Dead or molt?

juhason · 09/14/2015, 06:16 PM

I found my emerald crab like this last night. This morning he was still the same, and now after work he still hasn't moved. Here's what he looks like:

Water parameters are
Ammonia 0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate: 10ppm
Phosphate: 0
I have snails and hermit crabs that were introduced at the same time as him. All are still alive.

brewman1987 · 09/14/2015, 06:42 PM

best way is just pull it out, pull apart the top and see if it's empty. My crab just molted and the molt looked just like the crab , but was empty.

Bent · 09/14/2015, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewman1987

best way is just pull it out, pull apart the top and see if it's empty. My crab just molted and the molt looked just like the crab , but was empty.

Same thing happened to me the other day. Saw the body of the stone crab juvi that hangs out in the sump, thought oh man that sucks, then threw it out.

I was later that evening re-arranging some rocks and he crawled up my arm and scared the bejesus out of me. Might I mention he seemed MUCH bigger?

juhason · 09/14/2015, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewman1987

best way is just pull it out, pull apart the top and see if it's empty. My crab just molted and the molt looked just like the crab , but was empty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

Same thing happened to me the other day. Saw the body of the stone crab juvi that hangs out in the sump, thought oh man that sucks, then threw it out.

I was later that evening re-arranging some rocks and he crawled up my arm and scared the bejesus out of me. Might I mention he seemed MUCH bigger?

So I pulled it out and I think he was dead

It smelled pretty bad and felt full. I didn't see anywhere where he could've gotten out of his shell it seemed fully in tact. I guess I'll find out for sure if I don't see him in a couple days.

Bent · 09/14/2015, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juhason

So I pulled it out and I think he was dead

It smelled pretty bad and felt full. I didn't see anywhere where he could've gotten out of his shell it seemed fully in tact. I guess I'll find out for sure if I don't see him in a couple days.

Were there guts and stuff in it?

Breadman03 · 09/14/2015, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juhason

So I pulled it out and I think he was dead

It smelled pretty bad and felt full. I didn't see anywhere where he could've gotten out of his shell it seemed fully in tact. I guess I'll find out for sure if I don't see him in a couple days.

If it smelled bad, not low tide bad, but actually bad, it's toast.

juhason · 09/14/2015, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

Were there guts and stuff in it?

I didn't check... should I have?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breadman03

If it smelled bad, not low tide bad, but actually bad, it's toast.

What's low tide bad? lol

brewman1987 · 09/15/2015, 06:04 AM

If you have ever been around the ocean at low tide you would know what he means lol. It kinda smells like a dump and a bad day in the bathroom lol.

Breadman03 · 09/15/2015, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juhason

I didn't check... should I have?

What's low tide bad? lol

Low tide bad is when you note that some stuff doesn't quite smell right, and take minor offense. Bad can have you questioning whether you will get to taste lunch again.

juhason · 09/15/2015, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewman1987

If you have ever been around the ocean at low tide you would know what he means lol. It kinda smells like a dump and a bad day in the bathroom lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breadman03

Low tide bad is when you note that some stuff doesn't quite smell right, and take minor offense. Bad can have you questioning whether you will get to taste lunch again.

Oh, well I guess the smell was not that awful

But still I could not find anywhere where the crab could have gotten out of his shell. I was trying to pry it open like the first person suggested and couldn't so I just gave up and flushed him down. Regardless if it was the shell or not there was definitely nothing living about it. Well hopefully he turns up! He was my favorite. Also everything else in the tank is thriving (corals and other inverts)

Bent · 09/15/2015, 07:57 AM

I bet he's fine. Hiding till his new shell hardens.

theMatrix · 09/15/2015, 08:00 AM

Get some bigger shells. My crabs havent killed any snails but 2 have molted. I thought i lost some.

It looked like a pale crab minus the shell

ca1ore · 09/15/2015, 08:19 AM

Looks 'meaty' to me. I'd vote el morto

09/14/2015, 06:16 PM	#1
juhason Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 21	Dead or molt? I found my emerald crab like this last night. This morning he was still the same, and now after work he still hasn't moved. Here's what he looks like: Water parameters are Ammonia 0 Nitrite:0 Nitrate: 10ppm Phosphate: 0 I have snails and hermit crabs that were introduced at the same time as him. All are still alive.

09/14/2015, 06:42 PM	#2
brewman1987 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland , ct Posts: 244	best way is just pull it out, pull apart the top and see if it's empty. My crab just molted and the molt looked just like the crab , but was empty. __________________ Dan Current Tank Info: 40breeder w/ 20 sump, Tbs package, some clowns from my old tank , inverts and corals

09/15/2015, 06:04 AM	#8
brewman1987 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland , ct Posts: 244	If you have ever been around the ocean at low tide you would know what he means lol. It kinda smells like a dump and a bad day in the bathroom lol. __________________ Dan Current Tank Info: 40breeder w/ 20 sump, Tbs package, some clowns from my old tank , inverts and corals

09/15/2015, 07:57 AM	#11
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	I bet he's fine. Hiding till his new shell hardens. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

09/15/2015, 08:19 AM	#13
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Looks 'meaty' to me. I'd vote el morto __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/15/2015, 08:00 AM	#12
theMatrix Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 302	Get some bigger shells. My crabs havent killed any snails but 2 have molted. I thought i lost some. It looked like a pale crab minus the shell