Do shrimp eat their molts?

nyxkitten · 02-08-2013, 08:24 PM

I haven't seen my shrimps molts for a while. Do they eat them?

**MsNemoShrimp** · 02-08-2013, 08:27 PM

Of course! Its their source of calcium

Bananariot · 02-08-2013, 08:29 PM

Yes, so never remove the molts!

nyxkitten · 02-08-2013, 08:48 PM

That's what I thought but had to make sure. I normally see one or two once an a while but haven't seen any for like a week now. They must be starving for calcium!

ValMM · 02-08-2013, 08:50 PM

I would only see a ghost shrimp molt every once in a blue moon. If I left it in and they didn't eat it, I would throw it away so it didn't get too mushy to grab.

FriendsNotFood · 02-08-2013, 09:07 PM

It takes them a while... the #1 way I know the difference between a dead shrimp and a molt is that the dead shrimps get eaten right away but the molts just sit there.

MSG · 02-08-2013, 09:25 PM

I was wondering with the molt shells. Don't the other shrimp steal the molt even though it's NOT theirs? It's not like they have a way to "reserve" it.

Aren't most thriving shrimp colonies a complete "free for all" when it comes to food?

PuddlesAqua · 02-08-2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSG

I was wondering with the molt shells. Don't the other shrimp steal the molt even though it's NOT theirs? It's not like they have a way to "reserve" it.

Aren't most thriving shrimp colonies a complete "free for all" when it comes to food?

yes and yes

shift · 02-08-2013, 10:52 PM

I just threw one of those calcium rocks in the tank.. gives them a back up source if they ever have the urge.. once in a while i seem them pick at it

02-08-2013, 08:27 PM	#2
MsNemoShrimp ღ Miss ShrimpTastic! ஐ... (View User Tanks) PTrader: (300/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 2,003	Of course! Its their source of calcium __________________ ღ¸¸·´¯`·.¸¸.ஐ ...¤¸¸.·´¯`·..☆¸.·Miss My - I'm 23 - UCSD Graduate.....۩۩๑๑۩۞۩๑ "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt 12G Rimless Club 12G Mr. Aqua Journal - My 1st Iwagumi Rimless 17G Mr. Aqua Journal - My Shrimp Tank RAOK Club #35 Sharing IS Caring

02-08-2013, 08:29 PM	#3
Bananariot Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (23/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Stony Brook, NY Posts: 2,494	Yes, so never remove the molts! __________________ A Poor College Student's 12 Gallon Long ~~R.I.P. My College 10 Gallon Exploration x3~~ 12G Rimless Club

02-08-2013, 08:48 PM	#4
nyxkitten Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (42/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Browns Mills, NJ Posts: 274	That's what I thought but had to make sure. I normally see one or two once an a while but haven't seen any for like a week now. They must be starving for calcium! __________________ 2x 20Lgal Pond snails/apple snails, Fire Red Cherry Shrimps/Oto =^.^= 30gal Pea Puffers/Zebra Danios/Cherry Barbs =^.^= 55gal 4x cichlids/clown loach/2x barbs

02-08-2013, 08:50 PM	#5
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	I would only see a ghost shrimp molt every once in a blue moon. If I left it in and they didn't eat it, I would throw it away so it didn't get too mushy to grab. __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

02-08-2013, 10:52 PM	#9
shift Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: canada Posts: 905	I just threw one of those calcium rocks in the tank.. gives them a back up source if they ever have the urge.. once in a while i seem them pick at it __________________ 84G - The Osaka Forest 12G Fluval Edge - Celestial pearl Danios, Boraras urophthalmoides & PFR shrimp 5.5G Fluval Chi - Pumpkin shrimplets 10G - CRS/CBS 10G - Red Rilli's 10G - Yellow shrimp

02-08-2013, 08:24 PM	#1
nyxkitten Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (42/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Browns Mills, NJ Posts: 274	Do shrimp eat their molts? I haven't seen my shrimps molts for a while. Do they eat them? __________________ 2x 20Lgal Pond snails/apple snails, Fire Red Cherry Shrimps/Oto =^.^= 30gal Pea Puffers/Zebra Danios/Cherry Barbs =^.^= 55gal 4x cichlids/clown loach/2x barbs

02-08-2013, 09:07 PM	#6
FriendsNotFood Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Hollywood, CA Posts: 993	It takes them a while... the #1 way I know the difference between a dead shrimp and a molt is that the dead shrimps get eaten right away but the molts just sit there.

02-08-2013, 09:25 PM	#7
MSG Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Coast Posts: 270	I was wondering with the molt shells. Don't the other shrimp steal the molt even though it's NOT theirs? It's not like they have a way to "reserve" it. Aren't most thriving shrimp colonies a complete "free for all" when it comes to food?

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