how long to keep molted crayfish shell in tank?

[rastoma]

I have had some marbled crayfish for a few weeks now. When they molt, I've been leaving the shell in there for them to eat. But after several days it just starts to look like it's rotting. They seem to eat part of it (I've never actually caught them eating it), as part of it is gone.

But how long should I leave it in there? From others experience I've read, people seem to claim that they eat the entire thing.

 

[jayla2251]

I've only had 3 of them for a few months and have only seen 2 molts. I have a huge plant that they like to climb up to molt in. The first time they didn't even really touch the molt as it was still up in the plant. So after a day or so I knocked it down and they ate it after another day or so. The second one I left in the plant and they've been slowly eating it. Today would make like day 3 or 4. I also have trumpet snails that I figure will help eat some of it that they don't. If it's large pieces like half of it, I'd remove it after 4 or so days.

 

[captmicha]

It doesn't make any sense to leave it in there if it's rotting. Giving them a few days at it is enough, I'd think, to help them regain some of the lost nutrients and a good diet should make up for the rest without polluting the water like a rotting shell would.

 

[Ptrick125]

I would try to leave it in there as long as possible, because the nutrients help the crayfish after the molt. But if the shell rots, and forms ammonia that could end out badly.


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