O. scyllarus lighter?

[catdoc]

I am guessing that my peacock must have molted this week, as her color is a good bit lighter than usual. Is this just b/c the new exoskeleton is hardening or is this actually a color change? I just worry that it could indicate a problem of some kind. I noticed the lighter color yesterday when I fed her (she ate). She's been out and about every day, not hiding like I'd expect for a molt. If it was a molt, wouldn't she stay in her burrow for a couple of days?

 

[iCam]

Some color can change, but it's probably just lighter since the shell is softer after the molt.

As far as not hiding, each specimen is different.

 

[DensityMan]

Tim mentioned that he thought she'd look good with highlights. She must've taken it to heart?

 

[catdoc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7142585#post7142585 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DensityMan
Tim mentioned that he thought she'd look good with highlights. She must've taken it to heart?

LOL, that's it--she just got a new outfit for Tim!

 

[Gonodactylus]

Most likely she changed color during the molt. There will not be much darkening. What you see after the molt is pretty much what you get until the next one. Small O. s certainly can remain active through the molt and will take food in a day or so. She probably buried the exoskeleton and will dig it up and eat it later - except for the hard bits such as the dactyls and telson.

Color change can reflect bad nutrition, but more likely it has to do with lighting or reproductive status.

Roy

 

[catdoc]

The tank has weak lighting (18watts N.O.). I went with that b/c I thought that bright lighting could bring on shell disease. Is my lighting ok? How does reproductive status affect their color?

I hope it's not bad nutrition. She gets shrimp pellets most of the time, snails and cocktail shrimp as a weekly meal. Is this inadequate? I'll order in some hermits or whatever else you recommend!

 

[Gonodactylus]

The lighting should not be a problem. I general with O. s, the less the better.

The diet seems fine although something to pound on now and then helps prevent raptorial appendage loss.

Females seem more variable in color change than males. With developing ovaries, they will appear darker. Also, immature females tend to be rather yellowish and become more olive with maturity. The only color change that really worries me is when an animal turns rather greyish. That sometimes signals that they do not have enough fatty acids in their diet. You might try an additive such as Selco added to freeze dried krill - although the shrimp pellets should take care of that problem.

Roy

 

[catdoc]

When I fed her tonight, I took a closer look so I could tell you more. She had been a dark olive green. I was thinking she looked blue-ish this evening, although I now wonder after reading your post if it might actually be grey. On her eye stalks and antennae, it's definitely blue. Her carapace was a lighter shade of that. I'm pretty sure that she IS a she, I didn't see the male appendages when I originally brought her home. I'll start soaking in selcon and track down some good live prey for her to stalk and beat up!

 

[DensityMan]

One of those massive turbos from the swap should provide some fun and a nice feast.

Additionally, UB's South usually has great prices on Emerald Crabs (a once monthly staple for Tim); $2.50 a pop I believe.

 

[catdoc]

I'll just have to be sure she fasts a few days before she eats one of those whoppin' snails! I am half-afraid that she'll only be able to eat half of it and stash the rest in her burrow to foul up the place. Roy, how big of a turbo snail could a 4-5" peacock eat in one meal?

I'm going to have to trek up to Uncle Bill's--haven't been there since I started SW. I would definitely go for a couple of emeralds at that price and I could also pick up one of those plump and prestigious plecos, too.

 

[DensityMan]

hehe, yup. They've got those too.