How fast do Mithrax Crabs grow?

[DracoKat]

I am trying to wrap my head around this one.

Last night I saw a rather large Red Mithrax Crab in my tank. I thought it was my oldest emerald (approx 3 years old) that changed colors from green to red within a week, and had a growth spurt. It was a shock to me to see my emerald crawling around with no change not far from the red crab tonight.

I added 2 green emeralds about a month ago, not even. They were tiny, size of a nickle. I saw one last night and it was still tiny. I can't imagine one of them growing this fast, I mean, red mithrax is HUGE.

I am trying to make sense of this! If I happen to see two tiny emeralds, then I'll be sure it's a hitch hiker.. but want to know how fast they grow?

Is it possible for it to grow so fast when one is still tiny? Do they start off as green and turn red?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I don't think they'd grow that fast. I've had emeralds before, and they never grew super fast like you're talking about (or changed color for that matter). I'm absolutely certain this would be a hitchhiker.

 

[DracoKat]

I am wondering how I had missed this hitch hiker? I haven't gotten anything big enough for it to hide in (all small frags) and dipped every thing that came in. If it was a hitch hiker, it'd have to be in the tank for many months.

It's a total mystery to me!