Coral eating shrimp exoskeleton

[N8 the Gr8]

My skunk cleaner had molted and I heard mixed thoughts on removing the exoskeleton but I decided to leave it there this time. Fast forward to the next day and I see my elegance with three spines sticking out it’s mouth. At first, I’m curious and slightly panicked but I notice that the shrimp’s exoskeleton is missing. As the coral and exoskeleton were fairly close to each other location-wise, I knew that it had floated into the coral and got wrapped up. What had surprised me was that the coral was actually eating the exoskeleton and hadn’t spat it out. I assumed that there was no harm done by this and it could just be a little more nutrients. Any thoughts? Personally, I have never seen this before and found it cool and very interesting. I have learned that nobody has experienced everything that can go on in a reef aquarium. I’ll attach the picture if anyone is curious.

 

[RandyC]

Happens quite frequently in my tanks. Normal by my standards and haven’t seen any harm caused by it.

 

[homer1475]

I have 2 cleaner shrimp, and they molt nearly every few months. I have never taken the exoskeleton out, my elegance and rock flowers love it.

 

[lilgrounchuck]

My Duncan colony usually grabs the molts and I’ve not seen any issues with them eating it.

 

[N8 the Gr8]

My Duncan colony usually grabs the molts and I’ve not seen any issues with them eating it.

Interesting, This is a lot more common than I thought.

 

[Uncle99]

I drag the molt to my RFAs, they seem to love them

 

[Daniel266jz]

I just had my shrimp molt and I read this thread and put it near my RFA and it’s eating it lol couldn’t get a great pic but here it is