Hey guys. I have a question about something I have just recently observed on my 2 emerald crabs.
Background: My tank is a 30 gal w/ 20 gal sump/fuge, skimmer, timed PC lights, about 25-30lb live rock in the tank, cheato (sp?) algae in the fuge. I've had it up since November and all my water parameters are right on, except my calcium is sorta high (high 400's). I have about 25 or so little assorted critters for clean-up crew, including 2 emerald crabs. I have only one fish, a 6 line wrasse. Nothing else. The tank has just almost completely recovered from an fine hair algae bloom in the display that took some doing on the clean up crew's part, and my part as well. Only a few tufts remain. I am about ready to start adding some soft corals.
Just last week I began observing my crabs closely and I have noticed that they have a thin white buildup on their main carapace. Also there is some sort of tanish colored buildup in the hairs on their legs. But my biggest concern are these small, almost too small to see, bugs or something running all over their shells, legs, etc. The crabs dont seem to be bothered by them, but I am concerned they are parasitic. I cant really identify what they look like, except that they are sorta tan in color. They move really fast and they are barely detectable unless the crab is a few inches away from me.
Does anyone know what this is, and is there a way to get rid of it? thanks in advance for any help...
Background: My tank is a 30 gal w/ 20 gal sump/fuge, skimmer, timed PC lights, about 25-30lb live rock in the tank, cheato (sp?) algae in the fuge. I've had it up since November and all my water parameters are right on, except my calcium is sorta high (high 400's). I have about 25 or so little assorted critters for clean-up crew, including 2 emerald crabs. I have only one fish, a 6 line wrasse. Nothing else. The tank has just almost completely recovered from an fine hair algae bloom in the display that took some doing on the clean up crew's part, and my part as well. Only a few tufts remain. I am about ready to start adding some soft corals.
Just last week I began observing my crabs closely and I have noticed that they have a thin white buildup on their main carapace. Also there is some sort of tanish colored buildup in the hairs on their legs. But my biggest concern are these small, almost too small to see, bugs or something running all over their shells, legs, etc. The crabs dont seem to be bothered by them, but I am concerned they are parasitic. I cant really identify what they look like, except that they are sorta tan in color. They move really fast and they are barely detectable unless the crab is a few inches away from me.
Does anyone know what this is, and is there a way to get rid of it? thanks in advance for any help...
