crab questions

[jcarroll]

Hi guys. Twice now I've found what looks like a claw. It's from my scarlet hermits. I was wondering, are they dying? Or are they molting? Also, it's been about 4 days since I last saw one of my emeralds. Do you think it's dead somewhere? Or is it not unusual for them to hide out like that? Is it something that if it is dead that my cleanup crew will take care of it? Or do I need to god forbid tear apart my rock formation until I find him and remove him?

 

[fishieness]

as far as the emerald... do water changes, if your amonia/nitrate/nitrites are high, then h;e may very well be dead.

 

[joker_ca]

is your tank a new tank? also how did you acclimate your emerald and hermits, did you add them at the sametime? and post what your water parameters are so that we can get an idea of what happened

 

[jcarroll]

then what? do I need to tear things apart to try and find him? Or leave it up to the cleanup crew?

 

[jcarroll]

I will do another test today, but
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
nitrate15
pH 8.0
Tank is new, only about 6 weeks old (after cycle completed)
Acclimated by drip method.
Nothing has died so far
added 10 hermits and 2 emerald at once about a month ago

 

[jcarroll]

I've looked for the other emerald probably atleast 20 times, and I don't see him anywhere. Would he have been eaten if he died? I'll look at responses in an hour or so, taking the kids to the park

 

[joker_ca]

if you acclimated them right i would have to say they might have died from stess from shipping, because your water parameters look good
but dont take your tank apart, just move one from here

 

[drew2005]

Them emeralds love to hide. Hes probably around somewhere. One day hell pop up. He could be molting somewhere. I wouldnt rule him dead yet. Give it another day or 2 and see if he comes out of hiding.

 

[joker_ca]

my girl friend says if they die in your tank and you dont see them, then they are a weekend feeder
thats kind of true(sad to say)because if they die your clean up crew will make short work of them

 

[jcarroll]

well, just tested the water again and
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
pH 8.0
Hopefully you guys are right and he's just being a little anti social for a few days! Hey, what about the "claw" looking things I keep pulling out of my tank. It's always in the same corner. Are the hermits just molting?

 

[jcarroll]

well...speak of the devil....the emerald emerges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 :jumping: :cheer: :happy:

 

[joker_ca]

good thing you didnt take your whole tank apart

 

[jcarroll]

no kidding!!!!!!!!! He's out eating like a pig now

 

[jcarroll]

he had to have molted because he's a vibrant green now, the other one looks just about ready to now, it's getting pretty white.