Emerals Crabs

[Mr_Cool]

Ok. I got a couple of emerald crabs a few months ago. They were doing great. Always picking at the rocks and eating whatever it is they eat. About a month ago, I found one just lying in the sand. It was dead, so I took it out and flushed it. Then I realized the it had probably just molted. I looked around for days (even at night with a flashlight) but could only find one at a time. I havn't seen them both at the same time since I flushed it. So, I figured it really did die. I guess I should have taken a closer look at it before flushing. Anyway, I thought I was down to just one.

Then, last week I found the other one. Same situation. Flushed him, too. I did look more closely this time, and it really did look like it was a dead crab (not just an old exoskeleton). But tonight, I saw one picking at the rocks again, just as always. I know I only bought 2 of them. So one of the things I flush HAD to be an exoskelton. Here's my question.

How often will emerald crabs molt? And, when they do, is it easy to tell that it's not a dead crab? When my coral banded shrimp molts, it's pretty easy to tell. Of course, he's not as good at hiding as the emerald crabs. Any thoughts? I was just amazed tonight when I saw the one still in there. What are the chances that both crabs are still in there?

[cbianco]

Emeralds are notorious when it comes to hid and seek. Many times they can fit into places that you wouldn't expect them too.

I had a emerald for about six months and I never noticed him molting. Thats not to say that he didn't molt of course. Normally crabs hide when they molt. They do this because their exoskeleton (sp?) is soft and they are essentially protecting themself from predators.

The great thing about marine aquariums is the diversity. Sometimes you don't know what is really going on until "it" (whatever that may be) happens. :)

Good luck!

Christopher

[Ram_Puppy]

that just reminded me of a time when I was starting out, I bought an emerald crab and no sooner did I put him in the tank did he go and hide, I didn't see him for 3 or 4 days so one night I got a red flash light and put my face right up against the glass and started hunting for him... about 20 seconds into my search he ran out of his little hiding spot right up to the glass and smacked into it! (maybe he COULD see the light?) freaked me out, I jumped back and landed on my *** and the wife spent 20 minutes laughing at me.

[gjuarez]

Thats a funny story.

[v2k]

What great stories on this thread!

I have an emerald crab which blankets itself underneath an elephant ear ushroom, you will see this little lump lumping its way to the edge of the mushroom and the out come little claws and it just sits there and eats...:-)

I have a bare bottom tank too, not out of any conviction, I was told to do it by the fellow who sold me the first filter...but I like it because I learn so much from easily seeing how much detritus is produced, where the "dead spots" are for current, and PLUS i can look up from the bottom of the tank and locate shy fish or shrimp in their hiding spots If I am worried about them.

[ansonluna]

mr_cool, the emerald crabs exoskeletons look exactly like a live crab, only not moving (unless there is some flow hitting it). you probably still have both of them. i wouldn't worry about it.

[Mr_Cool]

Cool! The one I saw last night was a lot bigger than I remember, too.

Is is okay if I they molt and I don't find the exoskeleton? That is, will it cause problems with the water chemistry?

[Thunderkat]

I have 4 emerald crabs and I don't care about them at all. I just monitor their cleaning work and should they ever slack they will be disciplined. :lol They are good crabs, they don't cause problems and do a good job cleaning. I don't think I have ever seen empty shells from molting though, they are molting because every now and then I see new shells on them.

[C.Mydas]

I love them! They are the only thing hardy enough for me to force Brian to catch me one so I can pet them.... :innocent I will point out that he thinks Im crazy and I get 'the you crazy woman look' every time I start frantically yelling for him to catch one...lol

[CD]

How often will emerald crabs molt?


Crabs will molt as they grow. If your little fellas are getting a lot of food, they will molt more often. If they are having to really work for their chow, they will grow more slowly and molt less. I always leave the molt in the tank (whether it be from crabs or cleaner shrimp, etc.) as the molt is chock full of protein and the fish and other scavengers in your tank will eat the molt. It won't harm your water quality.
We don't currently keep emeralds in our reef tank, but when we had a FOWLR tank, I used to drop shrimp pellets in the tank at night for the emeralds to chow down on...they seem to prefer hunting at night (LOL especially when there are big fish in the tank that want to eat them).

W. :)

[Mr_Cool]

Thanks Wendy! You've made my day. Boy it's a pain to get those molts out of there, especially when they behind the rockwork.