cleaner shrimp

[pinkorchid]

Well.....

he scared the crap out of me...LOL. He dropped his skeleton.... I did read about this but for some reason wasn't expecting it to happen quite yet.

So question...should I fish the empty skeleton out? I read about adding an iodine supplement to help them build there new one...is that necessary? Right now he looks like he always did....

Thanks!

[cruzincaril]

that scared me too the first time i saw it..but i never added iodine cuz i was told if u cant measure it dont add it..so..i dont know where they get the iodine from then ..there may be some in the salt not sure

[pinkorchid]

sounds good to me! Thanks...

Did you try and remove the skeleton or does it break down?

[cruzincaril]

i think i took it out..i didnt think anything would eat it but lets check with the guys...

[Learner]

Curiosity got the better of me I'm afraid, ....I took it out too!!!

I thought the shrimp had died as the carcass looked like the real thing :o

Mine is a fire shrimp, and it now sheds on a regular basis; I don't add iodine either.

Interested to hear what the boys have to say ;D

[cruzincaril]

yoo hooo boys where are uuuuu!!????

[pinkorchid]

Maybe I'll try and get it out. Kind of in an ackward spot tucked behind a rock.

ha...I thought it was the real thing too!! Not fun  :-\ LOL!!

[99trev]

I am interested to see what others say bout leaving it or taking it out.  The first one (same as you guys), thought my shrimp had died, so I pulled it out.  I found another one on Saturday (was trying to stabilize a rock that the turbo snails keep moving on me).  I was in the process of removing it, and it broke into several pieces. I was able to some of it out, but some were floating in the tank and my cardinal was scarfing them up. 

That has become a "trick" I use to find my peppermint shrimp... watch the cardinal. During the day he is usually hovering near one of them (I guess waiting to see if he will shrink to bite size or something????) (would love to know what he is thinking, the shrimp is at least twice his size). 

[Just_Greg]

it's entirely up to you as to whether or not you remove the shed cuticle.  something in the tank will typically eat it if you leave it in, and it won't rot, so no worries.  also, remember that the critter in question will typically go into hiding for a few days while the new exoskeleton hardens, as they're vulnerable to attack by predators.

if you feed your tank, it's already getting plenty of iodine, plus you replenish it during WC's.  i wouldn't add it, esp. without testing for it.  as a matter of fact, arthropods can actually go into excessive molting if the I levels are too high, which will eventually kill them.

[pinkorchid]

Thanks for the info Greg!
Good to know it doesn't "need" to be removed....
I was worried that if I couldn't get it, it might throw things off.

[Bergy]

yea, it will not do any harm by leaving it, other then it looking gross... but i take mine out when i can reach it...

As for the iodine, yes, do not add anything unelss you can test for it and know it is deficient... your new salt water has iodine in it as does some foods...

[psykokid]

i just leave the molts from my crab, my urchin usually cleans them up within a day or so..

[cruzincaril]

tankee all!

[pinkorchid]

yea, it will not do any harm by leaving it, other then it looking gross... but i take mine out when i can reach it...

ha...yeah it does look rather gross!! One of my snails is on it right now....LOL. Looks like it's staying!

[cruzincaril]

mite as well let him pig out!