Magical Molting

beckypyyeung · Post by **beckypyyeung** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:17 am

I was viewing my shrimps after dinner. I found one of them doing something strange. It curled up to a degree that it had never behaved like that. I thought it was feeling unwell. However, after just a few seconds it suddenly straightened its body and rushed to the water surface. A static shrimp body was still at where it had been whilst a moving shrimp body was rushing upwards. I wondered if there was something wrong with my eyes. Wow, surprisingly, it turns out that the static body was its shell ! I witnessed it molt

Does anyone know if it still gets a new shell to protect its body now ?

Rob G · Post by **Rob G** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:04 am

Yes, the molting process is natural. As the shrimp grows it will molt from time to time. Congratulations on witnessing the event. I usually just see the discarded shells laying on the substrate.

Shrimpmania · Post by **Shrimpmania** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:59 am

WOW... sure u are lucky

retardo · Post by **retardo** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:47 am

i always wondered how they do it, whether it was akin to taking off clothes like we do or instantaneous. now at least i have an idea of what happens. i'll be more watchful and i hope to be able to witness it for myself. they usually do their molting at nite and i find the discarded shell afterwards.

Post by **Mustafa** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:17 am

The new shell is already "ready" when the shrimp molts the old shell. It just needs to harden after the molt...that's all.

Mustafa

beckypyyeung · Post by **beckypyyeung** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 3:09 am

Oh I see. I wondered if it was naked. It turns out that the new shell was ready.

Yes, I think I'm very lucky coz the whole process took just about five seconds. It curled up so much that it was like a circle. The discarded shell included the head and the tentacles as well. It was at about 8:30 p.m. last night.

dstringf · Post by **dstringf** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:37 pm

I too witnessed my first molting last week. At first I thought it was trying to eat another shrimp when I realized that it was actually molting! Since then, I've found several more empty "shells" laying in the substrate. Seems like a good sign!

beckypyyeung · Post by **beckypyyeung** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 4:38 am

Yes, I feel happy to know that they molt coz as far as I know, it means growth.

Post by **Mustafa** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 4:44 am

Molting is not always a good thing. Shrimp also molt if the water paramaters are not good or if there are toxic substances in the water (such as Iodine or other toxic chemicals). So, it can be a "defense" mechanism against toxicity and, hence, a sign of stress.

Mustafa

beckypyyeung · Post by **beckypyyeung** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:13 am

Oh I see. Thanks Mustafa !