Mantis Shrimp

[jumpinjoker]

My mantis shrimp died and the insides seemed to have decomposed. What killed it? It was eating normally. Was it a molt gone wrong?

[FearTheTerps]

Are you sure that it didn't just molt and what you found was the old exoskeleton??? It will look exaclty like the live shrimp. I would guess that's prolly what happend and your shrimp is just in hiding until it's new exoskeleton hardens up a bit. Look around for it the next day or so and you may find it still alive and healthy.

Edited May 10, 2010 by FearTheTerps

[extreme_tooth_decay]

Are you sure that it didn't just molt and what you found was the old exoskeleton??? It will look exaclty like the live shrimp. I would guess that's prolly what happend and your shrimp is just in hiding until it's new exoskeleton hardens up a bit. Look around for it the next day or so and you may find it still alive and healthy.

 

This is likely. Mine tend to stay in their holes for a couple days after they molt.

 

Is it a big or small one? If it is a big one, they usually don't molt in one piece. Better chance it is still alive if it was a small one.

 

Is there something in the tank that would eat it if it died?