Does shrimps shed their shells?

[nickpower]

hi, i see in my tank recently, shrimp shells. Whole intact shrimp shells. I thought they were eaten, but i my fishes are not keen on eating them. So wanna ask u guys if shrimps change their shells like snakes... shedding the whole skin/shell.......

[vinz]

Yes, they do shed their shells.

[MrPCB]

Yup, and don't remove the shedded shells, shrimps may need to reingest them when in calcium depleted waters.

Pedro

[Bandit]

its called moulting.

shrimps and freshwater lobster or crayfish do this.

[Aeon]

Shrimps moult according to the lunar cycle, usually at new moon when it totally dark. They do this because their hard exoskeleton does not grow with them and they will have to shed their outer shells for the inner new shell which is bigger. At this time they are very vulnerable so they prefer to hide.