Mutant Emerald Crab

[RAJOD]

OMG the size of this thing in just 2 months.

Jan 15th I put in 10 emerald crabs. The small jewel (blue spot) puffer picked off quite a few.

The puffer seemed to be the predator of the tank but now I think it could be payback time for him.

Out of the darkness came this huge mutant emerald crab. Its like the size of a fist. Huge claws, he now hunts the puffer that took down his comrades.

How did this thing morph from a cute tine crab the size of a dime into this giant crab in less than 8 weeks?

Will it stop growing? Do they eat fingers?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

We need pics of this beast!

 

[Nina51]

what adrienne said!!

 

[Mael]

I added 1 rose emerald to my tank and he has at minimum doubled in size in under two weeks, he has molted twice now. For me it is probably a combination of plenty of algae for him to eat and he is a fiend for the frozen food I spot feed, he actually grabs on to the end of the turkey baster when I am spot feeding. If you have a pig of a crab, they will grow fast.

 

[Betta132]

See, now you have a problem...
Crabs are opportunistic. Emeralds usually stick to algae, yes, but if they get big enough or hungry enough then fish are food.
I don't think it's going to get big enough to chop off a finger, that takes a lot of force, but he'd hurt if he got ahold of you! I suggest removing him CAREFULLY.
And yes, we need pics of this thing.

 

[RAJOD]

The beast has proven difficult to photograph. He hides in a small cave and seems to come out when its dark.

I mean you can Google a emerald crab, it looks the same only larger.

I'll try to get a photo if possible for you.

 

[Calappidae]

My lfs right now has a fist rize Ruby emerald crab.. they label it as a dec crab but if you ask me it's a ruby emerald. It wasn't even decorated either.

 

[RAJOD]

Funny I found three other Emeralds I put in at the same time and they are not much larger than at the start. Maybe size of a quarter or so.

This things a mutant for sure. A fellow that saw him nick named him Mandingo.

 

[Mael]

yah he could be the most agressive and therefor getting more food than the others which is why he grows so fast, same thing with my two peppermint shrimp, they were different sizes but now the bigger one is twice as big as the little guy.

 

[alb_56]

Out of the darkness came this huge mutant emerald crab. Its like the size of a fist. Huge claws, he now hunts the puffer that took down his comrades.

Lmao, Epic