Skunk Shrimp Molt or Dead?

isomorphic85 · 01/19/2016, 03:39 PM

Just added 2 peppermint shrimp and 2 scarlet skunk shrimp last night.

I saw all 4 of them for about 2 hrs hanging out ...

came to check on them this morning , can't find 2 of the peppermint shrimp at all , no traces of anything.

and I found this... which is either the molt or remains of a scarlet skunk shrimp..

what does this look like to you molt or remains?

the other scarlet skunk is out and about on the rock work.

only fish in the tank are a yellow tang and 2 ocellaris clowns.

2 mexican turbo snails, 1 nassarius snail

ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 6

killinit123 · 01/19/2016, 03:43 PM

looks like a molt to me.. and chances are you will not see the peps during the day they are nocturnal

gone fishin · 01/19/2016, 03:49 PM

I agree

Sounds Fishy · 01/19/2016, 04:09 PM

I purchased 6 peppermint shrimp 5 months ago,and I saw one finally today.Looks like molt to me as well.

isomorphic85 · 01/19/2016, 04:39 PM

are there any distinguishing things I can look for to determine if it's a molt?

Sounds Fishy · 01/19/2016, 04:46 PM

I have a lobster that leaves his old molt lying around periodically.If the molt is split on the dorsal side,that is usually where it opens,and that is one characteristic. I have seen my lobster molt right after moving from one aquarium to another,within 24 hours.It may be brought on by reacting to new water parameters,so for your shrimp to molt so fast,doesn't sound unusual to me.

pinnatus · 01/19/2016, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isomorphic85

are there any distinguishing things I can look for to determine if it's a molt?

Yes.

It will be empty.
There will be another, somewhat larger and somewhat more brightly colored shrimp nearby. Laughing at you.

BrianKC · 01/19/2016, 06:17 PM

My pistol shrimps eat their molts. Apparently it reclaims calcium? I have two and swore one was eating the other. I don't see any guts or a head so, I vote molt as well.

JamesHolt · 01/19/2016, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinnatus

Yes.

It will be empty.
There will be another, somewhat larger and somewhat more brightly colored shrimp nearby. Laughing at you.

Thats what my fire shrimp does, I always get to see the molt when it is fresh and colorful, I panic and then he peeks out

isomorphic85 · 01/19/2016, 07:12 PM

I'm still waiting to see him laugh at me so I can feel better lol ...

I only put him in the tank yesterday and the next morning I find this lol

isomorphic85 · 01/20/2016, 08:16 PM

haven't seen a trace of this guy .... safe to assume it was remains and not molt?

Sully6768 · 01/20/2016, 11:40 PM

Not necessarily. Their new skeleton is very soft for a few days after most so they tend to hide for a few days. Nothing unusual at all to me.

gone fishin · 01/21/2016, 09:13 AM

I agree after a molt they are vulnerable and tend to hide out.

ChadO · 01/21/2016, 11:08 AM

No doubt it is a molt. After molting, they are vulnerable, so they hide out. Very common for water changes or changing tanks to trigger a molt. If you find a dead one, the colors and solid body are still there, just muted - unless something else consumes them, then you may find very little to nothing at all.

isomorphic85 · 01/21/2016, 07:15 PM

i'm just shocked I haven't even seen a trace of him since...

i'm thinking one of my snails could have devoured him over the night and what i found in the morning was what resembled a molt?

it was monday night the shrimp went in... haven't seen a trace of that guy since... the other scarlet skunk is out and about , and i've seen both other peppermints at lights out

ChadO · 01/21/2016, 08:59 PM

If you've seen everyone else, and just not the missing one, then odds are he's not there anymore.

I was thinking, another possibility is that the molt that was in your tank was from one of the other shrimp all along. The molt wouldn't have to be from the missing one - that one may have just never acclimated very well and died, and the molt could have come from one that's still in your tank and doing just fine. The assumption that the molt has to be from the missing one is just a guess. It could just as easily have come from one that is still in the tank and doing just fine.

isomorphic85 · 01/28/2016, 08:12 PM

just an update... never saw this guy... he's gone.

01/19/2016, 03:49 PM	#3
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I agree __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/19/2016, 04:09 PM	#4
Sounds Fishy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 532	I purchased 6 peppermint shrimp 5 months ago,and I saw one finally today.Looks like molt to me as well. __________________ Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingray.Zebra Moray Eel.Aqueon 210 gallon,Trigger Ruby Elite 36 gallon sump

01/19/2016, 04:39 PM	#5
isomorphic85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 272	are there any distinguishing things I can look for to determine if it's a molt? __________________ RedSea Max S650 DT Neptune Apex Gold, Neptune Dos, Neptune aff, JBJ chiller,120 lbs live sand 170 lbs dry rock, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, Emperor Aquatics 50 watt UV Red Sea E-260 with sump option Current Tank Info: RedSea Max S650 150 gallon , 25 Gallon sump, Red Sea E-260

01/19/2016, 04:46 PM	#6
Sounds Fishy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 532	I have a lobster that leaves his old molt lying around periodically.If the molt is split on the dorsal side,that is usually where it opens,and that is one characteristic. I have seen my lobster molt right after moving from one aquarium to another,within 24 hours.It may be brought on by reacting to new water parameters,so for your shrimp to molt so fast,doesn't sound unusual to me. __________________ Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingray.Zebra Moray Eel.Aqueon 210 gallon,Trigger Ruby Elite 36 gallon sump

01/19/2016, 07:12 PM	#10
isomorphic85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 272	I'm still waiting to see him laugh at me so I can feel better lol ... I only put him in the tank yesterday and the next morning I find this lol __________________ RedSea Max S650 DT Neptune Apex Gold, Neptune Dos, Neptune aff, JBJ chiller,120 lbs live sand 170 lbs dry rock, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, Emperor Aquatics 50 watt UV Red Sea E-260 with sump option Current Tank Info: RedSea Max S650 150 gallon , 25 Gallon sump, Red Sea E-260

01/19/2016, 03:43 PM	#2
killinit123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: upstate New York Posts: 611	looks like a molt to me.. and chances are you will not see the peps during the day they are nocturnal

01/19/2016, 06:17 PM	#8
BrianKC Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 388	My pistol shrimps eat their molts. Apparently it reclaims calcium? I have two and swore one was eating the other. I don't see any guts or a head so, I vote molt as well.

01/20/2016, 08:16 PM	#11
isomorphic85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 272	haven't seen a trace of this guy .... safe to assume it was remains and not molt? __________________ RedSea Max S650 DT Neptune Apex Gold, Neptune Dos, Neptune aff, JBJ chiller,120 lbs live sand 170 lbs dry rock, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, Emperor Aquatics 50 watt UV Red Sea E-260 with sump option Current Tank Info: RedSea Max S650 150 gallon , 25 Gallon sump, Red Sea E-260

01/20/2016, 11:40 PM	#12
Sully6768 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 18	Not necessarily. Their new skeleton is very soft for a few days after most so they tend to hide for a few days. Nothing unusual at all to me.

01/21/2016, 09:13 AM	#13
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I agree after a molt they are vulnerable and tend to hide out. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/21/2016, 11:08 AM	#14
ChadO Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 59	No doubt it is a molt. After molting, they are vulnerable, so they hide out. Very common for water changes or changing tanks to trigger a molt. If you find a dead one, the colors and solid body are still there, just muted - unless something else consumes them, then you may find very little to nothing at all.

01/21/2016, 07:15 PM	#15
isomorphic85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 272	i'm just shocked I haven't even seen a trace of him since... i'm thinking one of my snails could have devoured him over the night and what i found in the morning was what resembled a molt? it was monday night the shrimp went in... haven't seen a trace of that guy since... the other scarlet skunk is out and about , and i've seen both other peppermints at lights out __________________ RedSea Max S650 DT Neptune Apex Gold, Neptune Dos, Neptune aff, JBJ chiller,120 lbs live sand 170 lbs dry rock, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, Emperor Aquatics 50 watt UV Red Sea E-260 with sump option Current Tank Info: RedSea Max S650 150 gallon , 25 Gallon sump, Red Sea E-260

01/21/2016, 08:59 PM	#16
ChadO Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 59	If you've seen everyone else, and just not the missing one, then odds are he's not there anymore. I was thinking, another possibility is that the molt that was in your tank was from one of the other shrimp all along. The molt wouldn't have to be from the missing one - that one may have just never acclimated very well and died, and the molt could have come from one that's still in your tank and doing just fine. The assumption that the molt has to be from the missing one is just a guess. It could just as easily have come from one that is still in the tank and doing just fine. Last edited by ChadO; 01/21/2016 at 08:59 PM. Reason: typo fix

01/28/2016, 08:12 PM	#17
isomorphic85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 272	just an update... never saw this guy... he's gone. __________________ RedSea Max S650 DT Neptune Apex Gold, Neptune Dos, Neptune aff, JBJ chiller,120 lbs live sand 170 lbs dry rock, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, Emperor Aquatics 50 watt UV Red Sea E-260 with sump option Current Tank Info: RedSea Max S650 150 gallon , 25 Gallon sump, Red Sea E-260