Emerald crabs died?

[Adam113]

I've had my emeralds for about 8 months. Pretty much since my tank has been up. A few days ago my big emerald crab died. Found him on top of my zoas. Figured he was just old has he was a big boy. Well, I just found my smaller emerald crab dead today on the sand bed.

What should I look for?? Everything else in tank is doing well, including shrimp and other inverts. Levels are all same as always and steady. Could they both be old? Seems like the probability of it being days apart is slim.

 

[Mikedawg]

I've had my emeralds for about 8 months. Pretty much since my tank has been up. A few days ago my big emerald crab died. Found him on top of my zoas. Figured he was just old has he was a big boy. Well, I just found my smaller emerald crab dead today on the sand bed.

What should I look for?? Everything else in tank is doing well, including shrimp and other inverts. Levels are all same as always and steady. Could they both be old? Seems like the probability of it being days apart is slim.

Given that your tank is stable, one think I'd do is evaluate the amount of food available to them, especially algae. Did you do any supplemental feeding such as Nori? I think we sometimes just assume CUC members get enough of the right food.

 

[Adam113]

Given that your tank is stable, one think I'd do is evaluate the amount of food available to them, especially algae. Did you do any supplemental feeding such as Nori? I think we sometimes just assume CUC members get enough of the right food.

I would put a piece of nori in once a day, maybe skip a couple times. The fish would also attack it though. I also toss in some sinking pellets for my sand dwellers... the tank is pretty much algae free though besides corraline.

 

[easternreefer]

are absolutely positive it wasn't a molt?

 

[Adam113]

are absolutely positive it wasn't a molt?

Yup. The one the other day had some weight to it. I never have found an emerald molt either in the 8 months I had them either.

 

[Adam113]

Nitrates are around 40 or so if that matters... been stable there for months though and everyone else has been doing great.

 

[Mikedawg]

Nitrates are around 40 or so if that matters... been stable there for months though and everyone else has been doing great.

Looking at what other reefers have posted on various sites, there seem to be different opinions as to what the effect of high (40) nitrates is; it's always been my general understanding that crabs are sensitive to nitrate levels, as well as temperature and salinity. At the same time, I've kept emeralds in 20-30 water with no ill effects.

 

[Adam113]

Just did a pretty decent (5 gallon) water change and put some carbon in the back just in case there are some nasties that aren't showing up in the tests I've run. Everyone else is as normal... A bit odd.