Did my pistol shrimp eat my emerald crab?

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Two weeks ago, my emerald crab molted. Since then, I haven’t seen him, and he hasn’t eaten any bubble algae. I doubt he could escape, and I have few predators in my tank, so the tiger pistol shrimp/yellow watchman goby are the only thing I can think of that would kill him.

 

[blaxsun]

They will usually hide in the rocks for a few days after a molt.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

i understand they hide for a few days... but could one really hide for a full 2 weeks?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Not a chance your pistol ate him. I don't see mine very often.

 

[stoney7713]

i understand they hide for a few days... but could one really hide for a full 2 weeks?

I thought mine died or got ate, then 3 months later there he is.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Well, hopefully he's still alive, but if he is, he needs to eat some more bubble algae because I've been seeing too much of that stuff lately.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Not a chance your pistol ate him. I don't see mine very often.

I thought it was unlikely, but I've heard horror stories, so I thought I'd ask.

 

[blaxsun]

Well, hopefully he's still alive, but if he is, he needs to eat some more bubble algae because I've been seeing too much of that stuff lately.

Emerald crabs are notorious for being food "snobs", ie: they start out eating problem algae then get used to tastier alternatives and stop being as useful.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I thought it was unlikely, but I've heard horror stories, so I thought I'd ask.

Pistols snap is wildly over rated. Mine pinched me once. It sorta hurt. Even snails just close up for a minute when he does it to them. He will even stack their shells like they've died. I'll look in at the area a few hours later and the snail was on glass going about his business.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Emerald crabs are notorious for being food "snobs", ie: they start out eating problem algae then get used to tastier alternatives and stop being as useful.

A combination of phosphate issues and a picky goby have led me to feed less cheap flakes and more quality pellets/frozen shrimp, so that may have made him switch off algae.

 

[blaxsun]

A combination of phosphate issues and a picky goby have led me to feed less cheap flakes and more quality pellets/frozen shrimp, so that may have made him switch off algae.

That certainly could. Urchins, ring cowries and spiny astrea snails are great for rock duty.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

That certainly could. Urchins, ring cowries and spiny astrea snails are great for rock duty.

Would a tuxedo urchin eat bubble algae? Or what urchin would fit best in a 20 gallon that eats bubble algae?

 

[blaxsun]

Would a tuxedo urchin eat bubble algae? Or what urchin would fit best in a 20 gallon that eats bubble algae?

Yes. The smallest one you can find.