emerald crabs

[slb11106]

i have two emerald crabs, they are doing fine and very mobile, but they are no longer that nice green color, they are a chalky kind of color, it there something wrong with them ?

all levels are normal, calcium 450, ph 8.2 ect...

is there something i missed ?

all of my shrimp are fine, color and all....

any ideas ?

 

[Witfull]

they are getting older and natural.

 

[Charlie97L]

they're getting the crab equivalent of a tan. from what i've read/seen, most of the tiny/mid-size reef crabs tend to all end up looking pretty drab after they reach muturity. i would assume it's a defense thing, as many many creatures LOVE to eat them. they don't stand out... the exception are the mini reef hermits.

and witty... i'm surprised you jumped in on a *crab* thread with a restrained answer. haha. are you cracking?

 

[billyr98]

my emeralds did the same thing after some time in my tank...

 

[Gibeon]

Does the color change occur when they molt? The new "skin" is lighter?

 

[Charlie97L]

i can't say so for crabs, but when my shrimp molt, the color is more vibrant until their carapace hardens.

 

[burning2nd]

my e crab died, he was all banged up when i got him tho,

he had 2 legs, his dried out shell sits on top for a warning to others