Did my tomato eat my emerald?

Portsie · 09/10/2012, 04:45 PM

I added an emerald crab 4 days ago. I hadn't seen it since I originally added it until I got home from work today and saw him dead on the bottom of the tank. I thought it strange and then noticed that my large (3 inch) female tomatoe clown is eating the remains. Is it possible she killed it? She is part of a mated pair and is currently spawning about once every 15-20 days. Water parameters are all good.

cloak · 09/10/2012, 05:02 PM

It's definitely possible. Are you sure it's not just a molt though? If there's anything left, grab the remains and give it a good whiff. If it stinks to high heaven, it's dead. If not, it's most likely a molt. The crab should resurface given time. HTH.

Portsie · 09/10/2012, 05:51 PM

Thanks cloak, I considered a molt, but thought not because the clown hasn't left it alone for at least 2 hours, I didn't think there would be enough meat left on a molt to keep her interest that long. it's in a really bad spot in my tank for me to get to. My wife mentioned earlier that she thought the fish tank smelled like fish, I have a bad cold and can't smell anything. But I hope it is just a molt.

09/10/2012, 04:45 PM	#1
Portsie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 741	Did my tomato eat my emerald? I added an emerald crab 4 days ago. I hadn't seen it since I originally added it until I got home from work today and saw him dead on the bottom of the tank. I thought it strange and then noticed that my large (3 inch) female tomatoe clown is eating the remains. Is it possible she killed it? She is part of a mated pair and is currently spawning about once every 15-20 days. Water parameters are all good. __________________ 90g corner overflow, 33g sump, Apex, Vertex IN-100, 2x MP-10w ES, 1X MP-40w, Tunze Osmolator, 60lbs Caribsea oolite, 85lbs live rock, 4x54w T5 with LED moonlights

09/10/2012, 05:51 PM	#3
Portsie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 741	Thanks cloak, I considered a molt, but thought not because the clown hasn't left it alone for at least 2 hours, I didn't think there would be enough meat left on a molt to keep her interest that long. it's in a really bad spot in my tank for me to get to. My wife mentioned earlier that she thought the fish tank smelled like fish, I have a bad cold and can't smell anything. But I hope it is just a molt. __________________ 90g corner overflow, 33g sump, Apex, Vertex IN-100, 2x MP-10w ES, 1X MP-40w, Tunze Osmolator, 60lbs Caribsea oolite, 85lbs live rock, 4x54w T5 with LED moonlights

09/10/2012, 05:02 PM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	It's definitely possible. Are you sure it's not just a molt though? If there's anything left, grab the remains and give it a good whiff. If it stinks to high heaven, it's dead. If not, it's most likely a molt. The crab should resurface given time. HTH.