MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA TANK-SIDE DECISION CARDS Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Status: Prepared locally. These cards add no new biological claim. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Cycle and commission a shrimp tank Situation: You need to decide whether a new or changed system is ready for shrimp. Observe first: Check the complete system, current nitrogen results, test resolution and whether conditioned media and surfaces are actually present. First action: Run the documented nitrogen-processing challenge before livestock arrive rather than using tank age, appearance or a product label as readiness. Record next: Record the added challenge, reporting basis, elapsed time, ammonia and nitrite results, temperature, pH and any intervention. Stop boundary: Do not add shrimp while the intended load is not processed at the declared test resolution or while the system is still changing. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/cycling Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/cycling This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Build habitat and conditioned surfaces Situation: You are choosing substrate, shelter, plants, botanicals or light for a shrimp system. Observe first: Name the function needed, the exact material identity, its prior exposure history and the wet surface or shelter already available. First action: Add habitat for a declared function and inspect or prepare every wet addition before it joins the colony contact network. Record next: Record the material, source, preparation, amount, date, water changes, animal contact, refusal, fouling and any removal. Stop boundary: Do not call one substrate, plant or botanical required, universally safe or beneficial when identity, preparation or outcome is unknown. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/habitat Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/habitat This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Feed without a universal schedule Situation: You need to decide what, how much or how often to feed. Observe first: Look at colony life stages, conditioned grazing surface, recent intake, remaining food, fouling and recent growth or brood observations. First action: Offer a small measured amount, observe actual use and remove or reduce food that remains rather than following a universal calendar. Record next: Record exact food, preparation, dry or wet amount, animal access, time to disappearance, leftovers, water trend and next adjustment. Stop boundary: Do not turn preference, colour change or one short growth result into proof of a complete diet, portion or universal feeding schedule. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/feeding Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/feeding This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Plan water changes and top-offs Situation: You need to replace water, top off evaporation or service the system. Observe first: Name the purpose, measure source and tank water, check temperature and recent trend, and separate evaporation from material accumulation. First action: Prepare replacement water for the actual decision and make a measured change whose volume and chemistry you can record. Record next: Record source, treatment, volume, temperature, GH, KH, conductivity or TDS when relevant, and before and after observations. Stop boundary: Do not use a fixed percentage as a universal rule or use top-off water to claim that accumulated material was removed. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/water-changes Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/water-changes This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Choose a starter group and measure capacity Situation: You are choosing a starter group or deciding whether a colony exceeds its system. Observe first: Check system maturity, grazing area, filtration, feeding, life-stage distribution, recruitment, maintenance capacity and recent losses. First action: Choose a supportable starting group and evaluate the whole system over time instead of applying a shrimp-per-volume formula. Record next: Record count ranges by life stage, food demand, maintenance, nitrogen trend, recruitment, removals, deaths and missing animals. Stop boundary: Do not convert a short juvenile density experiment or one successful tank into a universal aquarium capacity number. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/stocking Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/stocking This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Handle surplus shrimp responsibly Situation: The colony is producing more shrimp than the current system or goals can support. Observe first: Estimate adults, juveniles and hatchlings separately and review system load, placement options, selection goals and biosecurity. First action: Pause optional expansion and create a humane placement plan with recipient, transfer, source disclosure and no-release rules. Record next: Record count ranges, retained and outgoing groups, recipient readiness, transfers, losses and any new-source quarantine requirement. Stop boundary: Never release aquarium organisms. Do not move, sell or merge shrimp when health, identity, recipient capacity or legal boundary is unresolved. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/surplus Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/surplus This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Run filtration, oxygen and flow Situation: You are selecting or troubleshooting filtration, aeration, flow or an intake. Observe first: Check water movement, surface agitation, intake protection, conditioned media, power state, debris load and animal behavior around the device. First action: Protect intakes, preserve wet conditioned media and restore oxygen and circulation safely before changing several system variables at once. Record next: Record equipment state, outage duration, temperature, oxygen measure when available, nitrogen results, cleaning method and animal response. Stop boundary: Do not treat a manufacturer flow rating as biological capacity or assume visible bubbles prove adequate oxygen everywhere in the system. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/filtration Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/filtration This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Interpret GH, KH, TDS, pH and conductivity Situation: You are interpreting GH, KH, TDS, conductivity or pH. Observe first: Identify the exact measurement, unit, method, calibration or resolution and the decision you expect that number to inform. First action: Compare like measurements and investigate the specific chemical property needed instead of treating one aggregate number as water quality. Record next: Record sample source, time, temperature, unit, method, resolution, repeat result and any source-to-tank difference. Stop boundary: Do not treat matching TDS as matching ions or turn a house recipe, occurrence range or seller range into a species optimum. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/parameters Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/parameters This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Improve measurement quality Situation: A water result may change a livestock or maintenance decision. Observe first: Check sample handling, reagent age, method range, first nonzero step, lighting, timing, calibration and reporting basis. First action: Repeat the measurement with the method steps controlled and confirm the unit and basis before acting on a surprising result. Record next: Record kit or meter, lot or calibration, sample, time, temperature, raw reading, interpreted result, range limit and repeat. Stop boundary: Do not invent precision between colour blocks, copy the top of a range as an exact value or compare results with different chemical bases. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/testing Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/testing This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Read ammonia, nitrite and nitrate correctly Situation: Ammonia, nitrite or nitrate is being used to judge readiness or a change. Observe first: Identify the analyte, reporting basis, unit, test resolution, pH, temperature, recent feed and recent livestock or filter changes. First action: Confirm the result and protect animals from a continuing measured hazard while investigating source and system function. Record next: Record exact analyte and basis, method, before and after values, pH, temperature, actions, deaths and recovery observations. Stop boundary: Do not equate TAN with un-ionized ammonia, use one nitrate result as proof of cycling or invent a universal chronic safe threshold. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/nitrogen Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/nitrogen This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Separate temperature effects and house choices Situation: You are choosing a temperature or responding to heat, cold or a rapid change. Observe first: Measure current and recent temperature history, rate of change, oxygenation, life stage, behavior and the outcome actually at risk. First action: Stabilize the system within its documented operating plan and address oxygen and ongoing heat exposure without chasing one study endpoint. Record next: Record time series, measurement location, device, oxygen context, behavior, molts, reproduction, losses and every intervention. Stop boundary: Do not call the fastest growth, shortest incubation or survival in one protocol a universal optimum or complete safe interval. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/temperature Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/temperature This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Name visible shrimp anatomy Situation: You need to describe a visible body feature before interpreting it. Observe first: Photograph the whole animal and exact region with orientation, scale, focus, lighting and more than one view when possible. First action: Name the body region and literal appearance before assigning an organism, lesion, sex, molt state or diagnosis. Record next: Record dorsal, lateral or ventral position, side, size, color, surface, movement, affected denominator and change over time. Stop boundary: Do not turn a photograph or anatomical nickname into species authentication, disease diagnosis or treatment authorization. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/anatomy Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/anatomy This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Describe movement and behaviour without diagnosis Situation: Shrimp are hiding, racing, climbing, inactive or behaving differently. Observe first: Count affected animals and record onset, duration, location, posture, movement, feeding response, water, oxygen and recent changes. First action: Check immediate measurable hazards and compare affected with unaffected animals before assigning a cause. Record next: Record time, denominator, behavior sequence, water and temperature, recent inputs, molt or reproductive context and response to one change. Stop boundary: Behavior alone does not diagnose a chemical, infection, molt failure or oxygen problem. Do not prescribe from the label. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/behaviour Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/behaviour This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Sex shrimp with stated confidence Situation: You want to classify a shrimp as male, female or uncertain. Observe first: Use clear lateral and dorsal observations and note size, maturity, abdominal form, ovarian tissue and attached eggs separately. First action: Assign only the confidence the visible evidence supports and keep uncertain or immature animals unclassified. Record next: Record image date, view, landmarks used, confidence, later ovarian development, attached eggs, mating or hatch confirmation. Stop boundary: Do not use colour, size or a vague saddle alone as universal proof of sex, maturity, fertility or reproductive outcome. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/sexing Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/sexing This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Record growth, maturity and lifespan Situation: You want to estimate age, growth, maturity or lifespan. Observe first: Separate known hatch date, body measurement, life stage, reproductive evidence, source history and last-seen status. First action: Measure a defined body landmark repeatedly for an identified cohort rather than inferring exact age from size. Record next: Record hatch or acquisition basis, measurement method, dates, molts, maturity evidence, transfers, deaths, removals and censoring. Stop boundary: Do not convert one size, seller estimate or oldest visible animal into exact age, remaining lifespan or a population survival curve. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/growth Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/growth This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Record breeding without a guaranteed calendar Situation: Breeding appears delayed, eggs changed or offspring are not appearing. Observe first: Separate sex and maturity, ovarian development, mating, attached eggs, hatch observations and retained juveniles as different stages. First action: Identify the first unobserved stage and review the records for that stage before changing temperature, food, minerals or tankmates. Record next: Record adult denominator, sex confidence, molts, ovarian signs, attached-egg dates, losses, hatch range and juvenile follow-up. Stop boundary: Do not promise a hatch calendar, diagnose dropped eggs from one image or call adult survival evidence of successful recruitment. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/breeding Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/breeding This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Separate species, trade line and provenance Situation: A scientific name, trade label, colour or photograph is being used as identity. Observe first: Separate the specimen, source, seller label, visible phenotype, documented ancestry, voucher, diagnostic characters and genetic method. First action: Use the narrowest supported identity and preserve the original source name alongside any current taxonomic interpretation. Record next: Record source colony, date, original label, photographs, diagnostic method, pedigree, vouchers, sequences and later reassignment. Stop boundary: Do not authenticate species, purity, ancestry or named line from colour, one barcode, a database label or an updated synonym alone. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/species Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/species This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Record mixed-colour crosses across generations Situation: You are mixing colour lines or interpreting unexpected offspring. Observe first: Record each parent source and phenotype, cross direction, family separation, possible contamination and complete offspring denominator. First action: Define whether the goal is display or a documented cross, then keep families and generations traceable before predicting outcomes. Record next: Record parents, family, F1 and F2 counts, ordinary and unexpected phenotypes, deaths, removals, images and unclassified offspring. Stop boundary: Do not use seller charts or selected showcase offspring to predict a complete cross, authenticate ancestry or prove genetic purity. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/colours Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/colours This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Use selective-breeding and genetics claims carefully Situation: You are selecting a line or evaluating a genetic or breed-true claim. Observe first: Separate phenotype, pedigree, controlled cross, family structure, marker, candidate gene, population and validation cohort. First action: Define the trait and scoring method, preserve source-separated families and test offspring across complete generations. Record next: Record parent identity, cross direction, family, environment, scorer method, every offspring class, missing calls and exclusions. Stop boundary: Do not turn expression, association, one marker or line name into a causal genotype, purity certificate or guaranteed inheritance pattern. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/genetics Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/genetics This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Receive and transfer shipped shrimp Situation: Shrimp have arrived and must move from source or shipping water. Observe first: Inspect package condition and animals, then measure source and receiving temperature and relevant dissolved-property differences. First action: Choose and execute a deliberate transfer plan that limits continued package exposure and avoids adding source water to the receiving system when practical. Record next: Record package time, condition, source and receiving measurements, transfer method, duration, original denominator and delayed outcomes. Stop boundary: Do not use one fixed drip duration as a survival guarantee or infer the cause of a later loss from transfer method alone. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/acclimation Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/acclimation This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Quarantine by source and contact network Situation: A new animal, plant, tool or wet item may join an established colony. Observe first: Map its source and every wet contact route, including water, nets, buckets, plants, hands, tools and shared equipment. First action: Place the new source in a commissioned separate system with dedicated wet equipment and a written observation and release decision. Record next: Record source, arrival, contact network, animal denominator, daily observations, tests, interventions, deaths and release basis. Stop boundary: Do not treat one uneventful duration, visual normality or routine unverified treatment as proof of pathogen-free status. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/quarantine Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/quarantine This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Triage abnormal observations and mortality Situation: One or more shrimp is abnormal, injured, unresponsive or dying. Observe first: Count affected, unaffected, dead and missing animals and check oxygen, temperature, measured water, recent inputs and exact body findings. First action: Stop a known continuing exposure when safe, stabilize measurable system hazards and preserve clear observations for qualified help. Record next: Record onset, denominator, water and method, recent changes, photographs, behavior, deaths, isolation and response to each action. Stop boundary: Do not diagnose or dose from a photograph, nickname or single sign. Escalate when mortality continues or welfare is deteriorating. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/health Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/health This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Investigate molting and exuviae Situation: You found an exuvia, white ring, incomplete molt or changed post-molt animal. Observe first: Distinguish an empty intact exuvia from an animal, then record posture, movement, body region, water and affected denominator. First action: Leave an ordinary exuvia unless it creates a specific problem, and investigate repeated abnormal events through measured system history. Record next: Record event time, photographs, animal outcome, recent GH and water changes, diet changes, temperature and colony-wide frequency. Stop boundary: A white ring is not a diagnosis or certain cause of death, and one molt does not prove a mineral deficiency or treatment need. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/molting Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/molting This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Identify free-living organisms before treatment Situation: You found a worm, hydra or other free-living organism in the system. Observe first: Record scale, body form, movement, exact location, attachment, affected denominator and whether the organism is on or near shrimp. First action: Collect clear observations and narrow the organism group before changing food, removing animals or considering treatment. Record next: Record images or video, size, movement, substrate, counts, shrimp contact, feeding conditions, recent additions and trend. Stop boundary: Do not treat from a common name or blurry image, and do not assume disappearance proves eradication, efficacy or host safety. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/pests Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/pests This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Respond to possible chemical exposure Situation: A product, medication, fertilizer, aerosol or spill may expose shrimp. Observe first: Identify the exact product and chemical, route, time, amount, water volume, label, measured concentration if available and animal denominator. First action: Stop a known continuing exposure when safe, preserve the package or label and use measured water and animal observations for escalation. Record next: Record product, lot, ingredient form, timing, estimated or measured exposure, water chemistry, actions, deaths and delayed outcomes. Stop boundary: Do not certify a product from one ingredient label or convert a laboratory response, no-death result or nominal dose into universal safety. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/chemical-safety Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/chemical-safety This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Evaluate tankmates by the colony outcome Situation: You are considering fish or other animals with a shrimp colony. Observe first: Define whether the goal is adult display or juvenile recruitment and record species, size, habitat, shrimp life stages and exit capacity. First action: Prefer shrimp-only conditions for recruitment; if evaluating coexistence, establish complete counts and a humane removal plan first. Record next: Record adult sightings, injuries, deaths, missing shrimp, berried females, hatch observations, retained juveniles and feeding access. Stop boundary: Do not publish a universal safe-fish list or treat visible surviving adults as evidence that juveniles recruit without predation. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/tankmates Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/tankmates This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide. MOLT & MOSS NEOCARIDINA DECISION CARD Version: 1.0 Reviewed: 2026-08-12 Topic: Separate grazing from cleanup claims Situation: You expect shrimp to control algae, detritus or aquarium waste. Observe first: Identify the material and compartment, its extent, likely resource conditions, shrimp contact and the maintenance action being replaced. First action: Describe shrimp as bounded grazers and remove or correct the system cause with an appropriate measurable maintenance action. Record next: Record algae location and area, animal access, grazing, physical removal, light, nutrients, feeding and change over time. Stop boundary: Do not promise whole-system cleaning, waste export, a stocking rate for algae control or consumption of every algae type. Permanent card: https://moltandmoss.com/care/action-cards/algae Governing guide: https://moltandmoss.com/care/algae This card is a first-decision aid, not a diagnosis, treatment authorization, complete method or substitute for the governing guide.