Cleaner Shrimp legs....

[chess_wizard]

I bought a cleaner shrimp a few days ago for my 2.5g tank. I brought it home and realized he was missing a leg. then This morning, he had multed and 4 more of his legs were gone. Has any one seen that? I've never seen that before. And his antenna are all curvey looking now too.

[ACBlinky]

This happened with my shrimp about two weeks ago; he was fine, then went through a bad moult and came out minus four walking legs with curvy antennae. He was having trouble getting around, so I target fed him to make sure he got enough to eat. A week later he moulted again and he's grown back most of his legs - one is still short, but he's eating well and looks healthy.
I'm not sure what causes this, I've been told it may relate to iodine levels (too much or too little), but it may also be something that just happens occasionally.

[Nina51]

I think molting is a tough process, hopefully he'll make it till the next one and do fine. I've had feetless shrimp and they did fine.

[STACKER]

Yup, it happens. If they get stressed they can have a tough time. Keep an eye on calcium and Iodine (tough one to test for). And make a nice place (cave or horizontal overhang) that's secluded enough to let him chill out while moulting and rehardening. Mine had alot of trouble till I got rid of a Lunare Wrasse... Now life is good!

[blackie lawless]

Yep, make sure he's got a good secure cave or crevice where he can chill until he molts again.

[drunktank]

if he molted that bad theres a real good chance is due to to much or to little C or Iodine..... how often do u add cal. or iodine?

[kaserpick]

It's either due to stress or calc. and iodide levels. Same thing happened to a coral banded of mine. Lost both claws and 2 legs, he was like a bipod (:P) He just needed to molt one more time.