Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell.

AndtheBonus · 09-15-2008, 12:51 PM

I came back from class this morning and two of the blue leg crabs came out of their shell and died. I checked all parameters last night and everything was normal.

Nitrite/Ammonia - 0
Nitrates - 5
Calcium - 440
Salinity - 1.026
Temp. 80.3 F

What could be the cause of this? A snail also came out about 2 weeks ago but didn't think much of it. All the water is RO/DI btw.

I also have a sand sifter star, a green chromis, and a new clown that was put in on Friday (pics will be coming soon!).

All the advice would be greatly appreciated!

BigAl07 · 09-15-2008, 01:05 PM

First thing I would do is get another set of water tests from a different set of test kits. Maybe take a sample to your LFS and let them run it.

It's possible something that we can't test for is causing the problem. Anything "different" in the tank and home? New candles? new cleaning lady?

Anytime I suspect ANYTHING as out of whack I drop a Carbon bag into the tank just in case. It may help pull something out of the water. This is just my "Band-Aide" until I can locate and resolve the issue long term.

Allen

goldenmean · 09-15-2008, 01:19 PM

The first thing I suspect is that your hermits have molted.
Those may just be empty exoskeletons and not dead crab carcasses.

BigAl07 · 09-15-2008, 01:42 PM

Oh Man!

I didn't think of that

could very well be that!!

BigJay · 09-15-2008, 01:50 PM

that would be my guess too a molt. Its easy to tell just pull out what looks like the dead crab and see if opens in the back.

AndtheBonus · 09-15-2008, 03:17 PM

Haha I think the issue is solved. I think they were just molts! Lol I did not realize that they did that. Thanks for the help! I'll let you guys know if I suspect them to be anything different then a molt.

untilthen · 09-15-2008, 03:22 PM

lmao i did the exact same thing when i saw that... i about gave up cuz i thought all my crabs died

AndtheBonus · 09-15-2008, 03:46 PM

Ok well now we have another little problem... I just went to go look at the tank and there is a blue leg crap out of the shell, climbing on the rocks?! Whats that about? He is alive so idk... Any ideas?

SoccerBum474 · 09-15-2008, 03:50 PM

haha ive seen a couple of mine do this.....once he fines a new shell he'll pop right back in....if your worried bring him a shell that looks to be his size

AndtheBonus · 09-15-2008, 06:49 PM

Haha ok. I was just worried. I don't want anything dying on me if I can prevent it, ya know.

09-15-2008, 12:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 775 View Gallery Karma Komment	Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. I came back from class this morning and two of the blue leg crabs came out of their shell and died. I checked all parameters last night and everything was normal. Nitrite/Ammonia - 0 Nitrates - 5 Calcium - 440 Salinity - 1.026 Temp. 80.3 F What could be the cause of this? A snail also came out about 2 weeks ago but didn't think much of it. All the water is RO/DI btw. I also have a sand sifter star, a green chromis, and a new clown that was put in on Friday (pics will be coming soon!). All the advice would be greatly appreciated! __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

09-15-2008, 01:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. First thing I would do is get another set of water tests from a different set of test kits. Maybe take a sample to your LFS and let them run it. It's possible something that we can't test for is causing the problem. Anything "different" in the tank and home? New candles? new cleaning lady? Anytime I suspect ANYTHING as out of whack I drop a Carbon bag into the tank just in case. It may help pull something out of the water. This is just my "Band-Aide" until I can locate and resolve the issue long term. Allen __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

09-15-2008, 01:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. Oh Man! I didn't think of that could very well be that!! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

09-15-2008, 01:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigJay Golden Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,551 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. that would be my guess too a molt. Its easy to tell just pull out what looks like the dead crab and see if opens in the back. __________________ Reefing off and on since '92 BigJay's Oceanic 90g bowfront chronicle See my pyrex products and target feeders here

09-15-2008, 03:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 775 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. Haha I think the issue is solved. I think they were just molts! Lol I did not realize that they did that. Thanks for the help! I'll let you guys know if I suspect them to be anything different then a molt. __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

09-15-2008, 03:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
untilthen Scopas Tang Join Date: May 2008 Location: Canton, MICHIGAN Posts: 411 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. lmao i did the exact same thing when i saw that... i about gave up cuz i thought all my crabs died __________________ AHOY My 20 gallon loooong 10 gallon mantis tank

09-15-2008, 03:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 775 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. Ok well now we have another little problem... I just went to go look at the tank and there is a blue leg crap out of the shell, climbing on the rocks?! Whats that about? He is alive so idk... Any ideas? __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

09-15-2008, 03:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
SoccerBum474 Scopas Tang Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Luis Obispo, Ca Posts: 457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. haha ive seen a couple of mine do this.....once he fines a new shell he'll pop right back in....if your worried bring him a shell that looks to be his size __________________ Cole 12g rebuild: -70w 14k sunpod -Rio 600 return pump @ 200 GPH Fish 2 Tank-Raised True Perc's SPS Red/Orange Monti Cap, Green Monti Cap, Green Bottlebrush Acro, Purple Stag Acro, Green Smiler, GARF Bonsai Acro Valida, Purple Encrusing Monti, ORA Hawkins, ORA Red Planet, ORA Purple Plasma, True Leng Sy Cap, Blueish Poccilopora, Purple and Pink Birdsnest, Idaho Grape Cap LPS Green & White Aussie Acan Lord, Green Pagoda Cup, Frogspawn, Neon Green chalice, Neon Green Candy Cane Softies Blue Mushroom, Pink w/ green Spotted Mushroom, Wam'n Watermelon Zoas, Radioactive Dragon Eye Zoas, Pink Palys, Purple Zoas with Yellow skirts, Bam Bam Orange Zoas, Purple People Eater Palys, Orange People Eaters, Creamsicle Zoas, unknown Green Zoas, Camo Palys, Neon Red Mushroom, Greenish polyp toadstool. Inverts 2 Tiger Striped Serpent Starfish, Various Snails, Dwarf Hemits http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...llon-nano.html

09-15-2008, 06:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 775 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Blue Leg Crabs coming out of shell. Haha ok. I was just worried. I don't want anything dying on me if I can prevent it, ya know. __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

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