Electric blue hermit crab took a dive.....

kookerson · 08/12/2007, 04:42 PM

When my tank was first cycled a little over 2 months ago....I added 5 dwarf hermit crabs.....and slowly over the next month and a half, they started dying off. 2 weeks after the last one died.....I decided to take a chance with the electric blue hermit crabs, so i bought 3 of them last week. I came home from church today and saw that one of them was out of his shell and dead.........whats going on? My turbo and nassarius snails dont die? All my other inhabitants are doing good? My params are ammonia/trite/phosph/ @ 0, trates at 10-15, alk low at 2.5 meq/l, and my calcium is high at 750 ppm........

Midus · 08/12/2007, 04:54 PM

Acclimation maybe. A few of mine died because I didn't properly do it. Since then, I've learned to test the bag's PH and Sg and compare it to my own. The greater the difference, the longer you have to wait apparently.

clockwurk · 08/12/2007, 05:02 PM

Whats your PH like?
Low alk will make your PH go nuts.

kookerson · 08/12/2007, 05:11 PM

Ph is at 8.1........and I drip acclimated them for about 30 minutes with airline tubing........

kookerson · 08/12/2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Midus
Acclimation maybe. A few of mine died because I didn't properly do it. Since then, I've learned to test the bag's PH and Sg and compare it to my own. The greater the difference, the longer you have to wait apparently.

Also, the first one lasted about 5 days before he took a ride on the procelain express.......

mr_o98 · 08/12/2007, 10:48 PM

I would acclimate longer and use a slower drip. I acclimate any new addition for at least one hour before adding to the tank.

Your tank is only 2 months old, there may not be enough food for the crabs to eat. The snails eat alot and are probably not leaving much for the crabs to eat.

08/12/2007, 04:42 PM	#1
kookerson Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,017	Electric blue hermit crab took a dive..... When my tank was first cycled a little over 2 months ago....I added 5 dwarf hermit crabs.....and slowly over the next month and a half, they started dying off. 2 weeks after the last one died.....I decided to take a chance with the electric blue hermit crabs, so i bought 3 of them last week. I came home from church today and saw that one of them was out of his shell and dead.........whats going on? My turbo and nassarius snails dont die? All my other inhabitants are doing good? My params are ammonia/trite/phosph/ @ 0, trates at 10-15, alk low at 2.5 meq/l, and my calcium is high at 750 ppm........

08/12/2007, 05:02 PM	#3
clockwurk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ft Lauderdale Posts: 887	Whats your PH like? Low alk will make your PH go nuts. __________________ I tried modifying my avatar so that it would fit the size requirements for ReefCentral, but after frankensteining the the graphic, I ended up with a limping Venom. Current Tank Info: 34g Solana \| AI SOL & 2x Panorama Pro LED

08/12/2007, 10:48 PM	#6
mr_o98 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pen Argyl, PA Posts: 600	I would acclimate longer and use a slower drip. I acclimate any new addition for at least one hour before adding to the tank. Your tank is only 2 months old, there may not be enough food for the crabs to eat. The snails eat alot and are probably not leaving much for the crabs to eat. __________________ Sometimes I amaze even myself. I feel like I have TWO brilliant minds. Current Tank Info: 90g fish only tank, Green Chromis, Ocellaris clown, 6 line Wrasse, Convict Tang, Foxface Lo, Decorator Goby, Lemon Drop butterfly, Flameback Angel - 30g sump, Euro Reef skimmer, 2 250w MH

08/12/2007, 04:54 PM	#2
Midus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 95	Acclimation maybe. A few of mine died because I didn't properly do it. Since then, I've learned to test the bag's PH and Sg and compare it to my own. The greater the difference, the longer you have to wait apparently.

08/12/2007, 05:11 PM	#4
kookerson Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,017	Ph is at 8.1........and I drip acclimated them for about 30 minutes with airline tubing........