peacock molting

[chameloman72]

Hello all, this question is geared more for Dr. Roy but other opinions appreciated as well. I noticed my one peacock this morning was much more active than usual I saw her trying to
what looked like ripping apart some of my macro algae but couldn't get it apart it's the stuff that looks like brillo pad. Is it
possible that she is trying to cover her burrow so she can molt I
don't have any small rocks in there only sand and a few broken shells she discarded outside her burrow!! She just ate a big bait shrimp yesterday so I don't know if she is ready to molt or not I thought they quit eating a few days before a molt anyway any info greatly appreciated!!

 

[DanInSD]

Live rock rubble is always appreciated for "decoration" purposes. You can throw in some empty shells, too.

This might be "active pre-molt" behavior.

 

[Gonodactylus]

When an O.s stops eating before a molt depends on its size. It can be only a day for a 3 inch animal, a week for one that is 6 inches.

Roy

 

[lillurker]

Hey mine just molted on me. I'm not trying to say I know for sure otherwised, but it looks really tired. I dropped in a piece of krill but it ignored it. I'm just going to leave it alone for now. The question I have is, its trying to bury the molt, should I get rid of it myself or leave it alone? Its only a little over three inches long.

 

[Gonodactylus]

If your tank can handle it, I would allow it to bury it. It will dig it up and eat part of it in a day or two.

Don't try to feed the animal for a few days.

Roy

 

[DanInSD]

Both times that my O. s. has molted, I have waited a few days and have then dug around in the sand looking for "remnants". All I have ever found is the last ("striking") segments of the raptorial appendages. Is it possible that she has eaten everything else?

Dan

 

[justinl]

yeah they usually eat it all except for the really hard parts they cant handle (like the raps). ive only ever found the raps from my G. smithii.

 

[lillurker]

Thanks a bunch, Dr. Roy