Eyestalk ablation techniques
Shrimp should be ablated only when hard-shelled, never when in post-molt (newly molted or seft-shelled) or premolt stages. Because molting and reproduction, especially in females, are both energy demanding processes, they appear to be antagonistic in terms of biological programing.

Unilateral eyestalk ablation is accomplished in the following ways:

1) Simple pinching of the eyestalk, usually performed half to two-thirds down the eyestalk. This method may leave an open wound.

2) Slitting one eye with a razor blade, then crushing eyestalk, with thumb and index fingernail, beginning one-half to two-thirds down the eyestalk and moving distally until the contents of eyes have been removed. This method, sometimes called enucleation, leaves behind the transparent exoskeleton so that clotting of hemolymph, and closure of the wound, may occur more rapidly.

3) Cauterizing through the eyestalk with either an electrocautery device or an instrument such as a red-hot wire or forceps. If correctly performed, this method closes the wound completely and allows scar tissue to form more readily. A variation of this technique is to use scissors or sharp blade to sever the eyestalk, and then to cauterize the wound.

4) Ligation by tying off the eyestalk tightly with surgical or other thread. This method also has the advantage of immediate wound closure (Bray & Lawrence, 1992).