molting question

[john]

Do cherry reds change in their appearance before or after molting? I mean do they become paler or clearish right after a molt? I'm just wondering if it's possible to tell if a shrimp is going to molt, or has just molted by looking at it.
Thanks,
John

[kross]

as far as i know, you can't tell it apart... :p

[gigahertz]

Neither can I. They just look....red :D

[Walter]

How don't think the colour changes much. Although the intensity may vary a little because we know that they are able to change that due to different stres levels.

Going to moult a not hard to tell. Unlike lobsters which may turn abit dull in colour, they are just too small. :D Any experts can share is it possible to tell? :)

[retardo]

my understanding is that shrimps have already begun creating their new protective shell before they actually molt, so they already have a new layer underneath. they will look virtually identical with color and whatnot intact. it's kind of like us, we have a new layer of skin underneath before the outer layer sheds, only it's a lot less dramatic than with shrimp.

[Robert]

Hi,
it is true that shrimps develop a new exoskeleton under the old one before they molt. But the new one is flexible and soft, so when they finished molting it needs some time before their new exoskeleton is as hard as the old was. That is the reason why they look for a place to hide often before they molt, they want to protect themselves from predators. Only in very rare cases you can see a shrimp mold in a open space.

Best regards

Robert

[cairocks]

I saw one of my CRS molted the day after I bought it. It was standing on the side of a driftwood not moving much for a few hours. As I had just bought it, was kind of concern if something was wrong, so I was observing it. Then it just suddenly jump, as how shrimps would react if a fish 'investigate' it, and just eject itself out of the old shell. lol :joking: Then it went into hiding behind some java fern for a couple of hours before coming out and act as normal.

[kross]

I'm not sure if anyone has observed this phenomenon.... usually after purchasing some cherry shrimps, they will either molt in the bags or the next day after introducing to the tank... It happened to me a couple of times and some of my friends had the same experience... :huh:

[gigahertz]

Hi,
it is true that shrimps develop a new exoskeleton under the old one before they molt. But the new one is flexible and soft, so when they finished molting it needs some time before their new exoskeleton is as hard as the old was. That is the reason why they look for a place to hide often before they molt, they want to protect themselves from predators. Only in very rare cases you can see a shrimp mold in a open space.

Best regards

Robert

Totally agree!

I had only witness the molting process twice. Once it was 3 days ago when a CRS was sitting on some moss and then all of a sudden it just starting to come out of it's shell as if it were it were taking off a clear plastic rain jacket.

The other time it's was a wood shrimp and I happened to have a camera with me so I took a photo of it.

http://fdlam.com/wood%20shrimp.jpg

[Walter]

Cool.. Didn't know they eject outwards quickly to moult. But I think the wood shrimp comes out slowly right? Just like crayfishes which I used to keep. Guess because they are larger.

Hmm.. So they do have a softer new exoskeleton, just like crayfishes, which is usually the case when they get hunted down by other crayfishes. Cannibals! :shocked: Just wondering so is calcium essensial in their diet then? To help harden the shell?

[LittlePuff]

Yep. Alot of times they will eat their "old skin" to get the calcium back.


Kim

[Lobsterman]

I'm not sure if anyone has observed this phenomenon.... usually after purchasing some cherry shrimps, they will either molt in the bags or the next day after introducing to the tank... It happened to me a couple of times and some of my friends had the same experience... :huh:

The difference in water temp and makeup usually acts as a catalyst for moulting for crustaceans. There were enough incidents for me to come up with this. I had on several times, encountered mass moulting of up to 10 individual crayfishes after a change in water. :)

[Walter]

So a change in temperature might result in this fasten effect of moulting? It is the increase in temperature or decrease or both that will cause this? :)

[retardo]

The difference in water temp and makeup usually acts as a catalyst for moulting for crustaceans. There were enough incidents for me to come up with this. I had on several times, encountered mass moulting of up to 10 individual crayfishes after a change in water. :)

I"ve noticed this as well, esp with my amanos. They have a higher tendency to do this than other shrimp, although I cannot confirm 100%, as the exoskeletons are hard to distinguish from different species sometimes.

Another observation that I've noticed is that the gestation period for eggs from fertilization to hatch tends to occur quite a bit quicker when the temperature of the water is warmer. It took 5-6wks for some eggs to hatch in a tank at room temp (avg 67d F) than one that is heated and maintained at 78deg F (gestation period was 3-4wks). Has anyone else observed the same thing?

[Lobsterman]

So a change in temperature might result in this fasten effect of moulting? It is the increase in temperature or decrease or both that will cause this? :)

I would suspect an increase in temperature. Nevertheless, crustaceans should be able to shed their exoskeleton naturally and does not need such an induced method. ;)

[Lobsterman]

I"ve noticed this as well, esp with my amanos. They have a higher tendency to do this than other shrimp, although I cannot confirm 100%, as the exoskeletons are hard to distinguish from different species sometimes.

Another observation that I've noticed is that the gestation period for eggs from fertilization to hatch tends to occur quite a bit quicker when the temperature of the water is warmer. It took 5-6wks for some eggs to hatch in a tank at room temp (avg 67d F) than one that is heated and maintained at 78deg F (gestation period was 3-4wks). Has anyone else observed the same thing?

This I agree, as with some reptiles and egg-laying animals, a higher temperature could result in a different sex ratio (male:female) or earlier hatchings. Experimentally though, I had yet to study the crays. ;)

[Walter]

I would suspect an increase in temperature. Nevertheless, crustaceans should be able to shed their exoskeleton naturally and does not need such an induced method. ;)

Oh I see, thanks for the clarification. I'm still in progress of re-setting up my lobster tank. :D Hope to complete soon! :)

By the way, How many blue crayfish can I mix in a two feet normal dimension tank considering I am going to provide lots of hiding places? It's going to be a maze man! :p To reduce disheartening cannibalism.. :(

[Lobsterman]

Oh I see, thanks for the clarification. I'm still in progress of re-setting up my lobster tank. :D Hope to complete soon! :)

By the way, How many blue crayfish can I mix in a two feet normal dimension tank considering I am going to provide lots of hiding places? It's going to be a maze man! :p To reduce disheartening cannibalism.. :(

We sure could discuss this further in-depth in the other section of this forum. ;)