Fire Shrimp in distress

[betat]

Curious if anyone has ever had a fire shrimp have trouble with a molt? We found ours out in the open this morning on its side and flapping its legs. Part of the exoskeleton was off to the side but it looks like it is trying to get out of the rest. It has righted itself a couple of times but ends up back on its side.

Any thoughts? Will I be fishing a dead shrimp out in the morning? Thanks.

 

[mhills16]

i just went through a peppermint shrimp that went through a bad molt and died. My guess is that they have a lack of something, iodine, is probably what it lacked which led to this!

 

[romunov]

There is no way of telling what was wrong, mhills16, and guessing is a dangerous game.

Yes, all molting animals are at risk when they molt, from two standpoints. Something can get complicated and they can't get out and, they are very soft for the first few hours, because it takes time to pump all the calcium from the reserves (they usually take it out of their shell before they shed) to the new shell. At that time they're especially vulnerable to predators and other physical damage.

 

[mhills16]

i was just guessing why mine died!