How long does it take for a RCS to molt?

[Suzie Q]

We'll have to wait and see how this guy does. Quite the trooper so far, swimming all over the place, eating and grazing.

It's been two days now, no molts, no deaths

I'm hoping my tank is stabilized? They are all acting normal, eating well etc.

Congrats...hope your shrimp are "over the hump".

[Suzie Q]

Up date on the molting problem...
So far, no more issues have come up...I did witness a molting...did not actually "see" it...the shrimps exo split just behind the head portion, then all of the sudden, the shrimp jurked away, and the old exo sank to the bottom of the tank!

My only conclusion is that the Tetra water conditioner I was using caused the problem...that is the only thing that Cactus Bastard and I had in common.



I do have a new issue though...I have to research first before I post my new issue...now all the females are developing eggs, but they are dropping them!

Thanks for all the help.

[badflash]

Give them time. Young females often have practice runs. It could also be your males are not sexually mature. Give it another month or so before you worry too much.

[Mustafa]

By the way...what you see in the picture here as "part of the old skin" is not part of the old exoskeleton at all. The shrimp molted just fine..it's just that the new exoskeleton sticks out from the body. This is usually a sign of problems with your water...i.e. your tank has not matured yet even though it may be cycled. Just sit tight...don't do water changes (just fill up evaporation) and don't feed. The rest is a matter of patience. It may take a week...it may take a few months.

[Cactus Bastard]

By the way...what you see in the picture here as "part of the old skin" is not part of the old exoskeleton at all. The shrimp molted just fine..it's just that the new exoskeleton sticks out from the body.

Thanks, within a day it seemed to have mostly filled out, except for one small part of one side that remained sticking straight out. It's acting perfectly healthy though, so hopefully will clear up with the next molt.

I agree that water conditions are to blame for the problems I'd been having. I strongly suspect heavy metals, specifically iron or copper. I bought a copper test kit, which did not come up with any indication of copper, but this was also after I had switched to prime, and added the cuprisorb to my filter.
There's also a chance my substrate could be the infamous "black beauty" rather than Tahitian Moon, which would have leached iron at the very least.

The tank itself is well established (many years old), but it probably does not yet have the proper cultures of micro-organisms. I've increased the lighting to help promote algae growth, added an air driven sponge filter, and half a dozen pieces of sea sponge. I understand I just need to sit back and wait now, but I can't help holding my breath

I witnessed a shrimp molt last night, it was really neat. I missed the part where it would have initially cracked it's back. I just saw him sort of squirming for about two seconds, then it popped right out. - And an Amano immediately started chasing him around grabbing at him
I then moved the Amanos to a different tank. The last thing my cherries need is more stress!

[Suzie Q]

Give them time. Young females often have practice runs. It could also be your males are not sexually mature. Give it another month or so before you worry too much.

I did a search (thought I had read somewhere that young females will do this)...all other findings such as temp and stuff are very simular, so I will just sit back and relax...My shrimp problem is now Closed. Thanks for all your help guys!

Cactus...hope all is still going well!

[jamesbell4]

I too have a shrimp with 2 splits in its old exoskeleton, similar to Suzie Q's photos but the gap are not quite so big.
First noticed last night, now this morning the shrimp was on its side at the bottom of the tank not moving.

I separated it into another container to stop it being bothered by an Amano. Its not dead, but still on side and rarely moving its arms or legs and breathing slowly. The old exoskeleton doesn't look loose.

Shrimp only tank, 2 months old, have had other successful moltings previously, water quality ok.