Dead Crabs

[matthrushford]

i checked my tank yesterday. My emerald crab was dead. The shrimp were picking at him. I was curious on why he died. I did a water test. everything is perfect. The next day my fiddler crap died. I did a 10 percent water change and tested the water again before i did the change. Everything was perfect. I called the local aquarium store. They told me maybe because they were not getting enough food.
There really was not alot of algae.
i have 5 hermit crabs
4 snails
1 turbo snail
scooter blenny
2 perc clowns
1 choch star
2 camel shrimp
3 peppermint shrimp
maybe not enough food. any thoughts?

 

[cooqie]

maybe its a molt and its just a dead crab why would u change the water?

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by MATTHRUSHFORD
i checked my tank yesterday. My emerald crab was dead. The shrimp were picking at him. I was curious on why he died. I did a water test. everything is perfect. The next day my fiddler crap died. I did a 10 percent water change and tested the water again before i did the change. Everything was perfect. I called the local aquarium store. They told me maybe because they were not getting enough food.
There really was not alot of algae.
i have 5 hermit crabs
4 snails
1 turbo snail
scooter blenny
2 perc clowns
1 choch star
2 camel shrimp
3 peppermint shrimp
maybe not enough food. any thoughts?
How did you acclimate them? How long have they been in the tank? What is your idea of "perfect water" I know you say perfect but can you post your tank setup and water readings, this will help alot.

 

[ophiura]

I agree, please post your parameters. What is "perfect" for fish can be fatal for inverts. True fiddler crabs do not live submerged in the water.
How old is your tank? What do you feed? I am assuming you know that your seastar is not compatible with your snails and many other inverts.

 

[matthrushford]

they have been in the tank almost a month. i did the drip method. What do you mean seastar is not compatible w/ crabs/snails? by water being perfect i have the test strips where you dip them and all the readings are where they are suppose to be.

 

[saltymac]

I think he means that your chocolate star fish is not compatable with the rest of your inverts........could be a snack..........he is the local expert, I do know they are not reef safe. Good luck.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by MATTHRUSHFORD
they have been in the tank almost a month. i did the drip method. What do you mean seastar is not compatible w/ crabs/snails? by water being perfect i have the test strips where you dip them and all the readings are where they are suppose to be.

Test strips are often inaccurate, and show parameters that may be fine for fish.
PLEASE post your SPECIFIC tank parameters, or we will be unable to help. In particular, please post your specific gravity, which is not measured by test strips, and is a critical parameter where what is "perfect" for fish is fatal for crabs. Anything below 1.024 would be, IMO, fatal for crabs.
Your starfish is likely to eat the snails, and many other slow inverts.