dragonbear

Hello,

Recently I just added an Emerald Crab to my 10 Gallon aquarium (2 hrs ago). At first he ran over to a rock and stood up against it. After about 45 minutes he ventured away from the rock behind a shell. When I checked on him again he was laying on his back so I flipped him back over. He was pretty tense and kept falling forward. He was still alive (his mouth was moving and his claws moved a little bit). About 15 minutes later he we tilted on his claws with his legs up in the air, his mouth was still moving.

Has anyone had this problem? or know what is going on?

Here are my levels:

pH 8.4
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
salinity 1.023
Temp 78

Currently there are 3 red legged hermits and 1 turbo snail in the tank.

Thanks

Angela_96

Actually with a SW reef the goal is to do so much water changes, and cleaning that you keep your nitrates that low on purpose. Above 10 is not good for reef tanks where you can get by w/ 20-40ppm with FW.

Did you alcimate the crab for 2 hours w/ a drip setup? The inverts are a lot more sensitvie than any other creature to put in a sw tank.

dragonbear

No I did not do the drip method. Instead I placed the bag in the aquarium for about 30 minutes then every 10 minutes added a cup of tank water. I added tank water for about 40 minutes then placed the crab in the tank.

The problem I have with the drip method is that the temperature is not warm enough. It seems to cool down a lot.

The tank had also cycled almost 2 months ago. So that is why the Nitrates are at 0.

Hypnox

Are you using any additives in the tank?

Hope the little guy makes it. I have one in my 20g and he is tons of fun to watch trundle about the tank picking stuff off the rocks.

dragonbear

No I didn't add any additives to the water.

Can too much stress cause him to freeze up like that? Hopefully he will be moving when i get home from work...

Angela_96

actually with the drip method for the amount of time it takes your fish/inverts really don't cool down. before starting the drip method you are supose to float the bag for 30 min to get the temp of the bag w/ the tank, and drip from the tank.

I think the crab is shocked from a short alclimation

dragonbear

Will he die from being shocked? or will he get use to the water and start acting normal again?

dragonbear

Has anyone seen these crabs Molt? Do they just stay in one place? and how long does the process usually take?

Hypnox

I haven't seen one molt but from what i've read they climb on their back to do it. Usually they will find someplace to hide when they do it and you won't see them for a bit after they molt while their new exoskeleton hardens.

Oil_Fan

I used to have emerald crabs in my tank. And their molt looks just like them but I have I have no idea on if they go onto their backs to do it.

That said, they are quite hardy. They can take large temperature changes. Can survive hurricane type of waves. They are quite amazing and can have personalities. Too bad mine wanted my polyps when I moved my tank from FOWLR to reef.

Angela_96

I have seen one crab molt and it done a back and forth dance on the bottom of the tank before it molted.

Matt

I Hope Your Emerald Crab Makes It

Do you have any photo's/videos


-Matt

dragonbear

I think mine died yesterday. Its been in the same position for over 24 hrs now and its now turning whiter.

Oil_Fan

I take it, it's not moving at all? Try nudging him and see if you get a reaction. If he's dead, you need to get him out of there to prevent an ammonia spike.