Molting shrimp

shoddyk

New member
I bought a medium cleaner shrimp and within 1 week of having him i noticed a shell of the shrimp on the bottom of the tank and no shrimp. Where did he go. There is another shrimp in there with him and he is still normal. Will the shrimp grow back or is it dead. I cannot find him anyware in the tank unless he is hiding under the rockwork.
 
He's prob. just molting. He is prob. just hidding and will do so until his new skin is tough enough. I just bought some shrimp today and heard this whole story from the LFS. Have you tried looking for the shrimp at night when the lights go off?
 
They feel vulnerable, as if they don't have a shield so to speak. They will often hide during this period to elude predators that could easily squish them, or swallow them whole without the tougher shell on. It will grow back.
 
Molting Shrimp

Molting Shrimp

Shrimp will hide usually 3-5 days after molting until the new shell hardens unless you have a snowflake moray who somehow knows when my cleaner shrimps molt and will hunt them out unless I am in the room. I actually caught him one day with the stupid thing half eaten and he saw me spit it out and ran to his "home" in the rocks. I still love him though kinda like a dog that knew he was being bad. LOL :lol:
 
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