Pom Pom Crab...thought died!

[cmbkml]

So while looking in our tank today, I noticed our pom pom crab was just kind of hanging out and looking really limp. Of course I was sad because she has become one of my favorites in the tank, but we fished her out and disposed of her. Baffled as to how she could have died suddenly as our parameters haven't changed a bit and everything else is thriving and growing very well. She had a belly full of eggs that she hatched last week so we started to think that maybe that stressed her and she died. Well, as I started investigating the tank a bit further, I noticed some legs hanging out in a hole and low and behold, she is still alive. This little picture is only of the molting of her old shell as she is growing. We aren't sure if this is part of the process of laying the eggs (unfertile sadly) or if she just truly was ready to molt. However, no tears were shed and we still have our precious pom pom crab. Just wanted to share such a cool story as we've heard most inverts do not survive their molt.

 

[tthemadd1]

Actually most do survive their molts in captivity. In the wild I call them soft shell crabs. Which taste great fried up and put on a bun with a good sauce. mmmmmmm

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by cmbkml http:///t/395955/pom-pom-crab-thought-died#post_3526709
So while looking in our tank today, I noticed our pom pom crab was just kind of hanging out and looking really limp. Of course I was sad because she has become one of my favorites in the tank, but we fished her out and disposed of her. Baffled as to how she could have died suddenly as our parameters haven't changed a bit and everything else is thriving and growing very well. She had a belly full of eggs that she hatched last week so we started to think that maybe that stressed her and she died. Well, as I started investigating the tank a bit further, I noticed some legs hanging out in a hole and low and behold, she is still alive. This little picture is only of the molting of her old shell as she is growing. We aren't sure if this is part of the process of laying the eggs (unfertile sadly) or if she just truly was ready to molt. However, no tears were shed and we still have our precious pom pom crab. Just wanted to share such a cool story as we've heard most inverts do not survive their molt.


LOL...Shrimp bodies are white and perfectly formed, and look for everything in the world like a dead shrimp. Your crab's molt shell has color, I would have thought the little critter had bit the dust as well. Glad it was just a molt, and you didn't suffer a loss. As I read your post, I thought you were going to say it was crawling around the garbage can, and was just playing dead. SW critters do go stiff and drop like a dead thing...star fish do it really well.