Cleaner shrimp is houdini

All of our crustaceans molt. All shrimp, crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, you name it.

 

Oh and the best part. If they lose a claw or limb it's only temporary. It will be replaced at the next molt.

 

So true.. Lobsters do the same thing. They gain 90% of their calcium by eating their shell. Since a lobster when it sheds, their new shell is so soft it feels like skin. They will not move from their holes generally in the mud for at least for 2 week or risk getting eaten. It's a cool sight to see. Their muscles turns to gel, so they can get their claws through their knuckles..

 

Thanks for all the info guys!
Very interesting. Next time, Ill leave the molt in the tank.

 

I leave mine in and they are eaten by crabs and the shrimp themselves. My fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp molt about every 3 weeks. Especially when calcium is added.

 

lol my pepermint did that thot he died then i saw him next to it touchd his molt and was amazed it was just shedding

 

every 3 weeks? Seams alittle kinda quick. Are they small?? If so, I can see why. At that rate when their new shell is just starting to get hard, they are shedding again.. Anyone else on this???

 

Molting depends on environment. They will molt because they're happy & growing or they'll molt because they're stressed..... I always leave it in though, I've never seen it last more than 24 hrs.