Emerald crabs tore up anemone, but still can’t tell if it’s dead.

[Richard K]

I recently bought a rock anemone and saw it being picked at by emerald crabs a bit before. I thought they weren’t doing much and it was shocking them whenever they got close but turns out they kept ripping it and that’s why I never saw it open after it was in my tank for 2 or 3 days. Is my anemone dead?

 

[Richard K]

I have now put it in a makeshift basket to make sure crabs can’t get at it, is this good?

 

[Richard K]

It is dead, removing my emeralds.

 

[Katrina71]

I don't think it's dead. I think they were robbing it of food, but rfa are pretty tough

 

[jabberwock]

I don't think it's dead. I think they were robbing it of food, but rfa are pretty tough

Agree, give it a chance. Ditch the crab. If it's got claws, it breaks laws. Except for porcelain crabs.

Porcelain crabs are cool.

 

[Katrina71]

Agree 100% with above. Crabs are opportunistic.

 

[formallydehyde]

Do you feed the emerald crabs? If not maybe they were just hungry. Mine likes Hikari Crab Cuisine pellets, which are convenient because they sink and are about the perfect size/shape for emerald crab claws.

 

[AquaLogic]

Never had an issue with my emerald crab, but I'm sure they can have different temperaments. Are you grabs getting enough to eat?

 

[Richard K]

I think they weren't getting enough to eat but either way, the anemone died that same night, so i returned the crabs to my LFS and got 2 more rock flowers, hopefully they don't die. I know because its insides became its outsides, and that happened to the last anemone that i had that died.

 

[ReefingDreams]

I think they weren't getting enough to eat but either way, the anemone died that same night, so i returned the crabs to my LFS and got 2 more rock flowers, hopefully they don't die. I know because its insides became its outsides, and that happened to the last anemone that i had that died.

That doesn't necessarily mean it was dead. It will basically start dissolving and turn into goo when it dies.

 

[MoshJosh]

Looked fairly far from dead in the photos you posted, unhappy sure, but not dead. As said above, RFA are pretty tough I imagine that even if the crab took a few bites it would be just fine.

 

[ReefStable]

Did it melt after the photos you posted?
In the photos, like others have said, it looked upset, but not dead.

 

[Katrina71]

Nems are hardier than ya think

 

[Richard K]

Yeah it looked like it melted, it looked way worse than the last picture I posted.

 

[Richard K]

Agree, give it a chance. Ditch the crab. If it's got claws, it breaks laws. Except for porcelain crabs.

Porcelain crabs are cool.

Now have gotten another rock flower, doing good so far and am in fact considering getting a porcelain crab to host my RFA now, thanks for the idea.

 

[TX_REEF]

Emerald crabs are the devil. I caught mine snacking on healthy micromussa. They live in the fuge now.