Shrimps are invertebrates, and like most invertebrates, they have a skeleton on the outside in order to protect themselves. Molting is the process by which a shrimp sheds its thin shell and starts to grow a new, bigger one to live in.
Adult shrimp will molt every three to four weeks if they are healthy. Younger shrimp will molt more often because they grow so quickly, maybe every one or two weeks.
It’s very important that the water parameters are kept consistent for newly molted shrimp. Once they break through their hard shell, they’ll take in water to get a little bigger and then wait for their new shell to harden in the next size up. For more information about why this is important, read the water changes section.
Molting is also needed for breeding to happen. When a female shrimp sheds her hard shell, she sends out a pheromone that makes males want to mate with her. See the molting behaviour section for more detail.
As a shrimp gets ready to molt, there are a few things you can watch out for in the way they act. A person is most likely showing signs when they spend a lot of time standing still and not moving for at least an hour. They sometimes won’t even eat while doing this, they’ll just remain motionless, only slightly moving their antennae. If you see a lot of shrimp acting this way, it could mean that the water quality is bad. You should test the water and make any necessary changes. As long as there aren’t too many shrimp that are still, you should be able to come back in a few hours and see a new molt.
They hide for a few days until their shell has had a chance to harden again after molting because they are very soft and easy to hurt. It’s common for tank owners with few fish to see molts but no shrimp.
Females start breeding when they shed their skin and release pheromones into the water that make males want to mate with her. This will make the sexually mature males swim quickly around the tank, doing laps, to look for the female that has just shed her skin and is hiding. The eggs will move from her saddle to under her body and stay there until they are ready to hatch. This happens when a male finds the female and they mate. See the Breeding Cherry and Crystal Bee shrimp article for more information on this subject.
Knowing how the molting process works at a basic level makes it clear why stable parameters are so important.
When a shrimp has just shed its shell and is taking in more water to grow, it is more likely to experience osmotic shock. Osmosis is the movement of water from a low concentration to a higher concentration. In real life, this means that if you change the water in your shrimp tank and add softer water, the softer water will try to mix with the harder water that they have already absorbed. This can make their cells grow too big, which could be harmful or even kill them. The opposite can also happen. But if you move the shrimp from soft water to harder water, they will quickly take in more minerals.
Molting is a natural process that all shrimp go through as they grow and mature. During molting, shrimp shed their hard exoskeletons and emerge soft and vulnerable until their new shells harden. This leaves them susceptible to predation. To protect themselves, shrimp will often go into hiding during the molting process and for a period of time after until their new shells fully harden. But just how long do shrimp stay hidden after molting?
Overview of the Shrimp Molting Process
Before getting into the specifics of how long shrimp remain in hiding after molting it helps to understand what exactly happens during the molting process
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Prior to molting, shrimp stop eating to conserve energy for the intensive molting process. They often become less active and hide more.
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The shrimp then sheds its old exoskeleton. This begins by splitting along the back and the shrimp wriggling out.
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For a day or two, the new soft shell hardens and minerals are absorbed to strengthen it. The shrimp eats the old molted shell to regain nutrients.
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Once the new shell fully hardens, the shrimp resumes normal eating and activity levels. Its new shell allows room for further growth.
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The molting and shell hardening process takes a large amount of energy So shrimp may hide for an extended time after molting to recover strength.
How Long Do Shrimp Stay Hidden After Molting?
The exact amount of time a shrimp remains in hiding after molting depends on several factors:
1. Shrimp Species
Some shrimp species have a shorter period of hiding than others after molting. Here are some common aquarium shrimp varieties and their typical post-molt hiding durations:
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Ghost shrimp – 1-2 days hiding
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Red cherry shrimp – 1-3 days hiding
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Amano shrimp – 3-5 days hiding
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Bamboo shrimp – 5-7 days hiding
Ghost shrimp and neocaridina species like red cherry shrimp have shorter hiding times. Larger shrimp like amanos and filter feeders like bamboo shrimp tend to have longer periods of staying hidden after molting.
2. Shrimp Size
The overall size and maturity level of the shrimp plays a role in how long it hides post-molt. Here are some general guidelines:
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Baby shrimp – 1-2 days hiding
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Juvenile shrimp – 2-4 days hiding
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Adult shrimp – 3-7 days hiding
In general, the larger and older the shrimp, the longer it will stay hidden after molting. The molting process is more taxing on larger adult shrimp. Baby shrimp are also more vulnerable to predation and need to resume normal activity quickly to keep eating and growing.
3. Safety Level in Tank
The safety level in the tank environment influences how long a shrimp will hide after molting. Specifically:
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In a community tank with potential predators, shrimp tend to hide for longer periods of 5-7 days. They need to ensure their shell has fully hardened before coming out.
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In a species only shrimp tank with little threat, shrimp may come out sooner in 1-3 days. They feel more secure emerging earlier.
The presence and number of fish tankmates that may nibble on molting shrimp is a big factor. Solo shrimp feel safer and less need to hide.
4. Location Where Molting Occurs
Where in the tank the shrimp chooses to molt also impacts its post-molt behavior:
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Shrimp molting out in the open tend to immediately seek cover to hide in after shedding their shell to avoid predation during their vulnerable stage.
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Shrimp molting in an existing hide like a cave, decor or dense plants will often stay hidden in that location longer after molting since they already feel protected.
If a shrimp doesn’t move location after molting, it typically hides for a longer duration than shrimp exposed after molting.
5. Aquarium Conditions
The overall conditions in the aquarium can influence a shrimp’s post-molt hiding time:
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In an aquarium with ample hiding spots and coverage, shrimp hide for shorter periods since they have plenty of shelter options to choose from.
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In a new tank that is not fully cycled and established, shrimp tend to hide for longer due to the stress of water parameters fluctuating.
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After water changes, shrimp may hide for longer due to change in water conditions. Small, frequent water changes are less stressful.
The more stable and cycled a tank is, the less likely shrimp are to hide excessively after molting. Provide plenty of hiding spots.
Tips for Helping Shrimp After Molting
Here are some tips to help shrimp feel secure after molting so their hiding duration is minimized:
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Add lots of hiding spots – Shrimp love hiding amongst plants like moss, dense stem plants and floating plants. Provide caves, rock crevices and coconut hut shelters.
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Ensure stable water parameters – Test for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH routinely. Only make gradual water changes, no more than 10-20% at a time.
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Give supplemental feeding – Drop sinking pellets, algae wafers or blanched veggies near hiding shrimp to encourage eating.
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Use calm tankmates – Avoid aggressive fish that may attack vulnerable molting shrimp. Small community fish like tetras and rasboras are peaceful tankmates.
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Quarantine new additions – Quarantine new plants, decor and animals for 2-4 weeks to prevent introducing disease and pests.
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Crush shells before removal – After shrimp molt, crush empty shells with tongs before removing to provide minerals.
When to Worry About a Hiding Shrimp
It’s normal for shrimp to remain in hiding for days after molting. However, if a shrimp is missing for over 2 weeks, it may be cause for concern:
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The shrimp may have died shortly after molting if water conditions were poor. Test parameters.
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Other tank inhabitants may have eaten the soft shrimp after it emerged. Watch for aggression.
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The shrimp may be buried molting underground. Gently sift substrate in case.
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The shrimp may be sick and isolating itself. Watch for signs of disease.
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The shrimp may have escaped out of the tank if there are any openings.
If a shrimp is missing for an extended period beyond normal hiding time, inspect the tank closely. Try sifting the substrate gently with a net in case it is molting underground. Seek immediate hiding after disturbing the substrate.
Ask on aquatic forums for advice if a shrimp disappears. Provide details on tank conditions, livestock, and how long the shrimp has been missing. There may be underlying issues needing attention.
When to Expect Periodic Molting
While molting and hiding duration varies, shrimp typically follow a general molting schedule:
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Baby to juvenile shrimp molt every 5-10 days as they grow rapidly.
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Juvenile shrimp molt every 2-4 weeks until reaching maturity.
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Mature adult shrimp molt every 4-8 weeks for maintenance and reproduction.
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Berried female shrimp carrying eggs tend to molt less frequently. They prioritize reproduction over growth.
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Unfavorable conditions like poor water quality, lack of food, or high stress may delay molting cycles.
So expect baby shrimp to hide frequently as they molt and mature. Adults will hide on a monthly-plus basis with molting. Time hiding duration from last known molt.
Be Patient with Molting and Hiding Shrimp
Molting and the associated hiding behavior are natural processes in a shrimp’s life cycle. While it may seem like shrimp are constantly disappearing after molting, this hiding is essential for their survival and proper growth.
Be patient and allow several days to over a week for shrimp to fully regain their strength and security after molting. Avoid disturbances that may force them out prematurely. Resist the urge to dig up hiding shrimp. They will emerge on their own when ready.
With time, you will come to expect periods of shrimp going missing after molting. Learn each shrimp’s typical hiding duration and molting schedule. Accept their hiding as normal behavior and enjoy seeing their colorful new shells once they emerge bigger and stronger!
Do shrimp eat their molt?
The turtles will happily eat their old shell if you leave it in the tank. It contains a lot of calcium, which helps them build a new exoskeleton.
It’s almost certain that every shrimp keeper will have a bad molt at some point; it’s a pretty common reason why shrimp die. The vast majority of molting problems can be pinned on two key reasons: water parameters and diet.
Most likely, the main reason the molt didn’t work is that the water conditions aren’t right for your type of shrimp. The two most important things to look at in water to figure out why molts aren’t working right are the General Hardness (GH) and Carbonate Hardness (KH).
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is another parameter that is often used. It is a less accurate way to summarize the chemistry of the water and can vary a lot with tap water depending on where you live.
If you notice deaths in your colony soon after changing the water, read the section on water changes for ideas.
Our Shrimp Suggester tool can help you to check your water parameters are optimal for your shrimp.
Their diet, which is usually high in calcium and protein, is another less common but possible cause of molting problems. Try giving your shrimp a variety of foods, like algae wafers, blanched vegetables, bio film, and foods that are made just for shrimp (e.g. g. Shrimp King Complete).
You don’t have to worry about snowflake food polluting the water because you can leave it in the tank until it’s eaten. The snowflake food, which is made of soybean shells, works by encouraging the growth of mycelia, which are the plant-like parts of fungi. In general, this mycelia has a lot of good nutrients, so it would be a great addition to your diet.
Should you remove molts?
Most of the time, it’s safe to leave the molt in the tank for the shrimp to eat.
You should only remove molts if your fish are infected with parasites or bacteria. If you leave the source of the problem in the tank, parasite eggs or bacteria could be left in the shell, which is not a good idea.
Why Are My Red Cherry Shrimp Hiding? HOW CAN YOU PREVENT YOUR RED CHERRY SHRIMP HIDING ALL DAY LONG?
How long do shrimp hide after molting?
After successfully molting, shrimp become very sensitive and soft, so they will hide for up to a few days until their new shell is hard enough for them to be out in the open again. This will happen, especially if you keep friendly fish in the tank with your shrimp.
How often do shrimp molt?
Molting is when a shrimp leaves its tight-fitting exoskeleton in order to start growing a new, larger one to live in. In healthy conditions an adult shrimp will molt every 3 to 4 weeks, but younger shrimp will molt more often due how to fast they grow, perhaps every 1 or 2 weeks.
What happens if a shrimp molts?
Post-Molt Behavior: After molting, shrimp often remain hidden until their new exoskeleton hardens. They may also consume their discarded shell to regain some of the valuable nutrients lost during the molt. So if you see your shrimp munching on a seemingly empty shell, that’s a good sign – it’s just had a successful molt!
How do you know if a molting shrimp is dead?
It can be challenging to differentiate between a molting shrimp and a deceased one. However, there are key signs to look for. A molting shrimp tends to go into hiding and may be seen rubbing itself with its hind legs. Its molt is often white and appears like an exploded shell.