Inverts with Exoskeleton (crab & shrimps)

[thedidavid]

I have question to any reefer who familiar with the inverts, is it normal for pacific cleaner shrimp to molt 3 times within 2 months? also for crab it molted only after 1 week in my tank. Is this bad sign or good sign. Also the discarded shell do I need to remove it from water or just lieft it there. I know if I left it the water it will dissolved after few hours will this affect my water para?

Thanks

[kareen]

Do u know the reason why the invert molt?

They grow over time but the shell ain't.... so, how fast it molt depend on how much they eat. There lies a little danger in that, if your water quality is not good enough, they will die due to unsuccessful molting....

[Gouldian]

I have question to any reefer who familiar with the inverts, is it normal for pacific cleaner shrimp to molt 3 times within 2 months? also for crab it molted only after 1 week in my tank. Is this bad sign or good sign. Also the discarded shell do I need to remove it from water or just lieft it there. I know if I left it the water it will dissolved after few hours will this affect my water para?

Thanks 

It depends on the growth rate and the individual species.

As a general rule, most well-fed crustaceans in their youth will moulting more frequently then older or ill-fed crustaceans.

Water parameters will not really be compromised in most tanks unless you have many carapaces / exoskeleton dis-integrating in your tank at one time. But this situation is not likely to happen.

Most believed that iodine is needed for moulting. Lacking of which will cause in-complete moulting which will be detrimental. Thus, I will usually add a drop or 2 of lugol's into my tank every week.

HTH

[kareen]

It depends on the growth rate and the individual species.

As a general rule, most well-fed crustaceans in their youth will moulting more frequently then older or ill-fed crustaceans.

Water parameters will not really be compromised in most tanks unless you have many carapaces / exoskeleton dis-integrating in your tank at one time. But this situation is not likely to happen.

Most believed that iodine is needed for moulting. Lacking of which will cause in-complete moulting which will be detrimental. Thus, I will usually add a drop or 2 of lugol's into my tank every week.

HTH

Oh well... I don't know how to tell the invert's age so.....

What u say is true.... all I can say is that how sure you are that iodine is the only thing need? I know a lot of websites give the following piece of information... but with almost non-existence water change, one will have to think twice about it.... (My motive here is just to caution those newbies)

[thedidavid]

Oh well... I don't know how to tell the invert's age so.....

What u say is true.... all I can say is that how sure you are that iodine is the only thing need? I know a lot of websites give the following piece of information... but with almost non-existence water change, one will have to think twice about it.... (My motive here is just to caution those newbies)

I think you missed what Gouldian answer and part of my question. He was answering that the discarded shell (carapaces) left in the water to dissolve will affect the water parameter.

Anyway the Pacific shrimp is growing quite fast, that's why it molting so many time. This shrimp is very greedy eats anything that I throw into the water.

I dose my tank with Iodine solution every 4 days.

[Gouldian]

The iodide ion then is the desirable form of iodine, and it's what we want to put into our tanks. Iodide ions are considered to be necessary for calcification in stony corals, general health of soft corals, and molting in crustaceans.

Source: http://www.reefs.org/library/article/e_edelman2.html

[kareen]

I agree on what Gouldian wrote, every lines without doubt. I'm just raising a word of caution as mentioned.

Discarded shell? Oh well, what are they consist of? Mainly calcium cabonate, etc. Act as a buffer then... I don't think it will degrade the water at all.

[Gouldian]

It is also found at varying concentrations in the exoskeletons of crustaceans for which it is considered beneficial at the correct levels.

Source: http://www.reef-eden.net/iodine_in_the_reef_aquarium.htm

[Gouldian]

Actually the debate on whether or not iodine is needed for moulting is still out there and there are still - No Conclusion.

I posted based on my own experience and shared with relevant literature.

Btw, synthethic materials such as plastic will take 3000yrs to dis-intergrate. But most materials manufactured by Mother Nature are meant to be bio-degradeable therefore will take much less than 3000yrs.

[Gouldian]

Here's an example of a debate by 2 moderators regarding the addition of Iodine.

http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine-fish-...-info-pics.html

In the end, its up to individual hobbyist, tanks, parameters, stocking and many items things that we lowly humans have yet to discover to make the informed decision.

HTH

[Gouldian]

Below is a study on why we are unable to find so many exoskeleton of shrimp on the beaches or our tank since they moult so frequently.

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0883-1351...%3E2.0.CO%3B2-5

Basically, the article surmised that besides scavengers destructions, bacteria decomposition plays a very important part as well.

[Gouldian]

Herewith is a study by another group of scientist trying to harness the bacteria responsible of the degrading of shrimp exoskeleton to manage crude oil polution.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...ed837e3c1d261f1

HTH

[kareen]

Hahaa... U r so-o-o-ooooo cute