My fire shrimp shed

W

wetjet43

New member
I purchased a fire shrimp 2 days ago... This morning I thought I had two. There was what was obviously a shrimp hiding under the live rock in a very tight crevice, with whiskers and all. I pulled it out, and it turned out to be the skeleton of the other fire shrimp. Is this normal?

It appears to be in good shape. Still has eyes, whiskers, a tail. It doesn't even look like it shed.

My nitrate levels are a little high at 2.0 ppm. Should I do a 30% water change, or let the tank continue to cycle?
 
Called molting actually. Happens quite often when introducing the animal to a new environment. Will happen every month or so with most shrimp.
 
Just a molt. They'll do that every few weeks or so. That's how they grow. They often leave their molt in open spaces to distract other fish from their actual hiding spot. You probably won't see him for a day or two while he heals after molting.

If you are dosing any iodine, I would stop as it will cause the shrimp to molt too often which can have adverse effects. The undershell doesn't develop enough before it tries to molt.

But otherwise completely normal.
 
This is called molting. All shrimp, crabs, and lobsters molt. This is how htey grow. The outershell breaks off as the new larger shel emerges from underneath. The shrimp will most likely hide after molting as thery aer vunerable at that time. It is a good thing it means it is growing.
 
He's not hiding. He's out in plain sight waiting for me to feed him breakfast. The only thing there is to hide from is 2 blue damsels and a chiton.

I'm relieved it's normal behavior though.

About the water, is 2.0 ppm of nitrate too high? I'm sure 0 is idea... keep in mind, my tank is only 5 days old.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13099284#post13099284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wetjet43
He's not hiding. He's out in plain sight waiting for me to feed him breakfast. The only thing there is to hide from is 2 blue damsels and a chiton.

I'm relieved it's normal behavior though.

About the water, is 2.0 ppm of nitrate too high? I'm sure 0 is idea... keep in mind, my tank is only 5 days old.
Click to expand...

Five days old AFTER your cycle or you just set the tank up 5 days ago ?
 
The tank was set up 5 days ago. I used live sand and live rock.

I put some nitrate and ammonia reducing pads in the canister filter when I cleaned it out yesterday, along with some activated carbon, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything.
 
you're tank should be weeks old (sometimes months or years depending on what you're sticking in there) before you put anything in it
 
You'll definitely see a cycle coming through... You're headed in the direction of high nitrates, but not permanently. Don't worry, people will get on your case here for not letting the tank cycle before adding livestock, but it's not the end of the world. We've all made similar or worse mistakes. The fish you have are hardy and will get through a cycle just fine, the shrimp may or may not. If you see him becoming more and more reclusive and your test kits show high I might pull him out. For the sake of all livestock and your wallet, make sure to research ANY future purchase for your aquarium.
 
I'll definitely not add anything else to the tank. I admit I did get excited when I saw mr. fire shrimp in the store and had to have him. I'm going to do a 5 gal water change when I get home to ease the pain a little bit. He he starts to look ill, I'll take him out and bring him back to the store and have them hold him in their tanks until mine completes it's cycle. He sure doesn't move much. He just hangs upside down and sits there.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100048#post13100048 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greggnyce
there will come a day in the near future when you will wan to get rid of the evil dasmels.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say near future... but in the future the damsels will be replaced for the next must have sighting. Happens to all of em... Not to mention those little buggers get pretty darn mean.
 
I know they can be mean. But they are also tough, and I wanted some instant gratification from my new salt water tank. I was told that they can take the cycling period of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite spikes and drops. After everything levels out in a month or so, I'll take the little buggers back (I have no idea how I'm going to catch them!) and replace them for some clown fish and a nice anemone.
 
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