Emerald Crab Autopsy

[calimatty]

We found our Emerald Crab dead this morning. He was covered with these white spots. Wonder if this is what killed him. Anyone know what this is?

 

[Reefing_addiction]

It’s not sand?
did you only notice it after he died? Are you sure it’s not a moly?

 

[calimatty]

No he always had a few and got more and more over time (3 months). I thought maybe he it was a sign of molting. What's a moly?

 

[Reefing_addiction]

No he always had a few and got more and more over time (3 months). I thought maybe he it was a sign of molting. What's a moly?

Should have said molt not moly lol

 

[calimatty]

haha. No sadly, he was in there.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Do they look like these

 

[calimatty]

maybe what is that?

 

[TriggerFinger]

They look like tiny shells from Spirorbid worms. They shouldn’t have been able to cover the shell that much before the crab molted. I wonder if they were blocking his shell from absorbing minerals needed to molt.

 

[calimatty]

I'll do some research. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Reefing_addiction]

maybe what is that?

Spirorbid worms