The other day I bought a goby paired with a pistol shrimp. At the same time I also bought a tiny emerald crab. Anyway everyone seemed to be doing fine in the tank that was until this morning I noticed one of the pistol shrimp’s claws in the sand. I read online that they tend to molt their shells when stressed so I just figured maybe that’s what happened. However upon further investigation I found the pistol shrimp dead in his burrow with both claws removed. I was a bit puzzled as to who in the tank could have done this because the only other things in there that possibly could be capable would be my cleaner shrimp but I ruled him out right away because he doesn’t really have any claws. I thought maybe the emerald crab but he’s so tiny. That was until I saw my cleaner shrimp swim past the emerald crab and the crab reached out and tried to grab him in his little claws. So now I’m almost certain the emerald crab killed the pistol shrimp.
so I’m wondering is this normal behaviour for an emerald crab? The guy at the fish store didn’t say anything to me about this maybe happening. Maybe I’m not feeding him enough so he’s turning to other animals in the tank. Or maybe I just got a psychotic crab and I should get rid of it before it harms other animals in my tank. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.
so I’m wondering is this normal behaviour for an emerald crab? The guy at the fish store didn’t say anything to me about this maybe happening. Maybe I’m not feeding him enough so he’s turning to other animals in the tank. Or maybe I just got a psychotic crab and I should get rid of it before it harms other animals in my tank. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.