What happened? Crab dead

jimeluiz · 12-18-2003, 10:38 PM

I came home tonight to discover our emerald crab out front by the glass and being picked apart by a hermit. He looks pretty dead.

What's up with that?

The tank looks great. Parameters measured Sunday were great, holding steady. The little guy was a hitchiker with the rock. When we first spotted him he was the size of a dime. Today he is/was the size of a half dollar. He seemed happy.

Drag. I thought they were hearty little creatures.

Any ideas?

SaltyQueen · 12-18-2003, 10:42 PM

could be just his time to go- I don't know how long Emerald crabs usually live, but if he was a hitch hiker, he could have been older than you thought.

LuckyInk · 12-18-2003, 11:00 PM

I had the same thing happen to one of my emeralds. I chalked it up to natural causes, since my parms were OK and he wasn't torn to shreds...
Sorry for your loss! Even tho' it was a mean 'ol crabbie!
-Lucky

Witfull · 12-18-2003, 11:20 PM

the Reef Godz smiled upon you! sorry for your loss but he may have reeked havoc in time. he sounded like a biggin' and they can become predatory when large, after all Crabs are Evil!. its disheartening but could be for the best.

Montanareefer · 12-19-2003, 03:14 AM

Sorry to hear of the lost. Are you sure it was the real deal or just the exo-skeleton from the crab molting? Just curious!

Gina · 12-19-2003, 06:43 AM

Ditto on what montanareefer posted. I found what I thought was a dead crab one morning and pulled it out with some forceps. Later, when I came home from work surprise! I saw both our crabs eating away as usual.

wooddood · 12-19-2003, 06:55 AM

ditto on the molting,if not sorry to hear that.

jimeluiz · 12-19-2003, 12:03 PM

I thought about the molting option too. But the bits of torn flesh being gobbled up by the red legged hermit tipped me off that he was dead and gone. (But we will still keep our eyes on the lookout!) I will miss his careful creeping around corners and plucking food from crevaces. But some of you may be right that it was a blessing in disguise. We have been pushing our luck watching him grow. I have feared more than once his potential to interrupt the life cycle of other inhabitants in the tank.

At least we got a chance to get a real up cloise look at his body. Freaky cool.

Thanks folks.

12-18-2003, 10:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	What happened? Crab dead I came home tonight to discover our emerald crab out front by the glass and being picked apart by a hermit. He looks pretty dead. What's up with that? The tank looks great. Parameters measured Sunday were great, holding steady. The little guy was a hitchiker with the rock. When we first spotted him he was the size of a dime. Today he is/was the size of a half dollar. He seemed happy. Drag. I thought they were hearty little creatures. Any ideas? __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

12-18-2003, 11:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
LuckyInk Reef Painter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 565 View Gallery Karma Komment	I had the same thing happen to one of my emeralds. I chalked it up to natural causes, since my parms were OK and he wasn't torn to shreds... Sorry for your loss! Even tho' it was a mean 'ol crabbie! -Lucky __________________ When you can feel the humidity pouring off the canvas and the salt spray on your face, my job is done.

12-19-2003, 06:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Ditto on what montanareefer posted. I found what I thought was a dead crab one morning and pulled it out with some forceps. Later, when I came home from work surprise! I saw both our crabs eating away as usual. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

12-19-2003, 06:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	ditto on the molting,if not sorry to hear that. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

12-19-2003, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	I thought about the molting option too. But the bits of torn flesh being gobbled up by the red legged hermit tipped me off that he was dead and gone. (But we will still keep our eyes on the lookout!) I will miss his careful creeping around corners and plucking food from crevaces. But some of you may be right that it was a blessing in disguise. We have been pushing our luck watching him grow. I have feared more than once his potential to interrupt the life cycle of other inhabitants in the tank. At least we got a chance to get a real up cloise look at his body. Freaky cool. Thanks folks. __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

12-18-2003, 10:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
SaltyQueen Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 400 View Gallery Karma Komment	could be just his time to go- I don't know how long Emerald crabs usually live, but if he was a hitch hiker, he could have been older than you thought.

12-19-2003, 03:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sorry to hear of the lost. Are you sure it was the real deal or just the exo-skeleton from the crab molting? Just curious!

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