molting?

ikarus · 12-27-2007, 10:28 PM

i was epoxying my live rock tonight and after it was all done, an almost-completely intact exoskeleton of my peppermint shrimp came floating up from the sandbed. it looked like a thin, flexible exoskeleton, was colorless (translucent white) and it had some of the antennae attached to it. it's either a dead shrimp which has been eaten, or it's from a molting. what do you think?

reefman · 12-27-2007, 10:31 PM

molt
all crusteans does it. if its dead shrimp, it would have been eaten or only parts left

crox99 · 12-27-2007, 11:46 PM

Def a molt.

bigyankfan · 12-28-2007, 02:00 PM

When shrimp molt, they leave the old exoskeleton out as a decoy until their new shell hardens.

yeahcheetah · 12-28-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigyankfan


	When shrimp molt, they leave the old exoskeleton out as a decoy until their new shell hardens.

Sounds quite reasonable, but I thought they leave the old exoskeleton because 1) too small, and b) they don't eat it.

ikarus · 12-29-2007, 07:57 PM

ah, i see. smart little creatures!

h20 freak · 12-30-2007, 03:03 PM

Ya its a molt,just make sure you have the right trace elements in your system so that he can grow his shell quickly and easily.

12-27-2007, 10:28 PM	#1
ikarus Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Financial District Posts: 34 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (0)	molting? i was epoxying my live rock tonight and after it was all done, an almost-completely intact exoskeleton of my peppermint shrimp came floating up from the sandbed. it looked like a thin, flexible exoskeleton, was colorless (translucent white) and it had some of the antennae attached to it. it's either a dead shrimp which has been eaten, or it's from a molting. what do you think?

12-27-2007, 10:31 PM	#2
reefman Chairman of the board Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: queens Posts: 3,306 Reefer Ratings: (27) Friends: (0)	molt all crusteans does it. if its dead shrimp, it would have been eaten or only parts left __________________ GlobalLionDancer-Premier Internet provider of Chinese Southern Lion Dance Equipment!

12-27-2007, 11:46 PM	#3
crox99 Audi Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brooklyn, Marine Park Posts: 5,295 Reefer Ratings: (49) Friends: (6)	Def a molt. __________________ Veni, Vidi, Vinci

12-29-2007, 07:57 PM	#6
ikarus Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Financial District Posts: 34 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (0)	exo ah, i see. smart little creatures! __________________ when a bonsai stops growing, you know it's dead. - japanese proverb

12-30-2007, 03:03 PM	#7
h20 freak Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA =( Posts: 524 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (0)	Ya its a molt,just make sure you have the right trace elements in your system so that he can grow his shell quickly and easily. __________________ tank specs 60 gal 4ft long,1 ft wide,2 ft tall 10 gal fuge 2135 gph total w.o return cpr sr3 skimmer Coralife aqualight 48"130 watts 70+pounds Lr(lost count after a while lol) Fish:Tomini surgeon fish, 2 occelaris clowns, 1 blue-side fairy wrasse, black combtooth blenny. Inverts: scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp,One pink pincushion urchin,snails,and One green brittle star corals: toadstool leather, finger leather, frags:shroom,xenia,and palys one step at a time.....

12-28-2007, 02:00 PM	#4
bigyankfan Seńor member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 365 Reefer Ratings: (20) Friends: (9)	When shrimp molt, they leave the old exoskeleton out as a decoy until their new shell hardens.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode