[Pszemol]

Anybody knows how often cleaner shrimp larvae molts?
(Lysmata Amboinensis)

When should I expect first molting after releasing
larvae to the water column by their mother-shrimp?

Adult Lysmata molts every other week - I would assume
a fraction of this time for the larvae - have you got
any more precise info about shrimp larvae molting?

I am trying to breed them at home - any info appreciated.
Thank you!

[Ninong]

I just checked Breeder's Registry http://www.breeders-registry.gen.ca.us/index.htm but they weren't very helpful. In fact, some of the reports are downright misleading and none reported survival past the first few days. There is a nice article there by Joyce Wilkerson from 1994. According to Joyce the larvae go through 10 stages before metamorphosis at 39 days. So I guess that's either 9 or 10 molts.

Sorry I can't provide you with a link to anything more specific but I can't find the only report on one of the boards that I remember reading that claimed success. Looks like everybody either removes the mother to the brood tank just prior to hatching or tries to siphon out the larvae just after they hatch. You would need to turn off all filtration or you will loose them. The larvae are attracted to light, so you can turn off all pumps and lights and then use a small light to draw them to a spot where you can siphon them out or dip them out with a large plastic cup.

Looks like most people are feeding rotifers for the first five days followed by artemia nauplii. One of the main problems seems to be getting the right about of bubbles in the brood tank to keep the larvae in motion so that they don't fall to the bottom without overdoing it. You will want to darken the sides of the brood tank and provide weak illumination from above. I'm not sure if you can use any sort of filtration, you might have to rely on siphoning out detritus (food remains, exoskeletons) and water exchanges to maintain water quality.

Good luck and let us know if you succeed.