|
|
|
06/27/2012, 06:29 AM
|
#1 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 381
|
Died while molting?
I lost my cleaner shrimp. When I woke up this morning I found the front half of his shell floating in the tank - figured he was molting. Then a few hours later I found the rest of him - legs up dead. Was a active fella in the tank and fun to watch - disappointed to say the least. Any thoughts?
|
|
|
|
06/27/2012, 07:25 AM
|
#2 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Huntington Beach
Posts: 262
|
If I remember correctly (don't count on it) when molting, their vital signs stop and they only have a limited time to get out of the old shell before they die. That's why sometimes you will see them lose a leg or claw when they molt, the alternative is much worse.
|
|
|
|
|
06/27/2012, 07:29 AM
|
#3 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 381
|
I guess this guy got the alternative.
|
|
|
|
|
06/27/2012, 08:54 AM
|
#4 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Grayslake, Il
Posts: 135
|
Not saying this to sound bad but are you sure he's gone? When they molt the WHOLE shrimp molts. Therefore you will literally have pieces of an entire shrimp. Just wondering.
|
|
|
|
|
06/27/2012, 09:15 AM
|
#5 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 198
|
Other animals in your tank know that when a shrimp molts, it is vulnerable. I have heard of crabs, peppermint shrimp, and even rival cleaner shrimp taking advantage of a cleaner shrimp right after he molts and killing him. Just a thought....
|
|
|
|
|
06/27/2012, 09:17 AM
|
#6 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 381
|
Definately dead. Pulled the body out and was not just an empty shell. Could have been that sneaky pepermint......
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
