Cleaner Shrimp Not Molting

[black_majik]

I have a 75 gallon tank, param. Am:0 Nitrate:0Nitrite 25+ ( I am getting it down now and have been) Calcium is cruising around 390-420 ppm and pH is 8.3 with a temp of 79 . Now I dose iodide in the tank and the levels are fine with that, but after having my cleaner shrimp for about two months he never has molted on the other hand my camel shrimp is molting every two to three weeks so is this normal or i am missing something.

[m2434]

Sometimes the molt gets buried.

[Zestay]

the older and larger the shrimp is the less often he will molt.

[J. Montgomery]

Originally posted by black_majik
Now I dose iodide in the tank and the levels are fine with that, but after having my cleaner shrimp for about two months he never has molted

It's not something that I'd purposefully try to induce. I've lost a few shrimp and crabs during molting, it can be a traumatic and stressful time that makes them very vulnerable. If the shrimp looks healthy and is feeding well I wouldn't worry about it.

[Toddrtrex]

I personally wouldn't does iodide. If you are using a decent/good salt mix and doing regular water changes that would provide all the iodine your tank needs.

[black_majik]

Zestay- I see what you mean but my shrimp is small and was in a small batch ( 1"-2")

[snorvich]

Toddrtrex is right, your water changes should provide sufficent iodide. But how do you know they are not molting?

[black_majik]

I guess I am assuming, but I always see my camel shrimps molts ( the pattern on it is the same as the camel) I have never seen my cleaners nor do i see him/her getting any larger

[snorvich]

I don't think you would see a change. When mine molt, I see the exoskeleton sometimes, other times not. Looks like a shrimp but with no insides. I would not worry about it as long as you are doing water changes.