dissolve away. They are hermaphrodites, but can't fertilize their own eggs, and your tank may be too small to have another one in it. As long as the eggs being dead don't cause a water quality problem, there should be no health problems with the shrimp.

 

[Siegemaster]

Eggs you say. Hmmm, so what is the connection between molting and producing eggs? Is that typical?

 

[philter4]

Normally they only lay right at the molting, not sure why, maybe it is necessary to attach the eggs, I don't know, but I have a pair of atlantic scarlet lady cleaners, lysamata garbhami, and they produce eggs at every molt. I have raised a few babies up to 1/2 inch but almost none survive at this time no one produces them with any real success in captivity.

 

[Siegemaster]

huh, Fascinating! Thanks for the usefull info, now I won't freek out every time my cleaner molts!

 

[918ReefCpl]

Just monitor your Calcium as that is what they need in their diets to both grow and "build/harden" their exo-skeleton after they molt. Found that after adjusting the Ca in our tank back up (from 380's) into the 420 range our shrimp (2 cleaners) seem to molt within a week of that adjustment

 

[reefdork74]

How often?

How often?

How often should a cleaner be molting? Mine just did again and the last time was only two weeks ago. Is this normal?