Molting Behavior

[Makaiveli]

My Peppermint Shrimp/ Porcelain Crab/ and Arrow Crab all molted last night.

It seems as if the shrimp/crab in my tank molt at least once every 2 weeks. That seems too often.

Is there anything I should be concerned about?

- 1 cautious aquarium owner -

[Max]

that is kind of odd for adult crustacians. When they are juveniles they do tend to molt more often. They grow pretty quick when they are young and it's controled by an internal mechanism. I don't know what could cause more frequent molting short of being youn or some sort of damage to thier exo-skeletons. Lots of crustaceans will molt frequently to repair damagae as well.
sorry to be vague
hth
chris
p.s.
clean out your p.m. box

[Makaiveli]

ahhh, completely accurate. they are still young, and I have been feeding the tank a little more than necessary.

my pm box is cleaned out...perhaps there is an error with the website.

[OrionGirl]

Check your Sent folder--it automatically stores each one you send, and can fill the box up as well.

[Makaiveli]

thanks OG. how wonderful it is to be free of so much baggage. That sent items folder was packed!!! :cool:

[gbolton]

High I2 levels could also cause repetitive moulting.

[Makaiveli]

I2? I've never even heard of that....marine aquariums have proven to be a valuable experience of ongoing education. on....and on, and on.

What's I2? Thanks

[gbolton]

Sorry Iodine.

[as40]

Hmm....
Makaiveli, I too have a pair of young shrimp, and since I've had them, they seem to molt about once every ten days or so, though I haven't kept count. I figured they were just growing.
But gbolton, the info about the iodine is very informative. I add Kent's Iodine to the tank whenever I do water changes, or once a week or so, as much as the directions on the bottle say to. I didn't know that might be playing a part in the molting, so perhaps I'll cut back how much I use the stuff.

[mogurnda]

As far as I can tell, the connection between iodine and molting is fairly speculative. I have tried very hard to track down the original work that documents this, and have come up empty. People often cite experiments that show high iodine causes premature molting, yet when pressed, can't provide any documentation.

I completely agree with not dosing iodine if you don't test for it. Unless you have major consumers, like a big growth of macroalgae, the amount of iodine going into the tank as food and water changes is usually enough.

Young shrimp do molt a lot. For at least a year, mine were each molting about every 2 weeks. If they are fed a lot, they will molt a lot.

[gbolton]

mogurda you are probably right I am citing from what I had seen on Reef Central from someone that is usualy pretty knowledgable. I do not have any imperical data to back up my claim and will do some research myself now to find out one way or the other.