Peppermint shrimp molting frequency

[atlee]

I've had my peppermint shrimp for about two months, and it's been consistently molting about every ten days to two weeks. Is that normal behavior, or a sign of stress?

The tank is a three-month-old 10g FOWLR tank, which the shrimp shares with a clownfish, a neon goby, and a large hermit crab. SG is 1.024, nitrates have been in the 5-10 range lately, and I've been doing WCs to try and get them down (20% every week to 10 days). The shrimp sometimes molts after WCs, but not after every one. For the last three weeks, I've also been running my light only every third day, to help settle down an early-stage algae problem. The shrimp seems to enjoy the darker environment and has been more active since I turned the lights out. I feed every third day, a few pellets for the clown and a shredded-up tiny salad shrimp for the others, and I usually see the peppermint come out and eat well.

How frequently do healthy shrimp molt?

[tony9758]

I think it means he is growing and doing well.

[zero186]

good sign really. If they are molting they are growing and eating well.

[chrisd]

like stated above could be a good sign but shrimp also molt to rid them self of high concetrations of chemicals. not saying thats whats going on but just a thought. i asked the same question about my pepps they molt about once every month.

[tdwyatt]

I agree with Chrisd, kind of unusual for shrimp to molt that frequently when they are new to a system, although I guess it is possible in a heavily fed system. New smaller shrimp are usually not to aggresesive about feeding in a new setting. Peppermint shrimp WILL, however, usually molt each time they go through a cycle of salinity changes (like when they are brought home and acclimatized from the LFS). Many folks think their shrimp has died when in fact the shrimp has gone through one such salinity change and molted.

How do you replace your system's evaporative losses?

[Doug1]

In my old 29 I had 3 camel shrimp that ate my zoas and stuff, I tried everything to catch them hell spawn and couldn't so I started dosing iodine, which seemed to cause them to moult like every 2 weeks, after a couple months the died off , presumably from all that energy used to moult alot

[motorslave]

I have three shrimp and see a molt about every two to three weeks. Two cleaners and one coral banded. I think the banded molts more than the two cleaners.

[Loverotties]

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

I agree with Chrisd, kind of unusual for shrimp to molt that frequently when they are new to a system, although I guess it is possible in a heavily fed system. New smaller shrimp are usually not to aggresesive about feeding in a new setting. Peppermint shrimp WILL, however, usually molt each time they go through a cycle of salinity changes (like when they are brought home and acclimatized from the LFS). Many folks think their shrimp has died when in fact the shrimp has gone through one such salinity change and molted.

How do you replace your system's evaporative losses?

Agree and it should slow down.

[REEFIN'ROB]

i think they will molt if your calcium level is too high. it seems like i read that somewhere a few years ago. are you dosing?

[whatevva]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was always under the impression that Iodine played a large role in molting, and that's why, after a WC and some of the trace element was being replaced, molting would occur.

[chrisd]

Originally Posted by whatevva

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was always under the impression that Iodine played a large role in molting, and that's why, after a WC and some of the trace element was being replaced, molting would occur.

thats how i understand it high concentration of iodine would cause them to molt it would depend on if atlee is dosing iodine. i know when i first added my pepps they molted about 5 times in the first month now i see one every month or so. they are alot of fun to watch to bad i may have to get rid of them i caught one of them munching on my ricordias.

[atlee]

I'm not dosing anything like iodine or calcium -- I actually don't even have a protein skimmer on the tank yet, just a HOB filter and WCs for now. I top off with a small amount of RO/DI as needed to maintain SG, usually once a week. I have a glass canopy, so it doesn't really evaporate that quickly.

[chrisd]

then i would not worry about the molting it should slow down. IMO i would lose the glass canopy.

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by atlee

I'm not dosing anything like iodine or calcium -- I actually don't even have a protein skimmer on the tank yet, just a HOB filter and WCs for now. I top off with a small amount of RO/DI as needed to maintain SG, usually once a week. I have a glass canopy, so it doesn't really evaporate that quickly.

What is the tank volume/system volume, and how much water do you add at once to bring it back to full? (or how far down in inches is your lowest waterline and what are the dimensions for your tank and sump?)

[atlee]

It's a 10g tank (no sump), and total water volume is roughly 7g -- started with 8g plus 15 lbs LS, and later added 7 lbs LR. It only takes a few cups to bring it back up to the waterline I originally marked, about 1" from the top.

Why do you say to lose the glass canopy, Chris? I have a neon goby in there whom I'm afraid might jump, plus twin toddlers who love the fishtank, so I'm not sure how practical it would be to get rid of it.