I canâ€™t figure out what is happening!

billhig1 · 04/08/2007, 07:32 PM

My tank is cycled, so I added 2 clown fish and 20 hermit crabs.
A few days later I found hermit crab legs on the sand at the bottom of my tank. The next day I found a dead hermit crab torn apart my tank almost exactly in the same place my other crab was found. Last night I stayed up to see if there was any hitch hikers in my tank that I may have not found but cant find anything. I am down to 10 hermit crabs and still cant find out what is happening.

Temp 80
Nitrits 0
Ammonia 0
Calsium 420
Phosphates .1
KH 9

Any suggestions?

Shagsbeard · 04/08/2007, 07:36 PM

All crustaceans molt. They shed their outer skeletons to grow larger. Seems that most crabs do this shortly after being moved into a new tank. What you are finding is most likely just the cast offs from molting crabs. Nothing to worry about.

billhig1 · 04/08/2007, 07:47 PM

I just check my tank and found a half of a crab. Are the other crabs killing them?

jerm290atlc · 04/08/2007, 07:52 PM

It may be the molt...it tends to look like a dead crab. Check to see if it is just the outer shell that molted off.

it is also possible that a couple of them died due to the stress of shipping and the others scavenged the body.

billhig1 · 04/08/2007, 08:13 PM

I pulled the crab out of the tank. the crab had no shell and his body had a hole in it.

jerm290atlc · 04/08/2007, 08:18 PM

Well maybe he died from the stress of the shipping. Keep a eye out on the rest to make sure they make it. If your levels are good I think you should be OK.

RTKBA308 · 04/08/2007, 08:26 PM

I had a similiar problem. Among other live stock I ordered, with it were two hermit crabs. I acclimated them and put them in my tank. About four days later, I could not find either crab, but did notice legs crab legs throughout the tank. That was about three months ago, never saw the crabs or the shells since that fourth day

. I think they fought each other 'till death, but the mystery is, where are the shells

.

jerm290atlc · 04/08/2007, 08:34 PM

I think they are like dogs...they find a dark place to hide and die when they feel like kicking the bucket?!!!

I know I had alot of hermits over the years but very few shells ever show up toward the front of the tank when they disappear.

billhig1 · 04/08/2007, 08:47 PM

Thank you everyone. I will keep any eye rest to make sure they make sure they are all ok.

04/08/2007, 07:32 PM	#1
billhig1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 115	I canâ€™t figure out what is happening! My tank is cycled, so I added 2 clown fish and 20 hermit crabs. A few days later I found hermit crab legs on the sand at the bottom of my tank. The next day I found a dead hermit crab torn apart my tank almost exactly in the same place my other crab was found. Last night I stayed up to see if there was any hitch hikers in my tank that I may have not found but cant find anything. I am down to 10 hermit crabs and still cant find out what is happening. Temp 80 Nitrits 0 Ammonia 0 Calsium 420 Phosphates .1 KH 9 Any suggestions?

04/08/2007, 07:52 PM	#4
jerm290atlc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: las cruces, nm Posts: 342	It may be the molt...it tends to look like a dead crab. Check to see if it is just the outer shell that molted off. it is also possible that a couple of them died due to the stress of shipping and the others scavenged the body. __________________ A day above ground is a good day-Scarface Current Tank Info: 125 gal reef tank/sump/fuge/VHO lights

04/08/2007, 08:18 PM	#6
jerm290atlc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: las cruces, nm Posts: 342	Well maybe he died from the stress of the shipping. Keep a eye out on the rest to make sure they make it. If your levels are good I think you should be OK. __________________ A day above ground is a good day-Scarface Current Tank Info: 125 gal reef tank/sump/fuge/VHO lights

04/08/2007, 08:34 PM	#8
jerm290atlc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: las cruces, nm Posts: 342	I think they are like dogs...they find a dark place to hide and die when they feel like kicking the bucket?!!! I know I had alot of hermits over the years but very few shells ever show up toward the front of the tank when they disappear. __________________ A day above ground is a good day-Scarface Current Tank Info: 125 gal reef tank/sump/fuge/VHO lights

04/08/2007, 07:36 PM	#2
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	All crustaceans molt. They shed their outer skeletons to grow larger. Seems that most crabs do this shortly after being moved into a new tank. What you are finding is most likely just the cast offs from molting crabs. Nothing to worry about.

04/08/2007, 07:47 PM	#3
billhig1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 115	I just check my tank and found a half of a crab. Are the other crabs killing them?

04/08/2007, 08:13 PM	#5
billhig1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 115	I pulled the crab out of the tank. the crab had no shell and his body had a hole in it.

04/08/2007, 08:26 PM	#7
RTKBA308 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NY Posts: 521	I had a similiar problem. Among other live stock I ordered, with it were two hermit crabs. I acclimated them and put them in my tank. About four days later, I could not find either crab, but did notice legs crab legs throughout the tank. That was about three months ago, never saw the crabs or the shells since that fourth day . I think they fought each other 'till death, but the mystery is, where are the shells .

04/08/2007, 08:47 PM	#9
billhig1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 115	Thank you everyone. I will keep any eye rest to make sure they make sure they are all ok.