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View Full Version : Shedding Shrimp???



chago09
02-28-2006, 12:12 PM
Are shrimp supposed to shed there shell???? because I found a shrimp shell complete with tail and legs sitting at the bottom of my tank. I thought my only shrimp died but like 2 minutes later I found him on a leaf?????? was that supposed to happen??

Suzanne
02-28-2006, 12:20 PM
yes, they shed their shells as they grow

Jeckel
02-28-2006, 09:57 PM
After they shed, it will take at least a few hours for the new shell to harden. In the meantime the shrimp will be totally defenseless, and may want to hide. Even if the fish aren't going to try to eat it, the shrimp doesn't know this, and so it should have a retreat where the fish can't reach it. (But your shrimp sounds like it's sitting out in the open, so what do I know?)

Jerry

timotel
03-02-2006, 03:13 AM
Yep, they shred the outer shell to grow bigger. My shrimp also eat the old skin as it's a good source of calcium, which they need for stronger shell.

kaceyo
03-02-2006, 11:21 AM
The first time my Banded Coral Shrimp did that it left the old exoskeleton sitting rightside up on a coral branch. It took me awhile to realize what it was and that my shrimp wasn't dead too.

Kacey