Help Anemone attacked by Crab??

[jemc]

Do Emerald Crabs attack or try and kill Red Rose Tip Anemones? This morning I see that the Anemone is not attached to gravel or rock and looks like it has been cut open from about the bottom or side of its foot and you can see throught the anemone the opening is about 1 inch wide and white stuff is showing from it.
I seriously think it is going to die and I need to remove it from the tank.

 

[hlcroghan]

I suppose it's possible but I am going to say it's probably something else. Most anemones will not make it with a torn column unfortunately. What other livestock do you have in your tank? If it looks like it is starting to melt or anything like that then you know that it is dying. Try getting it some place where it won't get blown around a lot and see if it can reattatch itself.

 

[meowzer]

If you have one of those suction cup "soap" holders, you can attach that to the side of the tank, put the anemone in that so you can keep a closer eye on it...ALSO this way it will not be able to roll under a cave where you can't see it, or reach it

 

[jemc]

Thank you both. I have a purple tang, 2 clowns, PJ cardinal, red legged hermit crab and 2 crabs. I think when I fed the Anemone last night that the crab decided that it wanted the food and when the Anemone closed up the crab attacked to get at the food. I separated the Anemone in to one of those plastic side holding boxes so that if it died it wouldn't ruin the water. Basically the Anemone it looks like a donut and is dead.
I hate losing living creatures like the Anemone but want to toss the crab on the floor and step on it but I won't do that!

 

[oceansidefish]

that actually sounds pretty out of the ordinary to me....you have one of those one in a millions...

 

[alabama reefer]

Unless you actually witnessed it, I can't believe the emerald caused that damage. It was probably attempting to clean up some of the mess. It sounds like your anemone was trying to split or possilbly could of had a foot hold between two rocks and they shifted. If it was attacked by something I would put my money on something besides the emerald crab.

 

[hlcroghan]

Agreed. The rocks shifting sounds much much more likely to me than an emerald attacking it. My emerald would barely go near my anemone much less steal food from it. But nothing else you have sounds like it could do that either. Just keep a close eye on it. Definitely take a pic if you can......

 

[jemc]

The Anemone was on the bottom in the crushed coral. I only had the Anemone for 5 days so I am not sure all the stress would have allowed it to try and split but I do not know anything about that. All the white puffy stuff (insides) I guess were showing and the Anemone stayed upside down all day so I separated it thinking if it died I did not want it to poison my tank. I saw the crab the first time I fed the Anemone try to crawl up on to the Anemone. I did chase it off so that is why I thought the Crab attacked the Anemone.
I really do appreciate all your help.