Shrimp molts

[MarkW19]

I kept 2 blood shrimp over the past few months (both of which aren't with us anymore), and they molted approx. every 2 weeks, which is a bit often - I read that 4 weeks is about the norm?

Anyway, my new blood shrimp (attempt no. 3) seems to be going the same way - molting every 2 weeks.

Is this bad? Anything to do with lack of iodine in my Instant Ocean salt (particularly that the other 2 died without any other signs) perhaps?

I'm hoping that when/if I change over to Tropic Marin Pro Reef, that it will sort things out.

[Shultz]

Not really watched how often my various shrimps molt, you normally get a molt on introduction to your tank & then I'd read roughly every 3 weeks after that?

I did dose Iodine, I stopped & within a month one of my cleaners died? maybe coinidence, maybe not? since then I dose Iodine once a fortnight since i have a smaller tank than the instructions on this kent stuff. (fingers crossed) I've not lost anymore shrimps since then.

I too am swopping to the TMRP salt from this week, I should get it tomorrow so I'll look on the bucket to see whether it includes higher levels of Iodine before I decide what to do, I know alot of different things in the tank use Iodine & too little is just as bad as too much.

Cheers Shelton.

[MarkW19]

Yeah - I probably wouldn't dose iodine as well as using the TMPR until you've done a few tests to find out exactly how much more is in the TMPR. What salt are you using now btw, and how do you intend to changeover?

To changeover, I intend to do 10% waterchanges each week over 12 weeks, then revert back to my normal 20% waterchanges every 2 weeks after that.

Will this be ok? Or do you think the sudden jump from every 2 weeks to every week (and back again) could upset something?

The TMPR is cheap too, compared to IO! Is TM generally thought of as a better brand than IO?

[Shultz]

Yeah - I probably wouldn't dose iodine as well as using the TMPR until you've done a few tests to find out exactly how much more is in the TMPR. What salt are you using now btw, and how do you intend to changeover?

Well up until 3 weeks ago I was using IO, made a mistake of picking up a box of normal TM, so I've just used that up & /should/ have TMRP coming tomorrow to usee in this weeks water change

To changeover, I intend to do 10% waterchanges each week over 12 weeks, then revert back to my normal 20% waterchanges every 2 weeks after that. Will this be ok? Or do you think the sudden jump from every 2 weeks to every week (and back again) could upset something?

should be alright, I do 10% weekly changes anyway so it makes no difference to me....

The TMPR is cheap too, compared to IO! Is TM generally thought of as a better brand than IO?

Hmmmmmmm, my IO cost a lot less than this new stuff? I know a few people that are using it that say its good, time will tell & I've bought just a 5kg bucket to start with to find out for myself

Cheers Shelton.

[MarkW19]

I've seen IO for between £10 - £20 more than the equivalent sized TMPR! Maybe it's just Steve's prices that are good :P

25kg IO on aquariumsuperstore for instance is £80, Steve does 25kg TMPR for £60!