cleaner shrimp

[Vauche]

Here's a question, when shrimp molt do they lose their antenna too? I found a shell including antenna in the power head and I'm wondering if that means the shrimp is toast.

 

[IslandCrow]

Unless you see actual flesh inside, that's just a molt. It will have the antennae as well. I'm not entirely sure if those are the actual antennae or just some sort of shell around them, but that is normal for a molt. The shrimp may very well stay in hiding for a few days following the molt.

 

[Vauche]

Thanks for the info, I was hoping there was still a chance he was in there. Hopefully he's just feeling shy

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

they will hide for a while after they molt due to their shell isn't strong enough.

 

[RyanDragon]

sorry for asking this in ur post vauche....if I have a clarkii clownfish and 6 damsels , could I get a cleaner shrimp ???

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

yeah, the shrimp will be fine.

 

[Vauche]

Not a problem Ryan.

 

[PVChick12]

My cleaner shrimp cleans my female clarkii's mouth out, and she hates EVERYTHING! lol

 

[jdmcivicek9]

whenever my cleaner shrimp molts its shell always sticks to the power head and when i wake up in the morning and look in my fishtank i always kinda freak out at first because i think he died but then figure out its just his shell and hes really under his favorite ledge haha

 

[Vauche]

Hopefully that is the case, although I didn't see him where he usually hangs out, but then that is pretty open. Although the last time I saw him, 3 days ago now he had moved to a more secluded spot. Well, here's to positive thinking!

 

[Vauche]

One cleaner shrimp present and accounted for. The little bugger has shown his face today!

 

[2farNorth]

Hi There Vauche!

Glad the shrimp showed up!! They tend to freak you out every now and then....

It is amazing sometimes how much a molt looks like the real deal... I had a tank sitter this weekend and they were totally freaked out to see a "dead" shrimp stuck between some branches of a coral... They were finally relieve when I explained the molt!

 

[lloydkeller]

just a molt my fish eat the molt good for them

 

[jkdsr78]

Cleaner shrimp are a great asset to have. I had a quick moment where a couple of my fish had ick. I purchased a cleaner shrimp and haven't had a problem since.