Mexican Orange Dwarf Crayfish (CPO) can't finish its molting

[igorKanshyn]

Hi,

Two of my Mexican Orange Dwarf Crayfish (CPO) can't finish their molting.

They have part of old shells still attach to their bodies,
- they lost some limbs (it's was probably with help of other crayfishes)
- they lie on a gravel like dead and move from time to time.

I've separated them in individual aquariums and watch them.

The questions is should I manually help them to remove old skins or just wait?
Is there other ways to help them?

P.S. You can look at a healthy one here: Video: Mexican Orange Dwarf Crayfish

[igorKanshyn]

That two crayfish are still alive, but they are not behave normally. They usually lay somewhere like dead ones or make some clumsy movings.

[Mac Myers]

I just lost two CPO to this. Still trying to figure out why.

[igorKanshyn]

I just lost two CPO to this. Still trying to figure out why.

Mine are still alive.

Have they molted? Did others prey on them?

[Mac Myers]

No, there were only the two CPO's in the tank. Both died during molting. One apparently a few days before the other though I didn't know it at the time. PH was 7.6 but don't know what GH/KH is yet. I was pretty bummed.

[igorKanshyn]

No, there were only the two CPO's in the tank. Both died during molting. One apparently a few days before the other though I didn't know it at the time. PH was 7.6 but don't know what GH/KH is yet. I was pretty bummed.

How long have they been in a tank?

[Mac Myers]

Since Early October. I originally set it up for Sulawesi Shrimp... with Caribsea PH affecting bacteria Cichlid substrate (forget the name) and Distilled water. I added some tap after I decided to chicken out on the Cardinals. Never tested the GH/KH again. Nothing in the tank today. Not even Plants. Going to recycle and stabilize before I put anything else in there.


Edit: FYI.. the tank is also the first one I've set up using a homemade rock wall painted with Krylon Fusion for Plastic. I was assured by some experienced keepers that it was safe. Krylon said it was safe (after being WELL cured... like for 2 weeks) so I tried it. I bought the textured stuff and now that it's been in the tank for awhile I see little copper colored flakes. I've got a question in to Krylon as I can't determine what they are from the MSDS. I can't imagine with the cost of copper that it's anymore than a plastic glitter in a 4 dollar can of paint. But now I'm freakin' out about everything. I HATE killing animals. And between whatever this is and 2 shipping incidents... I've killed too many.

[igorKanshyn]

Since Early October. I originally set it up for Sulawesi Shrimp... with Caribsea PH affecting bacteria Cichlid substrate (forget the name) and Distilled water. I added some tap after I decided to chicken out on the Cardinals. Never tested the GH/KH again. Nothing in the tank today. Not even Plants. Going to recycle and stabilize before I put anything else in there.

Sulawesi set up usually means high GH. Cichlid substrate like aragonite makes it so.
High GH can make crustaceans shells very hard and impossible to get rid of. It's one of the possibilities.
Get a GH/KH test kit, just to be aware about your water parameters.

[Mac Myers]

I have a GH/KH test kit. I have to work pretty hard to get the PH down, keep it down and stable. It's liquid cinderblocks. That's why I ttried using the substrate and the distilled water. It's frustrating.

[igorKanshyn]

One of my 'sick' crayfish are completely recovered several days ago. It looks like it was molted gain. and now it frightens away all shrimps near it

Another one is still playing dead or move odd. Look at a video of that sick crayfish after unfinished molting.