Anyone else get a heart attack when their crayfish moults?

[Friller]

I swear my BPM when through the roof at first.

Edited August 4, 2022 by Friller

[Tanked]

I can see where finding something that size for the first time would would cause you to skip a beat.

[lefty o]

back when i had crayfish, first time was like what the heck, but after that id pull the exoskeleton out set it on top of the tank to dry, and it was a neat decoration, looked like another crayfish was sitting on the tank.

[JettsPapa]

On 8/4/2022 at 11:33 AM, lefty o said:

back when i had crayfish, first time was like what the heck, but after that id pull the exoskeleton out set it on top of the tank to dry, and it was a neat decoration, looked like another crayfish was sitting on the tank.

I'm curious.  I've always heard that you should leave shrimp molts in the tank, since they are a good source of something or other the shrimp need, and they will be eaten.  I assume that's not true for crayfish?

[lefty o]

not honestly sure, but crayfish shells are pretty tough, dont know if they would eat it.

[AquaHobbyist123]

When my Orange Dwarf Crayfish was alive, the first time it molted it scared the living daylights out of me. I had just got it a few days previous and I thought it was dead. But then I saw it hiding in a crevice.

[Friller]

On 8/5/2022 at 2:33 AM, lefty o said:

back when i had crayfish, first time was like what the heck, but after that id pull the exoskeleton out set it on top of the tank to dry, and it was a neat decoration, looked like another crayfish was sitting on the tank.

I'll have to do that next time! Do you have any pics?

On 8/5/2022 at 4:15 AM, JettsPapa said:

I'm curious.  I've always heard that you should leave shrimp molts in the tank, since they are a good source of something or other the shrimp need, and they will be eaten.  I assume that's not true for crayfish?

My girl has eaten every single one of her moults so far.

 

On 8/5/2022 at 4:22 AM, lefty o said:

not honestly sure, but crayfish shells are pretty tough, dont know if they would eat it.

They soften in the water after shedding I believe

[anitstuk]

On 8/4/2022 at 6:37 PM, Friller said:

I swear my BPM when through the roof at first.

Same thing happens with shrimp XD

[nabokovfan87]

On 8/4/2022 at 11:15 AM, JettsPapa said:

I'm curious.  I've always heard that you should leave shrimp molts in the tank, since they are a good source of something or other the shrimp need, and they will be eaten.  I assume that's not true for crayfish?

I think even some spiders or insects too, but I am unsure about their care.  For the invertebrates it's so they can eat the molt and get back calcium.  And yes.... can confirm I always check the molts and always worry it's not just a molt. 

[ccc24]

Ours always ate their molts - so fast too. We’d see, think oh “she molted” and turn around and she had scarfed it.