Please tell me this is a molt?

[rainbow_yoshi]

So I picked this Pistol up from my LFS about a week ago. He and Goby have paired and made a cute little under rock tunnel. I’ve never owned an invert before him.

I came out this morning and I saw this laying outside of his cave. Is this a normal molt? I thought for sure something bad has happened, I feel like I won’t be able to rest until I see him :(

 

[Bruttall]

looks like a molt.

 

[56longroof]

Looks like a molt to me. Take it out of the tank. If there is nothing but a flimsy shell your good.

 

[Mongo1.0]

Yep, a molt. Threw me off when I saw my cleaner shrimp's first molt. Immediately the worst case scenario is what comes to mind first.

 

[rainbow_yoshi]

UPDATE

It is just empty shell. I noticed he was really hard at work shoveling his tunnel yesterday. Hoping I see him pop out today.

 

[Mongo1.0]

Mine hides for a couple of days.

 

[BonnieB]

I had a virtual heart attack the first time my shrimp molted! Thought for sure it was dead because it looked too much like a whole shrimp! Usually when they molt they hide for a few days because they are now more vulnerable so don’t be alarmed if it takes him a bit to come out (might depend on how safe he feels with what else is in your tank)!

 

[rainbow_yoshi]

I had a virtual heart attack the first time my shrimp molted! Thought for sure it was dead because it looked too much like a whole shrimp! Usually when they molt they hide for a few days because they are now more vulnerable so don’t be alarmed if it takes him a bit to come out (might depend on how safe he feels with what else is in your tank)!

Me too. At first when I saw his lone claw and torso there he had been brutally murdered by something!