emerald carb kicked the bucket

[jstdv8]

Any idea what I might test for that may have killed my emerald crab.
my ammonia is 0 and my nitrates are at 5
my fish are all very docile and he was the largest invert in the tank.
The only thing I can imagine that might have been able to take him down would ahve been a large bristleworm I ahve in the tank, but i doubt that is the case.
Since I've had him he has lost alot of his dark green color and become more whitish green, which tells me he was sick or not getting soemthing he needs from the food.
I ahve several other smaller hermits and snails. This is the first thing I've had die in my DT since the first week I had my tank (8 months) so i'm a little concerned.
I feed A fair amount so i know that there was plenty to eat, and there is hair algae in the tank, so I don't think he starved.
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[meowzer]

Are you sure he didn't just molt?????????

 

[jstdv8]

well, no, I havn't removed it yet, but it certainly looks like a whole crab.
what would the molt look like? I mean wouldnt he be completely

[hr]
without the hard stuff.
Ive seen my shrimp molt several times, but i just thought crabs grew LOL.
well, lets hope he pops up in a few days

 

[jstdv8]

on second thought that's probably exactly what happend. Ive seen my neightbors sally light foot molts and they look just like the creature. I'll pull it out today when i get home and look for eyeballs or soemthing.

 

[meowzer]

Mine always looks like a whold crab....but a little more transparent....I never take the molts out though....the other stuff eats it

 

[scottnlisa]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3290231
Mine always looks like a whold crab....but a little more transparent....I never take the molts out though....the other stuff eats it
Seriously. You leave the molts in the tank. I take my molts from my crabs and shrimp out as soon as I see them

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by scottnlisa
http:///forum/post/3290337
Seriously. You leave the molts in the tank. I take my molts from my crabs and shrimp out as soon as I see them
YUP...I have never removed one.....that's what our tank scavengers are for (I hope) LOL

 

[jstdv8]

I've never taken any of my shrimp molts out.
This thing sure looked like a whole crab. I'm hoping you're right meo.
Will know more in about an hour.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by Jstdv8
http:///forum/post/3290341
I've never taken any of my shrimp molts out.
This thing sure looked like a whole crab. I'm hoping you're right meo.
Will know more in about an hour.
I hope so too

 

[jstdv8]

well, I got home, ulled it out adn I can't tell. the shell does look hallow from what I can see, but it also appears to have eyes. I'm assuming they don't shed their eyes.
I don't want to take it apart because if it is just a shell I want to dry it out and keep it. I'll glue it to a lirrle plug or something and use it as decoration in my fish room.

 

[meowzer]

LOL.....the molt generally looks just like the real thing only semi-transparent...
I am betting in the next day or two you will see the crab again

 

[mrdc]

Ahhh ...good old molts....I remember when I first got into the this hobby and saw what I thought were dead shrimp. I was like WTF? Now over the years, it seems when my crabs and shrimp die, they just dissapear.