Wheres my shrimp?

[SFWBreefguy]

So I have had a Blood Shrimp for about 4 months now and he usually hides under a piece of shelf rock, but when I woke up I couldn't find him. After I did a search I found his leftover exoskeleton from a molt (I hope it was a molt).:irked: Now what I was wondering if anyone knew how long it usually takes for a blood shrimps new skeleton to harden? I have quite a few ravenous hermit crabs and I hope they didn't eat him while he was hiding. Also another quick question. Has anyone had experience of a Blood Shrimp digging in the sand to find shelter while his exoskeleton hardens? Thanks for the help everyone.

SFWBreefguy

 

[richardhmc]

The shell and the actual shrimp are two different things. The crabs might eat the shell but I doubt they would eat the shrimp. Just look around? Half the time I get a heart attack when I realize something is missing only to find out whatever I was looking for is alive and well.

 

[Lenny718]

I think it takes between 24-48hrs for there new shell to harden. My cleaner shrimp go into hiding every time they molt and then come out a day or two later. I wouldn't worry.

 

[rookie07]

shrimp will hide when freshly molted, as the shell needs to harden. The shells are soft after a molt, thus the shrimp hides until it hardens for safety.

ie. when you eat soft shell crab, you are eating a freshly molted crab.