Teary-eyed! Bad cleaner shrimp molt?

skidoll · 04/12/2011, 12:50 AM

I made a post earlier about possibly overdosing a bit on alkalinity (the two part), and so i decided to turn my tank lights on, just for a few minutes, to see if the water was still foggy.

Well...I saw my cleaner shrimp on the rock, walked out to turn off my R/O (doing water change tomorrow) and not 5 minutes later, he was sideways on the sand, had molted, and...NO LEGS.

He's pretty large, i've had him for 6 months. Is it possible that me turning on the lights mid-molt scared him out of his body? i'm horrified. i just know he wont make it through the night....he's still laying on his side, not even trying to get up. I hate to sound like an emotional woman, but im blubbering like a fool! I feel so at fault!

Has anyone heard of a shrimp just having a bad molt, and dying as a result? he's had so many molts, and everytime looks healthy and brand new. I think I really screwed up this time. I feel awful.

skidoll · 04/12/2011, 01:22 AM

Well...the snails got to him.

ironwill723 · 04/12/2011, 01:38 AM

Are you sure that you are not just seeing the molt skin? They usually hide after they molt.

Metal Man 1221 · 04/12/2011, 01:40 AM

bummer man, I had one that didnt survive its molt either, It was always fun to watch it eat brine.

snorvich · 04/12/2011, 05:06 AM

Remember that inverts are very sensitive to changes. You may have changed your pH considerably with your (over) dosing. I always feel terribly if something I do causes discomfort or worse to my animals.

skidoll · 04/12/2011, 07:46 AM

I'm positive it wasn't his molt. Because the lights were on, I saw the molt, and watched his struggling body try to move without any legs. he's "just a shrimp", but I just hurt for the little guy. Id always hand-feed him krill. Anyway, I feel like a jerk for contributing to the death of a little creature.

04/12/2011, 12:50 AM	#1
skidoll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 93	Teary-eyed! Bad cleaner shrimp molt? I made a post earlier about possibly overdosing a bit on alkalinity (the two part), and so i decided to turn my tank lights on, just for a few minutes, to see if the water was still foggy. Well...I saw my cleaner shrimp on the rock, walked out to turn off my R/O (doing water change tomorrow) and not 5 minutes later, he was sideways on the sand, had molted, and...NO LEGS. He's pretty large, i've had him for 6 months. Is it possible that me turning on the lights mid-molt scared him out of his body? i'm horrified. i just know he wont make it through the night....he's still laying on his side, not even trying to get up. I hate to sound like an emotional woman, but im blubbering like a fool! I feel so at fault! Has anyone heard of a shrimp just having a bad molt, and dying as a result? he's had so many molts, and everytime looks healthy and brand new. I think I really screwed up this time. I feel awful.

04/12/2011, 01:40 AM	#4
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	bummer man, I had one that didnt survive its molt either, It was always fun to watch it eat brine. __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

04/12/2011, 05:06 AM	#5
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Remember that inverts are very sensitive to changes. You may have changed your pH considerably with your (over) dosing. I always feel terribly if something I do causes discomfort or worse to my animals. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

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04/12/2011, 01:22 AM	#2
skidoll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 93	Well...the snails got to him.

04/12/2011, 01:38 AM	#3
ironwill723 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 980	Are you sure that you are not just seeing the molt skin? They usually hide after they molt.

04/12/2011, 07:46 AM	#6
skidoll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 93	I'm positive it wasn't his molt. Because the lights were on, I saw the molt, and watched his struggling body try to move without any legs. he's "just a shrimp", but I just hurt for the little guy. Id always hand-feed him krill. Anyway, I feel like a jerk for contributing to the death of a little creature.