Cleaner Shrimp stuck mid-molt, can I help?

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dopey

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Woke up to find him like this:
IMG_20180520_082224_101.jpg

I removed the plug(it wasn't glued), assuming he was dead. But when I grabbed him, he sprung to life.

Since then he's floated around the tank to the current some. But also wedged himself in other places.

It *does* look like he's making progress on shedding his old skin. It was initially smashed against his head, and now has a gap. So it does seem to be progressing.

Is there any assistance I can do besides keeping him 'safe' and letting him do the work? Would me trying to remove the skin likely cause more harm?

he has molted 3 or so times since i've had him without issue. The coral he was found wedged under is 'new', so perhaps this was his goto place for shedding, and simply got himself stuck? Or perhaps I shouldn't of moved the plug this morning?

any advice welcome..

Even the acan started eating him..
IMG_20180520_105854_910.jpg

I've just been watching him and if he's in a 'bad' spot i move him..

There is no fish in the tank, just a crab and corals. My hope is keeping him away from the crab, and not trapped by any of the corals is best I can do?
 
The molt is extremely stressful so I would just leave him be and let nature take over.

If you really need to intercede than a critter carrier placed in the tank is probably the way to go.
 
It didn't make it.

It proceedingly lost energy till nothing.

Who knows how long it was stuck under the plug
 

WHICH PART OF YOUR SETUP IS HARDEST TO REACH OR REMOVE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE?

  • Glass behind or beside the tank

    Votes: 8 27.6%
  • Powerheads or wavemakers

    Votes: 2 6.9%
  • Sump or rear filtration chambers

    Votes: 5 17.2%
  • Skimmer or other filtration equipment

    Votes: 1 3.4%
  • Overflow or plumbing

    Votes: 7 24.1%
  • Lights or lids

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Mine is pretty easy to access!

    Votes: 5 17.2%
  • Other—tell us what I missed

    Votes: 1 3.4%
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