haedra

This hasn't happened yet, but I wanted to find out before hand.

I have been reading to leave the exoskeleton in the tank when they molt, because they will eat it.

But with a bamboo shrimp... if they are filter feeders that "fan" things from the water, then how do they accomplish eating an exoskeleton? Do I still leave it in there for a bamboo shrimp?

lew2000

I always remove mine - keep down clutter. The exoskeleton is made from chitin and calcium. There are bacteria and fungi that live off the exoskeleton. I have seen sites that calcium results from the breakdown of exoskeleton - but i can't imagine that it adds much given it's relative size. What i meant to say, ghost shrimp eat their own exoskeletons, but i have never found anything about a fan shrimp eating its' own expskeleton since thier moutparts are different.