How do Shrimps Shed & Grow? The Biology of Exoskeletons & Why They Are Are So Strong. Shedding shell

The first half is basics for beginners or refreshing your memory then the second half or perhaps past 30% is about the evolutionary and structural way in which shrimp or all crustaceans and many invertebrates shed or " molt " and what the amazing structures look like microscopically.
Cherry shrimp in your aquarium and why their shells and exoskeletons are so strong. How do shrimp shed their shells. molting shrimp, shrimp skins, clear versions of your shrimp laying on the bottom of your aquarium or aquascapes. how do they build these amazingly durable, strong, hard and yet flexible shells/ cuticles / exoskeletons?
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[@sahlee7187]

First time I saw a molt, I thought my amano died. Then I saw it stealing food from my fish two days later lol. Very interesting!

[@Fishtory]

Sounds exactly right

[@JohnDonasco]

Omg me too!

[@Prasadsensational]

Same!

[@ArielVHarloff]

The nerdy stuff towards the end was great. I'm keeping shrimp for the first time rn (they've been around for two weeks now I think) And just found the first shed exoskeleton (I thought a shrimp had died at first but I poked it and it's definitely empty 😅 really good to have this explained in this much detail 😊

[@Fishtory]

Right on! Glad it was of use to you :) welcome to shrimpin' life!

[@DanielKeepingFish]

See the perfect thing about nature is that it works because it makes sense. What you do is make sense of how it works for us and deliver it to us in a way we can easily make sense of it. And you're genius at it. Loved this episode.

[@Fishtory]

That's so kind of you, my friend. Thank you

[@RuachEden]

I agree with you, Daniel. Alex's videos are (nearly) always erudite; educational, informative and well researched.

[@DanielKeepingFish]

@@RuachEden for sure bud. That's part of what makes them so emersive.

[@jaredkeskic8183]

I came here to learn a little bit about molting... and now I’m re watching this video like I’m studying for a biology test. Amazing video, I love how in depth you got. There’s something for everyone shrimp related in this video. I’m very impressed and I’ll be sure to watch as many of your other videos as I can!

[@alphazygma]

Oh, love the part “There was no book on how to do this” seems like a good opportunity to start one. Thanks for all the info

[@Fishtory]

Hah true enough. Thanks for watching and welcome to the community here!

[@saralist1200]

My husband just got some shrimp and your video answered a ton of questions for me. Thank you!

[@endesheh]

Dude what a video!! Thanks for all of that useful and interesting information. I absolutely enjoyed watching this whole video! 👏

[@Fishtory]

Glad to hear it! I try and shove as much trivia and info into videos as possible :)

[@endesheh]

@@Fishtory Really enjoyed the entire video. Great job and thanks for sharing your knowledge 😉

[@cindydudek2778]

Loved this, and yes, aquatic arts is the best! I knew they were the real thing when they waited 2 weeks to ship my shrimp (it was cold here at the time). They shipped as soon as it was sort of warm. They gave me an extra snail friend as well! I saw a baby shrimp today. They sent females that may have been berried. Or I'm an awesome shrimp keeper (no, total newb).

[@Fishtory]

Right on! I love to hear it! Make sure to tell them you came from my channel so you get that 10 to 15% discount PLUS 100 raffle tickets to the 250$ give away coming up

[@bethsands7665]

You have the best Neocardina shrimp information out there !, good job. Awesome content !

[@Fishtory]

Glad you think so! I should probably update the video quality since it's been 5 or 6 years, but the info still stands

[@jasonxkillyou]

dude... this is exactly what my new caridina line is doing right now. especially my pregnant females. so fat. hope the babies survive. you're spot on. cant wait til my lights come on to see the progress from yesterday.

[@Fishtory]

Congrats!

[@langenandanimals]

Wow! I still haven't caught mine molting, I just find the skeletons

[@Fishtory]

There's videos out there, in fact i have one from when the channel first started, also i did a video called "Shed or Dead?"

[@jann_marx]

Love your work, thanks for putting this together and sharing it with us.

[@Fishtory]

Thank you so very much! Welcome to the channel :)

[@nada347_]

Love the video. Lots of good angles you're using to approach the topic. I do want to add as a newer fish/shrimp keeper that the white line doesn't necessarily mean death. I saw it on a bunch of my shrimp but the parameters are fine, babies are popping and sheds are around the tank. So if someone is concerned, and reads this, it's possibly just going to molt just fine. They're so shiny after a shed!

[@shesellsfish]

I can't say it any better than Daniel Keeping Fish already said it in his comment. So true. 👍💕👍

[@Sue.5776]

Thank you I learned a lot!

[@Fishtory]

THANK YOU!

[@peacelily64]

My cherry just shed it was cool to watch!✨

[@ayunkhan2395]

16:13 this just took me back to my college biology lab

[@aquariumplantman]

Heyah Alex, thanks for the in depth lesson mate, always a quality viewing.🤘

[@Fishtory]

Thanks buddy

[@kibatron5559]

I enjoyed the fact that you separated it into quick info i was looking for and the “nerdier” thing i could save for lada!😂 Good on you sir!

[@Fishtory]

Glad you liked that :)

[@andrewgriffiths7763]

Brilliant video mate love Shrimpys

[@Fishtory]

Thanks, i wish i felt less scattered about it, but im glad it was enjoyable. Thanks for watching. (PS the thumbnail is a big ol leap of faith haha... probably not going to do well)

[@augustvukosovich4683]

Are you kidding? You can leave if you don't like the nerdy stuff? It's my favorite part of the video lol! The first time I saw a shrimp molt it scared the crap out of me!

[@Fishtory]

Alien vs predator level creepy haha

[@madfishdiva]

The first time i saw a molt i thought my shrimp had died. I’m such a noob. Lol

[@Fishtory]

We all did

[@lacrosseguy108]

ive had red and orange shrimp and rilis too but just got some blues for the first time. i spent months looking around for them too, theres only 1 actual petstore in my area that sells fish and thats it now. the 2nd one just closed up so finding fish or anything aquatic is getting really hard. im near windsor ontario too if that helps. i know 2 hours north in london theres more petstores but thats 2 hours out of the way.

[@Ourfrenchiegirls]

Well done Alexander!

[@Fishtory]

You're too kind

[@capricornshawty2337]

Your drawing is so good

[@Fishtory]

Aw thanks

[@chngdbygrace]

I apologize if others have pointed this out, I am sure someone has by now... But Planaria will not just eat baby shrimp they will also eat/ feed off of living adult shrimp. There is a video on KZbin of a guy who was recording Neocaridina Shrimp and captured a Planaria worm exiting the shrimp's exoskeleton. The Planaria that have done this will also take on the color of the shrimp the fed off of. A totally separate video captured Planaria that were red, the KZbinr that made it was surprised by the color of the Planaria, the fact that her shrimp were not reproducing and dwindling in numbers... Someone pointed out in all the videos and articles I have looked at that the problem may come down to whether or not there is enough nutrition in the environment for the Planaria, and that if there isn't that might be when they begin to prey on living organisms like shrimp.

[@Fishtory]

Yes. If you have a bad infestation they definitely can. I wasn't aware they do this until I tried and put a shrimp in a tank with hundreds and filmed it also. They also ate a young guppy also. But there needs to be a preposterous amount to do that. Chris Lukhaup is the photographer of the multi color planaria and a friend of mine. But he showed those 2 or 3 years after I made this original video. And also it required adding hundreds to a little holding tank and 1 shrimp with no food. To get them to readily attack.

[@chngdbygrace]

@@Fishtory yes, that was his name. I am terrible with names, and remembering things in general. That is also good to know that it is not as bad as it is made out to be. I almost reset a tank because of non-Planaria flatworms, reacting to the perception that if you see one your tank is doomed.

[@modemmark421]

Very interesting... miraculous!

[@jenniegust9982]

Thank you

[@Fishtory]

Why of course! Glad you found this of use.

[@maxwellpitera-torpey7501]

Great video! I just got some Neocaridina.

[@Fishtory]

Congrats!

[@Jessica_Crease87]

I have one that was bending and is constantly fanning her back fins but isn't buried so I'm not sure if it's a molting thing

[@Fishtory]

Yes she is likely Molting soon

[@Urolling]

One of my shrimp shed today and I've realized they look pretty silly without it. 😂

[@Fishtory]

Oh yeah! lol

[@ProtoTangelo]

very interesting fact and useful knowledge. thank you :D

[@travellife08]

Nice whiteboard illustrations Teacher

[@Fishtory]

Lol

[@lacrosseguy108]

i have a 5 gal tank i was using to hold some plants and stuff for now. i put a few shrimp in it for the time being, i went to take out a piece of wood and noticed a cluster of shrimp eggs on it. i put the wood back in the tank and checked back on it and the eggs were gone. i know sometimes theyll drop the eggs if their no good but if they drop a whole cluster would they pick it back up? i havnt been able to find the eggs and im not sure what one was carrying the eggs either

[@Fishtory]

Sadly, no. Once they drop them, they wont pick them back up...however, sometimes theyll still hatch if the eggs were near mature

[@peacelily64]

Thank you for info 🦐💕🦐

[@casvanmarcel]

I think I threw away 2 or 3 shrimps so far thinking they were dead. and today I say one "dead" and decided to leave it in the water for the other to eat, and to my surprise a couple of hours later there was a molt where I left the shrimp body... now I feel like a stupid killer..... damn... I am so disgusted with myself

[@Fishtory]

We all learn the hard way frequently in this hobby, even when we try and research the topic. Good work tracking down info, and thanks for tuning in to the channel!

[@slegendary7719]

Hi, I have a question, are they vulnerable when they are changing shells? I have assassin snails on my tank fish and I am wondering if they will eat the shrimps? Thank you so much for your time.

[@Fishtory]

Yes for 4 to 7 days their new shell is actually turning from soft clear jelly-like layers and oxidizing and being fortified by the shrimp to "cure"...generally you'll see them at their most vivid colors during this period, but they tend to hide for just that very reason. Best wishes, Alex

[@slegendary7719]

@@Fishtory thank you so much for your answer, I will pay attention, :)

[@jimanast3593]

Snails can't eat shrimp unless they r dead, because they r too fast for them to catch.

[@karinecamara2226]

Can I keep a pregnant shrimp in a breading box with a tinny tinny guppy fry? Im worried if I leave her in the tank the shrimplets wouldn’t survive

[@Fishtory]

Probably fine

[@gibbyrockerhunter]

6:35. Is the smaller snail a baby trumpet?

[@Fishtory]

Yup!

[@FAKE-NAME]

body panel reference got me thinking...wonder how long a shrimp runs before they need a rebuild lol Edit: so 5-8weeks and less when full size good 2 know, was wondering what was up with my colony...not seeing molting very often but my rcs are a bit larger so that makes sence, smaller shrimp are getting picked off by too many guppies in the tank at the moment.

[@Fishtory]

Haha engine overhaul and shrimp = dead i think... get an American made crayfish and not some japanese or taiwanese bolt shrimp

[@FAKE-NAME]

@@Fishtory lmfao yep gotta buy American, too many knock offs in the Asian market

[@Doug_Helt]

Great video

[@Jessica_Crease87]

How often do you add the gh, calcium etc???

[@Fishtory]

I just add a cup of crushed coral for every 5 gallons every 6 months or so. But it will differ depending on your water hardness. Some people don't need to add anything, others like me, have to add almost everything in the water

[@Jessica_Crease87]

@@Fishtory I do too! Especially if I use tap water

[@darrylmoore5847]

Awesome video.

[@Fishtory]

Heyo Darryl!

[@sandypandys]

another great vlog

[@Mattypantaloons]

What are sliding along the rocks in the background at 4:20?

[@Fishtory]

Little planaria

[@Mattypantaloons]

I've seen 2 tiny green Hydra in my neo tank. I don't think enough to bother my shrimplets, but I'll likely want to treat with Planeria Zero or dog dewormer or something. Worried about an anomia spike from dying bladder snails. Any advices for me?

[@jimanast3593]

@@Mattypantaloons Not a dog dewormer! Sbd, used sth like that or that stuff, treating his dog at morning, he cleaned his hands very well during the day because he was afraid and awed of loosing his shrimp. He cleaned them before he treated his tank at night... he lost his shrimp...

[@JradIronman]

Great info!

[@Fishtory]

Thank you. And welcome to the channel!

[@sageoblouk6782]

I kept reading it as "shred" and I was super confused

[@squeethesane]

only rock lobsters shred

[@Handygrrl]

Interesting!

[@MissGlassButterfly]

Mine don’t seem to hide at all when they moult.

[@Fishtory]

That's good. Do they have lots of spots where they can hide though? (Like caves or corners)... im curious just since I find sheds in the open areas of the tanks, but the fresh and shiny newly shed shrimp are usually huddled in a corner of hiding spot in all my tanks.

[@MissGlassButterfly]

@@Fishtory yeah plenty. Big plants on some driftwood has lots of hiding places and some lava rock surrounded by plants. I often can’t count all my shrimp. I just tend to see a moult and then see the shrimp out and about eating 🤣 I have no Fish so I think the shrimp are pretty secure in their tank. I’m also gonna add Indian almond leaf when my shipment arrives, more hiding there.

[@Malrie]

My rock shrimp shed and I threw away his skeleton. Now I feel bad he would have ate it lol

[@Fishtory]

Lol yeah you tossed his left overs!

[@Shersify]

Hello I need some advise , I saw my blue shrimp mold but I found the shrimp that mold became blue and orange and it’s not moving:( I think it’s dead . Is it dead?

[@Fishtory]

I have a video called "shed or dead" that I think will help you the most. Best wishes...I hope it's okay and just hiding some place

[@mateimarin3017]

What that means when they shedding?

[@Fishtory]

They do it each time they grow since they have no internal skeleton. So they can't grow like mammals or fish...they have to grow a new shell then climb out of the old one

[@grey1wa]

I got some new bloody mary, and crystal reds.. less than 24 hours one Molted (found the exoskeleton) and one loss :(

[@Fishtory]

Hang in there. Fingers crossed

[@grey1wa]

@@Fishtory still wsnt to get with you about getting a bunch of your culls.. can you dm me on Instagram ?

[@vampgaia]

Very interesting

[@robertjester6887]

How long have you been raising shimps

[@Fishtory]

8 years continually and 12 total

[@robertjester6887]

Did you ever try raising go shrimp?

[@robertjester6887]

Did you ever try to raise ghosts shrimp, they are enjoyable, to watch swim, and especially when one of the young females is pregnant, with aids in a check near Tail they look like little snowballs or maybe gonna call ghost shrimp maybe there should be called call snowballs shrimp, but I don’t know what a snowball shrimp looks like compared to the ghost shrimp. I have a you have any advice on how to tell which is rich let me know your friend in Louisiana USA.

[@Fishtory]

@Robert Jester so snowballs are different in the nose aka rostrum or snout... and also they have a bit different tails too. Ghost or grass/ glass shrimp are actually made up of a dozen north american wild varieties... but snowballs are Neocaridina palmata ... and wild individuals selected for a milky white rather than clear. The grass shrimp usually have a slight green, tan or yellow color evenly across their body too

[@ugnuggets]

I want in!!! Ha ha

[@taniamans2026]

Is the molt hard or is it soft and slimy

[@Fishtory]

Usually soft but rubbery or sturdy in its tensile strength

[@JustDoinFlorida]

Hey Alex, I’m wondering if you can help me figure something out. When I do water changes on my 40 breeder, my zebra danios will go to the bottom of the aquarium and look like they are gasping for air, kinda acting like they’re drunk. Obviously I have to turn the filter off, but I do leave the air stone running for circulation. Anyways, when I’m done with the water change (about 50%) they seem dazed and seem like they are stressed and struggling to recuperate. I’ve actually lost 2 zebra danios because of water changes, but I’m not doing anything crazy. Just a 50% change and then add a little dechlorinator. The tank is loaded with plants and flow and surface agitation is high, so oxygen isn’t low. I’m wondering if you’ve had this problem with your fish and specifically danios before, and if so how I could solve the problem. Should I do smaller water changes to reduce their stress or something along those lines? I’d love to know your prognosis or opinion P.S. I do a water change about once every week-week and a half. The tank is stocked pretty heavy too if that makes a difference.

[@Fishtory]

Hey! You know, I've seen this previously in a tank and what turned out to be happening, was water circulation wasn't very good...when i took the sample tubes and went to the botton of the substrate with the cap on, then uncapped em to fill, vs. at the water top my nitrates were double and my plants were keeping things cool, like 9 degrees cooler than the top water. Im not sure if the fish could be accustomed to swimming in upper water/middle...then they get scared and between the stress and different conditions, they get taxed. Florida has some hard water also, so make sure you're running some charcoal or catapa leaves to acidify it a slight bit. Danios like water with neutral to acidic conditions (although they can be aclimated to some extreme conditions in many cases.) I'd make sure you're only adding the recommended amount of dechlorinator as well, sometimes tossing a squeeze in, can shock things and actually deprive the good bacteria of food for a day or two - causing some die off and then a slight spike in nitrites or even ammonia later. Try less water changes, or smaller amounts as long as your nitrates are under 30 or so. Most of all, Good luck!

[@PhiWeezy94]

Just Doin Florida trying doing 10% every weeks

[@DamianBloodstone]

Great post. I've watched mine shed and know about 2 to 5% won't make it by the fourth molt. I adore my RCS line. Can RCS become Bloody Mary shrimp? Some of mine are beginning to have black mixed into their red. As to how many do I have, you can watch my channel and see in my latest post. I think you might enjoy it, Alexander. (No not a shameless plug for my channel since I don't do nearly as well as you, my friend, in explaining most things.)

[@Fishtory]

I'll definitely check it out, buddy! Bloody mary shrimp actually evolve from a specific line of neocaridina - called "shoko" shrimp aka chocolate or carbon black shrimp strains also. They are a wild subgroup and perhaps, even unique species (DNA work hasn't been published)

[@DamianBloodstone]

@@Fishtory I have red rilies, deep red, and then a few browns I've been able to cull. The deep all red I keep in the tank but it is hard culling shrimp with a tank fully planted. Take Care and Stay Safe, my friend.

[@Fishtory]

I feel you!

[@kmc363]

Who comes here after finding there first shed 🙈🙋‍♀️😅

[@Fishtory]

Called it!

[@y0r_editz895]

218th like!!!! Love this

[@Fishtory]

Well, shucks! Thank you kindly, and welcome to the channel!

[@aishtay3660]

What are those algae eaters you've there with the shrimp tank please?

[@Fishtory]

Those are a harder to find species called dwarf panda loaches- from one river in south central China, They usually run 30 to 40 dollars each as young fish (their first year their markings are stark black and white bands). However aquaticarts.com had them for 9 dollars each so i got a dozen of them heh. I adore them, but they need special care- check out my other videos on them and their care/origins

[@cheesepuff1373]

Me over here with ghost shrimp...

[@k1mylol595]

Can i just leave it?

[@Fishtory]

100% you SHOULD leave it, actually. It's full of minerals and vitamins that the shrimp use for their next molt

[@k1mylol595]

Ok thx

[@ricodegallo3060]

👍

[@mayaniverse2081]

My shrimp just shed😳

[@crimsonxc]

6:37 xD

[@Fishtory]

Bingo!

[@MissGlassButterfly]

Why don’t you use no planaria. No reason to have them around being horrid things

[@Fishtory]

My cory fry and panda loaches like eating em hehe

[@MissGlassButterfly]

@@Fishtory fair enough 🤣 I guess that keeps the pop under control

[@69MOONKAT]

Need a little good luck

[@fengliu975]

cherry shrimp failed molting. it was in the exact same pose as the molt in the preview :/

[@Fishtory]

Bummer. If you see that the shoulder is split in half and has an opening, then you know the shrimp escaped... if that shoulder/head joint is still attached together- they likely got stuck

[@fengliu975]

@@Fishtory there was the so called white ring of death. idk what caused this

[@Fishtory]

Oh bummer. Yes. The most common cause of that is lack of calcium or nutrients that are used when turning their calcium into chitin / shell material. So low kh, or sometimes simply growing too fast are the biggest reasons

[@fengliu975]

@@Fishtory I noticed that when I switched from feeding shrimp pellet and adding in dirty decor from fish tank its health improved but i started feeding pellets again to help shrimplets grow faster and because shrimplets have grown they just clean it out too fast

[@fengliu975]

@@Fishtory the shrimp was dark red mostly adult but still molted once a week like a juvinile. not sure of the breeding practice where i got them from