Emerald Crab

[Redhdfishgirl]

I posted a few days ago on my local about my crab hanging out in the new birds nest coral and today he is pulling another one on me. Well, today it (or one of the other two) has either died or molted. Do they leave their entire outer portion when they molt? I've read that they are heavy shedders, but this looks like a dead crab to me. All I got was this cell phone picture, should I take it out and feel the shell when I get home? We just did our first water change two days ago, our salinity was a little high and our nitrates were at 10. We took out 10 gallons and replaced it with 7 gallons of SW and 3 gallons of distilled. We got our water from one of the SW stores. We need to get our own equipment to test the water, our swing hydrometer said the salinity was fine-but the pet store said no. I know that using a refractometer(sp?) is more accurate, but it was .005 difference! Thanks!
Also, anyone have any good reef book recommendations? I feel like I ask a lot of dumb questions!

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

It's more than likely his molt. Pull it out and dissect it... well I think (having never seen one molt) they back out of their shell so by prying open the back of it, it should open up revealing an empty carcass.

 

[cloak]

Take it out a give it a good whiff. You'll know if it's a dead crab or a molt. Here's an article reguarding the books.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/tips/index.php

 

[terrinstevereef]

Got two books I would recommend.

Reef Secrets

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist

Amazon carries both books. They seem to be pretty good reading material.

 

[Redhdfishgirl]

Sadly, our emerald crab somehow died during his molting process. I wish I knew what would have happened during the molting process. Thanks for the book suggestions, we don't have either of those two. Thanks!

 

[mortis13]

i understand iodine helps little critters to shed

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

^^That's for sure. Just make sure your testing what your dosing too much iodine can be harmful to a tank.

 

[Mopar Reefer]

If you use a good quality salt then you shouldn't need to supplement iodine. With that said, if you do supp iodine be careful as it can be fatal in even small anounts, as was said by Sisterlimonpot.

 

[Xolsiion]

I know shrimp will frequently eat their molts and it doesn't hurt anything to leave it in.

Not sure if crabs do, but i wonder if you have to take it out or if he'll eat it to supplement some of his calcium/iodine...after you figure out if its a molt or not

 

[Redhdfishgirl]

Our cleaner shrimp just molted too! All I can see is her antenas from behind her favorite rock. Her molt is left out on one of the big rocks. I guess this is good, our guys are getting enough food?!? I think she is pregnant too or whatever they do, she has a bunch of eggs in her abdomen area. We were supplementing half the recommended amount of iodine every few days. We used coralife salt-so I think we have quality salt. Anything else we need to do? Thanks! We are going to keep her molt in the tank if they will eat it.

 

[IslandCrow]

i understand iodine helps little critters to shed

There has never been any direct evidence to support this claim. Supplementing iodine for this purpose is probably not the best idea.

 

[mortis13]

though live aquaria believe it does, your call.

 

[IslandCrow]

though live aquaria believe it does, your call.

I certainly understand the prevalence of the theory that iodine assists or encourages the molting process. I'm a huge fan of Live Aquaria, but they're not necessarily any better versed in marine life biology or physiology than you or I. In this case, I'd say the information they're giving is debatable. There are many instances with online dealers (Live Aquaria included) where the information they supply is just plain wrong, so you have to be careful.

 

[loosecannon]

Red iodin does make shimmp molt . To much will make them molt to much and that will kill them. Test 1# add then test again. If you don`t test , don`t add!