Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

shrimp sheds.

Question? Does anyone know if there is a true value to keeping the old exo's in the tank after the molt? Will the nutrients actually stay in the tank or should I just get them out?

My huge female amano shedded and I kept it to show my hubby. He was quite impressed and I left it in a floating breeder to take a photo if it. An asolene spixi snail climbed into the breeder and ate most of the moult.
I don't know about nutrients but that snail found it tasty.

I leave them and the shrimp and snails polish them off in a few days. They are good sources of calcium.

Good way to keep all that iodine from being wasted, I've heard.

carbon etc wrote:Good way to keep all that iodine from being wasted, I've heard.

I don't use iodine.

The shrimp really seem to like eating their tankmates' exoskeletons, I've seen my shrimp graze on them and I think it must be good for them.

I currently have like 6 sheds at the bottom of my cherry/amano thank that look disgusting. Nobody is touching them, should i just take them out then?

It doesn't hurt to take them out, but if you have that many sheds all at once and no one is eating them your shrimp may be stressed. Better be safe & check your water parameters. Start with pH, nitrates, and so on.