my 2 shrimps sheded their skin last night

Joshthenosh · 02/15/2006, 04:50 AM

woke up to find my 2 shrimps had sheded their skins last night , for a split second i thought they where dead, then rembered they did this

question is do i leave the skins in the tank for the crabs to eat, or shall i pull them out?

eckrynock · 02/15/2006, 06:12 AM

You can leave them in, I do beleive it's best to do this anyways. Ingestion of the skeleton by the shrimp itself or other inverts provides necessary proteins to help rebuild their exoskeleton.

Tate · 02/15/2006, 07:36 AM

The shrimp will also hide for a day or two while it's new shell hardens.

Infern0 · 02/15/2006, 12:13 PM

I'm not to sure of them eating the skins, but I suppose it's possible.

You should leave them in for at least a week because the shrimp use the skins as decoys for predators (even if there aren't any) while their new skins harden. After that, if there is nothing that actually eats them, feel free to scoop them out.

eckrynock · 02/15/2006, 12:45 PM

There won't be anything left of the molts in a week.

BenH98 · 02/15/2006, 02:05 PM

I've heard that they will provide calcium for you tank - but I could be wrong

Joshthenosh · 02/15/2006, 02:13 PM

thank you for your answers

Joshthenosh · 02/15/2006, 10:08 PM

do sheeding skins produce amonia? my test is looking a bit greener than yesterday

The0wn4g3 · 02/15/2006, 10:13 PM

I believe shrimp shells, like almost all exoskeletons, are made of calcium. But i could be wrong...
When my desert leopard molts, he if very tired for a day and then he eats his molted skin for the calcium. Not sure if marine shrimp are the same as desert geckos.... but who knows lol.

supertech3 · 02/15/2006, 11:03 PM

I have seen the shrimp eat their own skeletons I leave mine be and see no evidence of water parameter changes

piranhaking · 02/15/2006, 11:07 PM

i dont think there would be enough tissue involved to produce a even slightly noticable amount of ammonia. They will eat the exoskeleton, or atleast mine did.

tkeracer619 · 02/15/2006, 11:18 PM

lol mine molted last night also. I know what you were thinking as I was thinking the same for a few seconds.

salt newbie01 · 02/16/2006, 08:19 AM

What about peppermint shrimp? I have had 2 for a couple months they have molted several times and seem to eat good but I found 1 dead last night. All water parameters are stable. Anyone have any ideas.

RhodeIslandReef · 02/16/2006, 08:57 AM

I've had coral banded for years and I still look for him when I see a skeleton in the tank. LOL

IslandCrow · 02/16/2006, 09:48 AM

It confused the hell out of me the first time one of my skunks shed. The tank lights had just gone out, and as I was looking in the tank, I counted 1, 2, 3 shrimp. . .wait, I only have two shrimp. . .oh, wait, that one's not moving. I can definitely see their shedded skin being used as a decoy. Certainly fooled me.

Anyway, I always take it out of the tank, but that's just because I'd never heard a reason to keep it in. It's all exoskeleton, so it does make sense that it wouldn't have any ill effects.

02/15/2006, 04:50 AM	#1
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	my 2 shrimps sheded their skin last night woke up to find my 2 shrimps had sheded their skins last night , for a split second i thought they where dead, then rembered they did this question is do i leave the skins in the tank for the crabs to eat, or shall i pull them out?

02/15/2006, 06:12 AM	#2
eckrynock Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 733	You can leave them in, I do beleive it's best to do this anyways. Ingestion of the skeleton by the shrimp itself or other inverts provides necessary proteins to help rebuild their exoskeleton. __________________ Ed Genesis 1:21 Current Tank Info: 90 gal

02/15/2006, 07:36 AM	#3
Tate Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Posts: 388	The shrimp will also hide for a day or two while it's new shell hardens. __________________ 100g long FOWLR Current Tank Info: 100g fowlr and NanoCube 6g

02/15/2006, 12:45 PM	#5
eckrynock Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 733	There won't be anything left of the molts in a week. __________________ Ed Genesis 1:21 Current Tank Info: 90 gal

02/15/2006, 02:05 PM	#6
BenH98 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 515	I've heard that they will provide calcium for you tank - but I could be wrong __________________ Go KINGS!!! Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon

02/15/2006, 12:13 PM	#4
Infern0 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 229	I'm not to sure of them eating the skins, but I suppose it's possible. You should leave them in for at least a week because the shrimp use the skins as decoys for predators (even if there aren't any) while their new skins harden. After that, if there is nothing that actually eats them, feel free to scoop them out.

02/15/2006, 02:13 PM	#7
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	thank you for your answers

02/15/2006, 10:08 PM	#8
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	do sheeding skins produce amonia? my test is looking a bit greener than yesterday

02/15/2006, 10:13 PM	#9
The0wn4g3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Auburn, AL Posts: 1,124	I believe shrimp shells, like almost all exoskeletons, are made of calcium. But i could be wrong... When my desert leopard molts, he if very tired for a day and then he eats his molted skin for the calcium. Not sure if marine shrimp are the same as desert geckos.... but who knows lol. __________________ The 0ne. The 0nly. The0wn4g3. Current Tank Info: 40 gallon Rimless- 39Wx4 T5HO on Ice-Cap 660, 29gallon sump, DAS EX-2, Deltec Phosphate Reactor, Koralia 3, 50lbs LR

02/15/2006, 11:03 PM	#10
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	I have seen the shrimp eat their own skeletons I leave mine be and see no evidence of water parameter changes

02/15/2006, 11:07 PM	#11
piranhaking Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 321	i dont think there would be enough tissue involved to produce a even slightly noticable amount of ammonia. They will eat the exoskeleton, or atleast mine did.

02/15/2006, 11:18 PM	#12
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	lol mine molted last night also. I know what you were thinking as I was thinking the same for a few seconds. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/16/2006, 08:19 AM	#13
salt newbie01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cleveland,TN Posts: 637	What about peppermint shrimp? I have had 2 for a couple months they have molted several times and seem to eat good but I found 1 dead last night. All water parameters are stable. Anyone have any ideas. __________________ I love my family but I hate family reunions. Family reunions are that time when you come face to face with your family tree and realize some branches need to be cut off. Current Tank Info: 58 on the way out...120RR cycling as I type!!

02/16/2006, 08:57 AM	#14
RhodeIslandReef Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northern Vermont Posts: 191	I've had coral banded for years and I still look for him when I see a skeleton in the tank. LOL

02/16/2006, 09:48 AM	#15
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	It confused the hell out of me the first time one of my skunks shed. The tank lights had just gone out, and as I was looking in the tank, I counted 1, 2, 3 shrimp. . .wait, I only have two shrimp. . .oh, wait, that one's not moving. I can definitely see their shedded skin being used as a decoy. Certainly fooled me. Anyway, I always take it out of the tank, but that's just because I'd never heard a reason to keep it in. It's all exoskeleton, so it does make sense that it wouldn't have any ill effects. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?