I keep killing emerald crabs!

[Erink]

Is there a secret to keeping then alive? Ive had 5 over the past year and all have died within a month. Nothing else does, I have lots of inverts. The tank this last one was in had no predators and I fed him well. He also had lots of bubble algae to eat. I have an anemone, 2 mushroom corals and 2 clown fish...all are fine. What am I doing wrong???

 

[Sharkbait19]

Did you find their bodies? It’s possible they were molts, the shed exoskeleton looks exactly like a dead emerald crab.

 

[Billldg]

I agree with above in the fact that they may not be seen, but, may not be dead. I have a Ruby Mithrax crab and a Emerald Mithrax crab. I surely thought the Emerald was dead as I have not seen it in a few months and seen the Ruby a dozen times. WELL, one day I saw the Emerald and have seen it a few times since. They do hide VERY well.

Also, what are you tank parameters at?

The best time to look for them is at midnight with a blue light.

 

[Erink]

Thank you...I'll keep an eye out. This looked dead, it was completely together and looked a bit meaty. The other ones I had are definitely dead...its been a LONG time since I've seen them.
Water parameters are ideal.
I got him to eat all my bubble algae. I'm worried if I get another I'll kill it too! Is there anything else I can get to eat it?

 

[blaxsun]

In my experience I've found that more often than not, the things you buy to deal with a specific type of algae usually end up finding something tastier.

 

[Pistondog]

How big is the tank. Does he have enough to eat?

 

[Double monti 61]

Just proves the fact that emerald crabs do not exist on bubble algae alone and if they keep dying and you have other invertebrates that live why do you keep adding them to your system?

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

I’ve killed three..but that because they nibbled on my torches and the p’ed me off

 

[Double monti 61]

Wow !

 

[Impala67]

I know that they are very sensitive to saltlinity swings and that is probably the most contributing factor for there deaths watch the salt content day by day there sensitive to even a 3 to 4 point change from my experience

 

[Impala67]

I’ve killed three..but that because they nibbled on my torches and the p’ed me off

I had the exact same issue lol

 

[Sharkbait19]

I know that they are very sensitive to saltlinity swings and that is probably the most contributing factor for there deaths watch the salt content day by day there sensitive to even a 3 to 4 point change from my experience

Hmm interesting. I lost mine and couldn’t figure out the cause. Best I could tell it couldn’t molt and died that way (coralline growing on the shell). Maybe that did him in.

In my experience I've found that more often than not, the things you buy to deal with a specific type of algae usually end up finding something tastier.

Very true. Mine did a number on bubble algae and other algaes. He also was a big fan of snails, clove polyps (and other coral), and my brittle star.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Is there a secret to keeping then alive? Ive had 5 over the past year and all have died within a month. Nothing else does, I have lots of inverts. The tank this last one was in had no predators and I fed him well. He also had lots of bubble algae to eat. I have an anemone, 2 mushroom corals and 2 clown fish...all are fine. What am I doing wrong???

are you sure your params are stable? did you acclimate them properly? Could anything in there be eating them? did you use any copper in your tank? if you used tap water(even dechlorinated) it could have harmful chemicals

 

[Impala67]

are you sure your params are stable? did you acclimate them properly? Could anything in there be eating them? did you use any copper in your tank? if you used tap water(even dechlorinated) it could have harmful chemicals

Or even well water that’s just as bad!!!!!

 

[SlugSnorter]

Or even well water that’s just as bad!!!!!

Doesn't that count as tap water? in any case its worse