how to tell if it's dead or exoskeleton?

Lynnmw1208 · 03/13/2011, 09:44 PM

So the other day I saw a tiny crab laying upside down in my tank. I swished some water around it to get it to flip over and I can't tell whether it is a dead little crab or an exoskeleton of a crab. I don't have a pic as my camera would not focus on it and it got blown away somewhere in my tank lol. Right now there is nothing in my tank and it is in the process of cycling. Is there a way to tell if it is indeed an exoskeleton? if it is, I got some crab to catch!

wbdevers · 03/13/2011, 09:49 PM

If it didn't move and it looks like a complete crab it is dead. When crabs molt the carapice will seperate from the rest of the body.

SushiGirl · 03/13/2011, 09:52 PM

If it's not solid (full of the body of the crab) and doesn't stink, then it's a molt. Usually you can tell because there are no eyes in it and it's very light.

Lynnmw1208 · 03/14/2011, 06:36 AM

hmm it was one piece, but I didn't see any eyes in it. that is why I was so confused! Maybe I should just put a glass in there with some food in it and see if I catch anything lol.

wbdevers · 03/14/2011, 07:48 AM

I'm still betting it's dead, sorry. I've never seen an intack molt. It just the way they do it. They have to shed and then get out and since they have no "structure" at the moment they have to go a piece at a time.

Lynnmw1208 · 03/14/2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbdevers

I'm still betting it's dead, sorry. I've never seen an intack molt. It just the way they do it. They have to shed and then get out and since they have no "structure" at the moment they have to go a piece at a time.

ok. thanks for the responses everyone! I'm not really disappointed that it's dead because frankly, I don't trust crabs besides the porcelain lol. Phew! I just hope my baby brittles and my nudibranch make it through the cycle. I'll be doing a WC this week.

wbdevers · 03/14/2011, 09:59 AM

LOL! Okay, good luck. Hope everything works out well for you.

SushiGirl · 03/14/2011, 06:18 PM

Keep an eye out for it in a couple of days. I've seen plenty of intact crab molts. They only become scattered after time/something scatters it. Take it out & smell it. If it stinks, it's dead.

DJ in WV · 03/14/2011, 06:27 PM

Ive had sally's leave full molts so it does happen

Lynnmw1208 · 03/14/2011, 08:41 PM

hmm I haven't seen a crab yet even with the moonlights on. It was a REALLY small crab so it could be hiding in the rock if it is in my tank. I just wish I'd see it come out if it is in there. I have no idea where the "crab/molt" went, got blown into a rock I think when I added the koralias and was adjusting flow

They usually come out at night right?

wbdevers · 03/14/2011, 09:59 PM

I'm speaking from experience in what I do for a living, but also given that, my experience is only with Portend crabs (swimming crabs), so it may very well have been a molt, but I still say it wasn't.

mgraff00 · 03/15/2011, 12:52 PM

my banded coral shrimps molts and you would swear it cloned itself

Reefbuoy · 03/15/2011, 03:48 PM

After a molt, my hermits would hide for a couple of days. The last molt was found in his last shell as if he just died, but he must have molted and changed and hid for a couple of days.

03/13/2011, 09:44 PM	#1
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	how to tell if it's dead or exoskeleton? So the other day I saw a tiny crab laying upside down in my tank. I swished some water around it to get it to flip over and I can't tell whether it is a dead little crab or an exoskeleton of a crab. I don't have a pic as my camera would not focus on it and it got blown away somewhere in my tank lol. Right now there is nothing in my tank and it is in the process of cycling. Is there a way to tell if it is indeed an exoskeleton? if it is, I got some crab to catch! __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

03/13/2011, 09:49 PM	#2
wbdevers Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 754	If it didn't move and it looks like a complete crab it is dead. When crabs molt the carapice will seperate from the rest of the body. __________________ Wes Beatings will continue until morale improves!!! "I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them."--Judge Smails Current Tank Info: 125g ML dual corner OF mixed reef, Custom stand and canopy, 40g custom sump, lighting (in flux :( )

03/14/2011, 06:36 AM	#4
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	hmm it was one piece, but I didn't see any eyes in it. that is why I was so confused! Maybe I should just put a glass in there with some food in it and see if I catch anything lol. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

03/14/2011, 07:48 AM	#5
wbdevers Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 754	I'm still betting it's dead, sorry. I've never seen an intack molt. It just the way they do it. They have to shed and then get out and since they have no "structure" at the moment they have to go a piece at a time. __________________ Wes Beatings will continue until morale improves!!! "I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them."--Judge Smails Current Tank Info: 125g ML dual corner OF mixed reef, Custom stand and canopy, 40g custom sump, lighting (in flux :( )

03/14/2011, 09:59 AM	#7
wbdevers Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 754	LOL! Okay, good luck. Hope everything works out well for you. __________________ Wes Beatings will continue until morale improves!!! "I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them."--Judge Smails Current Tank Info: 125g ML dual corner OF mixed reef, Custom stand and canopy, 40g custom sump, lighting (in flux :( )

03/13/2011, 09:52 PM	#3
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	If it's not solid (full of the body of the crab) and doesn't stink, then it's a molt. Usually you can tell because there are no eyes in it and it's very light.

03/14/2011, 06:18 PM	#8
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Keep an eye out for it in a couple of days. I've seen plenty of intact crab molts. They only become scattered after time/something scatters it. Take it out & smell it. If it stinks, it's dead.

03/14/2011, 06:27 PM	#9
DJ in WV Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Idamay,West Virginia Posts: 85	Ive had sally's leave full molts so it does happen

03/14/2011, 08:41 PM	#10
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	hmm I haven't seen a crab yet even with the moonlights on. It was a REALLY small crab so it could be hiding in the rock if it is in my tank. I just wish I'd see it come out if it is in there. I have no idea where the "crab/molt" went, got blown into a rock I think when I added the koralias and was adjusting flow They usually come out at night right? __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

03/14/2011, 09:59 PM	#11
wbdevers Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 754	I'm speaking from experience in what I do for a living, but also given that, my experience is only with Portend crabs (swimming crabs), so it may very well have been a molt, but I still say it wasn't. __________________ Wes Beatings will continue until morale improves!!! "I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them."--Judge Smails Current Tank Info: 125g ML dual corner OF mixed reef, Custom stand and canopy, 40g custom sump, lighting (in flux :( )

03/15/2011, 12:52 PM	#12
mgraff00 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: southern ill Posts: 51	my banded coral shrimps molts and you would swear it cloned itself __________________ "Extra-virgin olive oil...for when you don't want your olive oil F@#$ed" - my brother

03/15/2011, 03:48 PM	#13
Reefbuoy Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Maryland Posts: 126	After a molt, my hermits would hide for a couple of days. The last molt was found in his last shell as if he just died, but he must have molted and changed and hid for a couple of days. __________________ Sean 2 Percula Clowns (from 2003 and 2005), Azure Damsel, Tail Spot Blenny, Six Line Wrasse Current Tank Info: Oceanic 40 gal. stretch hex, mp10, 10 gal. sump/refugium/Chaeto/Syncra Silent 2.0, Reef Octopus 110SS, AI Prime

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