Fu-Man Chu Lionfish...Molting?!?!?

[Dr4gula.f32]

So I'm sitting here next to the tank on the computer and I see this clear thing floating in the tank. I'm looking at it, it looks like shed skin. Then my Fu Man Chu does this twitching dance thing, and then a really violent shake and POOF it shed a complete layer of skin. Just like a shrimp you can see a layer of it's dorsal spines, side skin. Everything. And now he's back to chillin on his rock like nothings new. I have had him almost 2 years now and I've never seen this happen. It only eats live food, once a week, ten minnows or black mollies.

So, do these guys shed their skin to grow? What did I just see?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Wow, I didn't know that; but it does sound like you are describing a molt. Curious to hear from others that have owned that type of fish.

 

[littlefoxx]

So I'm sitting here next to the tank on the computer and I see this clear thing floating in the tank. I'm looking at it, it looks like shed skin. Then my Fu Man Chu does this twitching dance thing, and then a really violent shake and POOF it shed a complete layer of skin. Just like a shrimp you can see a layer of it's dorsal spines, side skin. Everything. And now he's back to chillin on his rock like nothings new. I have had him almost 2 years now and I've never seen this happen. It only eats live food, once a week, ten minnows or black mollies.

So, do these guys shed their skin to grow? What did I just see?

Um no they dont shed skin (that I know of??? Never seen the 4 lions I kept before do that) but I have no clue what the heck youre describing!!! Might ask the medics if there is anything they know of that might cause that

@Jay Hemdal
@vetteguy53081

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

After doing some research on here, they in fact do shed their skin.

fuzzy dwarf lionfish moulting?

My fuzzy dwarf lionfish has only recently has had a lot of discolouration on the top of his back to the point where its white, he has what looks like peeling around the area of discolouration and now has extremely dark clear eyes (they used to be quite cloudy) he has also being breathing fairly...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I'm sitting here next to the tank on the computer and I see this clear thing floating in the tank. I'm looking at it, it looks like shed skin. Then my Fu Man Chu does this twitching dance thing, and then a really violent shake and POOF it shed a complete layer of skin. Just like a shrimp you can see a layer of it's dorsal spines, side skin. Everything. And now he's back to chillin on his rock like nothings new. I have had him almost 2 years now and I've never seen this happen. It only eats live food, once a week, ten minnows or black mollies.

So, do these guys shed their skin to grow? What did I just see?

Normal as its a slime coat separation and also assure no increase in ammonia and change in PH but ive seen this several times

 

[Jay Hemdal]

So I'm sitting here next to the tank on the computer and I see this clear thing floating in the tank. I'm looking at it, it looks like shed skin. Then my Fu Man Chu does this twitching dance thing, and then a really violent shake and POOF it shed a complete layer of skin. Just like a shrimp you can see a layer of it's dorsal spines, side skin. Everything. And now he's back to chillin on his rock like nothings new. I have had him almost 2 years now and I've never seen this happen. It only eats live food, once a week, ten minnows or black mollies.

So, do these guys shed their skin to grow? What did I just see?

That species is reported to shed its cuticle every few weeks or so. I've never seen it happen, but I have seen it in other scorpionfish.

There is some disagreement over how often they shed - some people say if they shed a lot, it is a sign that the fish is trying to rid itself of some skin affliction.