Killer Emerald Crab?

[jeffsuelex]

I woke up this morning to find my yellow tail damsel dead and in the claws of my emerald crab. Yesterday the damsel was looking good and swimming and eating normally. The water parameters check good and the rest of the tank inhabitents (cleaner shrimp and two neon gobies in a 26 gal bow) are colorful, active, and eating normally. The only thing that comes to mind is the crab and damsel both liked to hang out under the same rock ledge when the lights went out...any chance the crab got tired of sharing his space? Mr. Crabby Crab (my daughter's name for him) seemed pretty intent on keeping his prize this morning and ran around the tank with the fish in his claws when I tried to take it out. In fact, I only got the front 3/4 of the fish. The crab still has the rest in his claws and refuses to let go. Any ideas?

 

[danedodger]

Emerald crabs are mostly plant eaters but it's not completely unheard of for one to grab a fish meal when the chance presents itself. Although it's more likely that the fish died and the crab was just cleaning it up. Anything's possible though

 

[dmitry]

I'm weary of Emerald Crabs after mine took take a bite out my Clown!

They both hung out in the same area (actually, the Clown was there first) and one day I find my Clown with a circular wound on his body. I look and there's the Emerald under the rock in the spot the Clown calls home. I get the Emerald out and look at his claws - and sure enough they're small circular discs, fitting the wound on the Clown. Mr. Crab went into the sump.

 

[stanlalee]

my emerald snaps his claws if smaller fish come to close (bigger ones, in my case one a LM blenny he just moves and hides). He's too small to kill anything in my tank. For the record he minds his business and only gets defensive if something gets too close. He wont even bother a smaller hermit I have in the tank even when close by. Never offensive. They can be a threat to fish as they mature. They seem relatively slow to me as well. Sallylightfoot makes him look like he's standing still when running full speed.