Cleaner shrimp not molting?

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi folks,

I've had a cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis since April and it hasn't molted (in close to 6 months). A Halloween hermit has molted twice in the same time frame.

I'm used to these molting every 3 to 6 weeks. This is a very large one, does anyone know if this species has a "terminal molt" like some crabs do, where they have a final molt and then eventually die of old age?


Thanks,

Jay

 

[Rocks reef]

I'm assuming it's close to being as big as it will get. If so, it won't molt nearly as often as when it was growing.

 

[TripletDad79]

Agreed - I got my cleaner as a tiny baby over a year ago and the molting has slowed down significantly over the last few months.

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

I don’t know how to tell you this….but get the tarter sauce ready

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi folks,

I've had a cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis since April and it hasn't molted (in close to 6 months). A Halloween hermit has molted twice in the same time frame.

I'm used to these molting every 3 to 6 weeks. This is a very large one, does anyone know if this species has a "terminal molt" like some crabs do, where they have a final molt and then eventually die of old age?


Thanks,

Jay

Well, it molted today and is fine. I just needed to be more patient.....

 

[BryanM]

Well, it molted today and is fine. I just needed to be more patient.....

He needed the attention, diva status.

My quick read says older = less, but no final molt.

 

[v!kas]

he is either getting old, or not getting enough food

 

[56longroof]

Doesn't low iodine interfere with shrimp molting?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Doesn't low iodine interfere with shrimp molting?

Yes - for all crustaceans. Not iodide though, has to be elemental iodine.

This shrimp ending up molting fine, I just wasn’t patient enough (grin).