Do Pistol Shrimps MOLT???

Well, to make a long story short, I found a "claw" from my Tiger Pistol shrimp on the sand today. It's empty and lifeless, but it still freaked me out. Do pistol shrimps molt? This feels like a stupid question because I am almost certain they do, but I've gotta make sure. He's been bulldozing all day, but I just found it. So I don't know what's up with him. If they do molt, I guess this means he's a happy and growing little boy? If they don't, I'm screwed, right? ;D Hayulp pleeez. Danka, mista.

 

My guess is that every crab/shrimp/lobster molts. It's the only way they can ever grow or else they'd just come squirting out of a crack in their exoskeleton when they got too big.

Sorry that was kind of gross...

 

Short answer...

Yes

Long Answer,

Any exo-skeleton (SP) creature will molt.

Molting is just like your skin rubbing off. It is merely them changing clothes or another way to look at it is they need new armor their old set they out grew​

 

gross mabye but still a fun thing to picture...


and yes pistol shrimp do molt, every crustation molts

 

Ok that's what I thought. It freaked me out because all of my critters that have molted leave behind semi transparent white exos...but this claw still has it's full color with the red bands that tiger pistols have and all that jazz. I'm taking it to school tomorrow

I just saw the little guy again, with both claws. Our goby is rather protective, if I get too close to the glass he doesn't let the shrimp come out. He'll just have to lighten up a bit, I guess.

 

Fire shrimp molt in full color as well

 

Wow I bet that looks really cool...I wish I could find more of my pistol though. He's back to his OCD digging self again.

 

I think most crabs/shrimp eat their molts to regain calcium. That could be why you can't find more of his molt.

 

Some at their molt some leave it in plain view so they can retreat to hiding

 

Yeah, i've been scared a few times by molts.. especially from my boxer crab because I see him maybe once every 2 weeks... so if i see a molt i assume he's dead.. and then there he is.. wavin his little pom poms..