Arrow Crab fell apart

75reef · 09-26-2007, 08:10 AM

I had an arrow crab in my tank for about a week and then one day I came dwon and looked in the tank and I see the crab dead in the middle of the tank and all but two of his legs no longer attached andwere laying off to the side. I don't even have anything in my tank that could've done that.

I have: 1- cinnamon clown, 1- false percula clown, 1- royal gramma basslet, and 3- neon cleaner gobies. I also have about 7 or 8 small hermit crabs. All my water parameters are actually perfect right now. I am at a total loss as to how this happened. He was perfectly fine the night before. Anybody have any ideas?

Dentoid · 09-26-2007, 08:13 AM

Could he have molted? Shed his outer exoskeleton in favor of growth? They will hide after a molt due to their vulnerability. Keep an eye for him, he may just surprise you.

75reef · 09-26-2007, 08:32 AM

His whole complete body was there. It has actually been about a week now since that happened and I have not seen any signs of him. That is always a possibility, but I doubt it at this point just since the body itslef was complete without and splits in it or anything.

Dentoid · 09-26-2007, 08:34 AM

Did you dissect it? Just kidding!

Sorry about that.

Inverts are very sensitive to sudden changes in water parameters. Could there have been some event or maintenance procedure that caused a sudden change?

75reef · 09-26-2007, 09:08 AM

Not that I am aware of. It's really just kindof plain odd. The othet thing is, I would think if it was anything like that, that he would've just died and not fell apart as well. I will definitely keep an eye out for him just incase he does come out and suprise me!

ScubaDrew · 09-26-2007, 09:50 AM

Check out my chronical for pics of a complete shell of a crab that I opened up to find... empty!

You would not believe the size of the hole hey slide out of.

BigAl07 · 09-26-2007, 09:57 AM

Yeah it's kind of shocking to see an EXACT replica of them and in tact. I did take one out and look it over... just a tiny slit that he slid out of. When they molt they are so soft since the shell IS their bone type structure so they are VERY malleable until the new one hardens. Also at this time they are so vulnerable to others in the tank (even critters that normally would be EATEN but them) that they do hide for a couple of days. I lost a Fire Cleaner Shrimp recently due to this. He had just molted and was hanging from his cave when my much smaller purple lobster took advantage of the situation and made a meal out of a much larger critter.

Hopefully you'll see him again soon.

Allen

AQTCJAK · 09-26-2007, 10:59 AM

YOUr Royal Gramma could have done it htey can be farely aggressive twards crabs

75reef · 09-26-2007, 11:43 AM

never thought of that little guy doing it... but if they are aggressive towards crabs, that could very well be it.

09-26-2007, 08:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
75reef Bryozoan Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: eastern PA Posts: 54 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Arrow Crab fell apart I had an arrow crab in my tank for about a week and then one day I came dwon and looked in the tank and I see the crab dead in the middle of the tank and all but two of his legs no longer attached andwere laying off to the side. I don't even have anything in my tank that could've done that. I have: 1- cinnamon clown, 1- false percula clown, 1- royal gramma basslet, and 3- neon cleaner gobies. I also have about 7 or 8 small hermit crabs. All my water parameters are actually perfect right now. I am at a total loss as to how this happened. He was perfectly fine the night before. Anybody have any ideas? __________________ 75 Gal. All-Glass, 90 lbs. live rock, Mega Flow sump, CPR overflow, Outer Orbit 150Wx2 MH / 130Wx2 dual actinic, AquaC EV-90 skimmer.

09-26-2007, 08:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,587 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart Could he have molted? Shed his outer exoskeleton in favor of growth? They will hide after a molt due to their vulnerability. Keep an eye for him, he may just surprise you. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

09-26-2007, 08:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
75reef Bryozoan Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: eastern PA Posts: 54 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart His whole complete body was there. It has actually been about a week now since that happened and I have not seen any signs of him. That is always a possibility, but I doubt it at this point just since the body itslef was complete without and splits in it or anything. __________________ 75 Gal. All-Glass, 90 lbs. live rock, Mega Flow sump, CPR overflow, Outer Orbit 150Wx2 MH / 130Wx2 dual actinic, AquaC EV-90 skimmer.

09-26-2007, 08:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,587 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart Did you dissect it? Just kidding! Sorry about that. Inverts are very sensitive to sudden changes in water parameters. Could there have been some event or maintenance procedure that caused a sudden change? __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

09-26-2007, 09:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
75reef Bryozoan Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: eastern PA Posts: 54 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart Not that I am aware of. It's really just kindof plain odd. The othet thing is, I would think if it was anything like that, that he would've just died and not fell apart as well. I will definitely keep an eye out for him just incase he does come out and suprise me! __________________ 75 Gal. All-Glass, 90 lbs. live rock, Mega Flow sump, CPR overflow, Outer Orbit 150Wx2 MH / 130Wx2 dual actinic, AquaC EV-90 skimmer.

09-26-2007, 09:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
ScubaDrew Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 991 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart Check out my chronical for pics of a complete shell of a crab that I opened up to find... empty! You would not believe the size of the hole hey slide out of. __________________ www.NorthEastCoral.com My coral and supply website! STT2VT - Chronical

09-26-2007, 09:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 8,844 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart Yeah it's kind of shocking to see an EXACT replica of them and in tact. I did take one out and look it over... just a tiny slit that he slid out of. When they molt they are so soft since the shell IS their bone type structure so they are VERY malleable until the new one hardens. Also at this time they are so vulnerable to others in the tank (even critters that normally would be EATEN but them) that they do hide for a couple of days. I lost a Fire Cleaner Shrimp recently due to this. He had just molted and was hanging from his cave when my much smaller purple lobster took advantage of the situation and made a meal out of a much larger critter. Hopefully you'll see him again soon. Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

09-26-2007, 10:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,235 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart YOUr Royal Gramma could have done it htey can be farely aggressive twards crabs __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

09-26-2007, 11:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
75reef Bryozoan Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: eastern PA Posts: 54 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Arrow Crab fell apart never thought of that little guy doing it... but if they are aggressive towards crabs, that could very well be it. __________________ 75 Gal. All-Glass, 90 lbs. live rock, Mega Flow sump, CPR overflow, Outer Orbit 150Wx2 MH / 130Wx2 dual actinic, AquaC EV-90 skimmer.

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