Killer scarlet leg crab??

[wrassecal]

I've been losing turbo snails for a couple months now. As far as crabs go, I only have one scarlet leg crab and I have provided shells for it. Tonight I found another dead snail. There was what I thought was another snail laying beside it but I didn't recognize the shell. It was my crab in one of the shells I provided it. I got to looking around and found 8 empty turbo shells stacked up in the back under a ledge over the sand. that makes about 18 snails gone now. Has my crab been doing this? It seems to kill that many he must be going for them like crazy even with other shells provided.

 

[dad]

What type of scarlet is it and how big?
Also how big is your tank?

 

[wrassecal]

It's big enough to be in a turbo snail shell, that's for sure. I'm not sure how big he's kind of shy, but it's now in a shell that is a little over 1/2 inch in diameter. Tank is 55 gal.

 

[dad]

Try this again...I posted twice now but did not get posted.
Red legs are known for being killers when they get large! I would give it to your LFS.
I would think you need more(smaller ones for your size of tank.
I order from here and have been very pleased with everything.
Where in OK are you located? I am in SW.

 

[jonthefb]

any possibility of a nasty little hitchiker thats wiping out your sanils?
jon

 

[nacl-h2o]

You mean red legs, not scarlets, right?
Red legs are all red, Scarlets have bright red legs and bright yellow faces. I have heard of larg red legs attacking snails, but haven't heard of scarlets doing so. I would be interested in knowing which it was and regardless of which, if it's killing your snials get rid of it.

 

[cap'n pete]

I was told several monthes ago by my LFS that the reason they didn't carry scarlets anymore was because they are killers (which made me automatically assume they are not ). I've had more problems with hungry blue legged than I have ever had with scarlets. Caught a blue legged clamped onto the lip of my percula clown! Don't seem to have any problems with my scarlet attacking the snails unless they fall off the glass and can't right themselves. Just make sure they are getting some food. From my experience, snails are going to die, no way around it. They always get stuck bottoms up and end up a snack for a hungry hermit or bristle worm. HTH

 

[wrassecal]

NaCI-H20 -Well, I'm not sure if it's red legs or scarlet now that you say that. It has red legs, but with some so dark as to almost be black, but then when it peeks out I see some yellow. It's been in there changing shells and entertaining us for almost a year. Nothing is "brightly" colored though. I took it out and stuck it in the 20 gal for now.
dad - I live in Norman, on your post I asked you tell me (or email me) what lfs you bought those mushrooms from so I can avoid/be careful if I shop there.
jon- I don't think I have any nasties in there but who ever knows for sure! I'm going to buy more snails and if they don't get eaten, then I know it was him, don't know what else to do. Something ate all my anthelia too, do crabs like that stuff?
To my knowledge, now that he's out I don't have any more crabs at all in the tank. I thought the blue legs were the bullies

 

[majakarot]

SCARLETS HAVE YELLOW FACES?!! mine must be red-legged, d#mn lfs, that is like the 700th time they've lied to me... i told you guys mine were vicious... you didn't believe me