TheGooseWhisperer Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 I just got a cleaner shrimp last night (first on in over a year)...I acclimated it around lights out and this morning I see shell parts under a rock in the back. Whats more likely...it molted and is hiding out or it got munched in less than 12hrs? I had one when i set up the tank for about a year and when it died I got a new one that only lasted a few days. I wasnt taking very good of the tank at the time so I chalked it up to poor upkeep and laid off of them til now. The tank has been doing really well except for poor zoa growth for a few months now. Everything tests good, fish and CUC are health and active. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonH Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 I think it's very likely that it could have molted and just be hiding. Water quality would have to be pretty bad to die in 12 hours, as long as you acclimated carefully. I believe that inverts are a little more sensitive to salinity changes - so if there was a big difference between your tank and the shop, that could have been an issue. Do you have any predators in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteRock Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Hopfully its a molt... Shrimp are indeed very sensitive to salinity changes. I add iodide to help my inverts molt. Seems to stretch the life of my shrimp considerably. My guess is if you don';t see a bunch of hermits on it, its prob a molt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGooseWhisperer Posted March 9, 2011 Author Share Posted March 9, 2011 Well if i could find the body that would help alot...all i see is one feeler and a small piece of tail shell. Dunno what the salinity is at the store, but I get premade SW from there so that would minimize at least some differences. I did make an effort to acclimate it...tossed a scoop of my water in the bag ever 10-15min until it was prolly about 50-50 then dumped it in. I saw it sitting on the rocks for a few hours before I went to bed. Still no sign of it today... Upon further inspection the 6-line is looking pretty fat for not being fed today. Could it be responsible for the death or just cleaning up the mess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Everytime I add a shrimp, it molts. So thats my vote! After they molt their shell is real soft, so they stay hidden for several days until it hardens. I'd give it a few more days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold B Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Are the shell parts brown? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trautman Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 my cleaner shrimp didnt molt, but it certainly was shy for a couple weeks. i hear that the can molt when stressed, and moving them stresses them... the first time i had a shrimp molt i also thought it died Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 When I just moved my fire shrimp and two cleaners to my new tank all three molted. It's quite common like others have already stated this. I would give it a few more days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 They can die during a molt. I lost my first fireshrimp that way. The shell got stuck and they cannot breath and suffocate. I was told to supplement with iodine and since then I have not lost another shrimp that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 They can die during a molt. I lost my first fireshrimp that way. The shell got stuck and they cannot breath and suffocate. I was told to supplement with iodine and since then I have not lost another shrimp that way. Me too. It was a sad day. Now that the new Kent salt has all the elements needed it's nice not to have to dose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 i dose our tanks with iodine weekly including the inverts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGooseWhisperer Posted March 10, 2011 Author Share Posted March 10, 2011 I dose iodine daily. Maybe the wrasse snatched him up after he was nice and squishy with a new shell :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennmac415 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 (sad)(sad)(sad)(sad) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acuraguy55 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I had a cleaner molt in the bag on the way home from a LFS also due to the oft shell, shrimps are very vulnerable after a fresh molt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Sounds like a molt, but they are vunerable during this time. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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