And It's Begun!

[NeonBlueLeon]

Aye that's a bummer.  Here's to a more successful moulting in the near future, and RIP to your little buddy. 

 

[TallTree01]

Sorry to hear this supra.

 

[Supraman]

Thanks guys.i will be taking him back tomorrow.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Sorry for your loss.  How long did you have him?

 

[RCA]

Sorry to hear this Supraman. 

little fella.

 

[Supraman]

@ eaglesaquarium

I've had him since April 28th, my birthday.


@rca

Thanks, I feel it may have been my fault. I was unaware that doing water changes before a moult can result in them getting " locked " in their old exoskeleton, basically the same concept as a goldfish in a small bowl. A day before he moulted, I did a 75% wc. I should have researched more

 

[Sophie]

Sorry to hear your loss

 

[eaglesaquarium]

@ eaglesaquarium

I've had him since April 28th, my birthday.


@rca

Thanks, I feel it may have been my fault. I was unaware that doing water changes before a moult can result in them getting " locked " in their old exoskeleton, basically the same concept as a goldfish in a small bowl. A day before he moulted, I did a 75% wc. I should have researched more

 
 
That's interesting.  Can you explain this more - if its not too upsetting?  I'm thinking of getting some inverts in the future, and I figure this would be good information to have.

 

[Supraman]

@ eaglesaquarium
I've had him since April 28th, my birthday.
@rca
Thanks, I feel it may have been my fault. I was unaware that doing water changes before a moult can result in them getting " locked " in their old exoskeleton, basically the same concept as a goldfish in a small bowl. A day before he moulted, I did a 75% wc. I should have researched more

 
 
That's interesting.  Can you explain this more - if its not too upsetting?  I'm thinking of getting some inverts in the future, and I figure this would be good information to have.

Sure, well from the few things I have managed to find is that when the crayfish is moulting the water quality directly effects his moult. The harder the water the better as he can pull calcium out of it. When the cray moults it produces a lubricant to help it slide out of its old exoskeleton, but when you change the water right before he moults it can put the cray into like a panic mode and he will stop producing the lubricant. When that happens he the becomes trapped or the word I found used the most was " locked " . He gets stuck inside his own body and dies because he continues to grow but has no room for it.

That came off of other forums, and I'm not entirely sure if its all true or not but considering everything was going good up until I changed 75% of the water. I'd bet that this is what had happened.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thanks, makes sense I suppose.

 

[Supraman]

Well the cray had been been replaced, I acclimated her over 3.5 hours so I hope she will adjust ok. She is way smaller and after seeing my old cray and my new one, I can easily tell the two apart. Also picked up some new cichlids.