What is killing my Emerald Crabs

oarpanicdave · 07/16/2013, 10:54 AM

Hello all. I was wondering if anyone else out there has experienced the spontaneous demise of their emerald crabs. I have had mine in the tank since the 3rd of July. Everything was going well. They appeared happy and were gorging themselves on the hair algae I am attempting to eradicate. Then, as of yesterday, two are dead, and the last one is missing. I am positive that this is not a case of molting. Parameters are all within range. I have been dosing with Purple Up to promote Coralline as well as increase my Calcium levels. Currently I am at 380 (getting ready to add corals.) I have also been adding power for alkalinity and am currently at 7. Thoughts? I also have 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 6 astrea snails, 6 small hermit crabs, 2 clowns, and possibly still one emerald crab. Tank is a nano-cube 28g.

footballdude2k3 · 07/16/2013, 11:10 AM

Where did you get the live rock? sounds like you might have a hitchhiker, but how do you know that they were not molts? Were they just dead, or did something eat a bunch or what?

oarpanicdave · 07/16/2013, 11:27 AM

The rocks came from my LFS. There was no translucency to the shell which leads me to believe that it was not a molt. They were also completely in tact. I also watched one die and fall off the rock that he/she had been sitting on. You know the old joke where you hold your hand upside down with fingers splayed and ask do you know what this is? And then turn your hand 180 degrees and say a dead one of these. That's what they look like. Completely in tact but upside down on the sand bed.

Sugar Magnolia · 07/16/2013, 11:27 AM

Could be a xanthid crab that came in on your rocks.

07/16/2013, 10:54 AM	#1
oarpanicdave Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 12	What is killing my Emerald Crabs Hello all. I was wondering if anyone else out there has experienced the spontaneous demise of their emerald crabs. I have had mine in the tank since the 3rd of July. Everything was going well. They appeared happy and were gorging themselves on the hair algae I am attempting to eradicate. Then, as of yesterday, two are dead, and the last one is missing. I am positive that this is not a case of molting. Parameters are all within range. I have been dosing with Purple Up to promote Coralline as well as increase my Calcium levels. Currently I am at 380 (getting ready to add corals.) I have also been adding power for alkalinity and am currently at 7. Thoughts? I also have 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 6 astrea snails, 6 small hermit crabs, 2 clowns, and possibly still one emerald crab. Tank is a nano-cube 28g.

07/16/2013, 11:27 AM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Could be a xanthid crab that came in on your rocks. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/16/2013, 11:10 AM	#2
footballdude2k3 Registered Member. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,974	Where did you get the live rock? sounds like you might have a hitchhiker, but how do you know that they were not molts? Were they just dead, or did something eat a bunch or what?