Is this cleaner shrimp molting or dying?

[ShrimpBandit]

Just got this cleaner shrimp about a week ago, and it's in my 10g coral QT tank that's been running for over a month. I added some red ogo to the fuge and a little nitrifying bacteria a day or two before adding him. Seemed fine until I went down to feed and do maintenance this morning. He's already molted once since I got him, so it seems weird it would happen again already. I've never had one, so maybe this behavior is totally normal? Here are my parameters:

78°
Salinity 1.027
pH 8.2
dKH 9
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 (that's never happened! Red ogo?)

There are 13 paly & zoa frags and a clownfish in the tank that all seem just fine. I feed daily.

 

[ShrimpBandit]

Just got this cleaner shrimp about a week ago, and it's in my 10g coral QT tank that's been running for over a month. I added some red ogo to the fuge and a little nitrifying bacteria a day or two before adding him. Seemed fine until I went down to feed and do maintenance this morning. He's already molted once since I got him, so it seems weird it would happen again already. I've never had one, so maybe this behavior is totally normal? Here are my parameters:

78°
Salinity 1.027
pH 8.2
dKH 9
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 (that's never happened! Red ogo?)

There are 13 paly & zoa frags and a clownfish in the tank that all seem just fine. I feed daily.

Video attached. Apologies for my weird and intrusive cat.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

poor thing....

 

[shakacuz]

the 0 nitrate could be the ogo. they are not tolerant to copper. so if your QT tank has copper in it, this could be affecting it. otherwise this could may well be it molting.

 

[kittenbritches]

Mine molted three times in succession week after week when I first got it. Everything is probably fine.

 

[ShrimpBandit]

the 0 nitrate could be the ogo. they are not tolerant to copper. so if your QT tank has copper in it, this could be affecting it. otherwise this could may well be it molting.

Thanks. Nothing with copper, but I did dip the frags in Seachem Reef Dip four days ago. Rinsed them off in tank water before putting them back in the QT tank. Could whatever traces of that made it into the tank be causing this issue days later? Any suggested course of action? Trying not to go all mad scientist here.

Mine molted three times in succession week after week when I first got it. Everything is probably fine.

Here's hoping!

 

[Paul B]

Looks to be dying to me.

 

[shakacuz]

Thanks. Nothing with copper, but I did dip the frags in Seachem Reef Dip four days ago. Rinsed them off in tank water before putting them back in the QT tank. Could whatever traces of that made it into the tank be causing this issue days later? Any suggested course of action? Trying not to go all mad scientist here.

Here's hoping!

could be the low nitrates or perhaps bad batch, IMHO. maybe you got unlucky with this guy..

 

[ShrimpBandit]

Looks to be dying to me.

could be the low nitrates or perhaps bad batch, IMHO. maybe you got unlucky with this guy..

Womp, womp. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[ShrimpBandit]

Just came back to say that the poor little guy is still hanging in there... four days later? Definitely perks up when I drop food in the tank, but still isn't upright.

If this is a bad molt, can I help shake it loose? Or is this just a slow but certain death?

 

[kittenbritches]

Just came back to say that the poor little guy is still hanging in there... four days later? Definitely perks up when I drop food in the tank, but still isn't upright.

If this is a bad molt, can I help shake it loose? Or is this just a slow but certain death?

It will swim faster than you could imagine if you try to net it. So try. If it swims away quickly it may shake the old exoskeleton off. If it doesn't, it's probably dying and you may want to start making arrangements.