Molting question

[Xanavi]

Hi all

I don't know if anyone of you actually witness the process of molting. I am wondering how it will happen and how long it takes.

I actually bought 2 pregnant shrimps about 2 days ago. They seemed to have adapted to the tank well and acting normally.

Total, I observed 1 of them clinging onto a strand of aquatic grass among the dense vegetation (spotted from the top). It was alive but stationary and appeared whitish. Is it molting? I also read that the eggs will come off with the molted shell, does that happen all the time?

I did not stay long enough (only observed around 30 mins) as I have to rush back to work but I just couldn't help but wonder what is happening.

Can anybody advise?

[Navanod]

Hi Xanavi,

I had witnessed a few moltings and it usually starts with the shrimp's carapace (head) developing a crack from the abdomen (body). The shrimp then holds on to something while bending and arcing it's body backward and forward. Then in one quick jump, it leaps out of the old shell from the gap between the head and body and swims off to hide while waiting for it's new shell to harden, leaving the old ghostly translucent shell behind.

Here's a video of the process


As for your case, I'm afraid it may not be molting. It may either be dying, or it had already molted and is waiting for the new shell to harden. Some of my shrimps die during this process. I know because when I examined the bodies, it was totally soft, like a peeled prawn, no shell!

If there are any unhatched eggs, the eggs will be left on the old discarded shells. This is common in some of my king kongs and blue bolts but I had not seen any eggs being left behind by CRS or Neocaridina sp.

[Xanavi]

Hi Navanod

Thank you for your detailed explanation.
Unfortunately, I went home yesterday to discover the dead body in the same place.