Sally Lightfoot trouble

[suave]

We are on our second Sally Lightfoot Crab and this one is falling apart too. Help
Our first crab lost all of its legs when it molted. Then died a day or so later.
We got another crab about 2 weeks ago we got another one. It has been doing great. Yesterday our crab molted again. He made it through in one peice. Although today he lost 2 legs on each side. So far he is still alive. Is there anything we can do to keep him alive? Or is this normal?

 

[sebae0]

what are your water parameters? inverts like a higher salinity.
do you have a possible fish that might be attacking them?
are you sure that they are molting? a little more info and maybe we can figure this out.

 

[michaeltx]

is there anything in the tank that could be picking on him. right after the molt they are very vulnerable until there exoskeleton has hardened. sometimes there are unavoidable problems with a molt and resulting in death and there is nothin that can be done about that. but I would look at somebody picking on him.
mine hides for a couple of days after molt before he comes back out,
Mike
them there damsels might be the problem they are a agressive fish.

 

[suave]

My salinity has been steady around 1.022, PH-8.2, Ammonia-0, Nitrite and Nitrate-0 and my temp has been set at about 75 deg.
I have been doing 10% water changes every week.
As far as the 3 spotted Damsels picking on the crab, I suppose it is possible but we have never seen then be agressive to the crab. They only chase each other around.
Does this help?

 

[a&m aggie 04']

you need to bring that salinity up a bit, say to 1.024-.05, are you dosing iodine?? Iodine helps inverts molt properly, but if overdosed is very toxic.
The temp seems a little low also, dont know if this is affecting it but try to bring it up to round' 78 degrees.
Mark

 

[suave]

Thanks, I will bring the salitity and temp up a little. I have not been using iodine. I was not aware I needed to. I'll have to get some tommorrow and start. What type of dosage would you recommend?

 

[a&m aggie 04']

id be very careful with it, what all do you have in your tank. Iodine is used up very quickly by corals, inverts ect. Id recommend you test for it, but tests can be expensive. Natural seawater has .06ppm, so thats what you should shoot for. i know, every time you turn around theres something else to buy.
HTH,
Mark

 

[suave]

I don't have any corals in the tank. Just what I have listed below. If I don't add iodine will the crab make it?

 

[a&m aggie 04']

im really not sure, i dont have any experience with them but i know during its next molt the legs could grow back. But there is a reason for its "bad" molts.

 

[suave]

Thanks for all your help.

 

[suave]

I have an update.
I went to the LFS and was going to by some iodine and a tester. We got to talking and I told him that I had been adding "Sea-Lab tablets". We looked on the mixture of these tablets and these already contain .06 ppm of Iodine, and a whole bunch of minerals and stuff. So I guess I was already adding Iodine. I usually put another tablet in as soon as the first one has been completley disolved.
I have been bringing by salinity up slowley. At this point the only thing I can think of is maybe the salinity or just bad luck.
Any other thoughts?

 

[bwets_angel]

I had a sally lightfoot that molted and did just fine without anything added to the water. Don't know if I was just lucky or what though.

 

[ocellaris_keeper]

OK - the salinity in the tank should be between 1.021 and 1.027. nominally around 1.0225 to 1.025 is best.
I have two Sally Lightfoot's and can tell you your problem is NOT your water - these things can almost live in fresh water and will thrive in 1.030 easily.
you either have a mantis shrimp in your tank or your damsels are feeding!!!I'm betting you have a hitch hiker in your tank making life real difficult for your crabs.

 

[php]

my best bet would from the start be that damsel that has been picking on it and possibly a hitch hiker might be doing it

 

[jillian ayers]

Have you heard a strange clicking noise? That could indicate a mantis. If it does not look like the damsels, I would stay up one night and search the tank with a flashlight for any unwanted hitchhikers. HTH

 

[php]

yea if it is a mantis...then it's a very serious issue.Your fish will start disappearing and you will hear those clicks and when these mantis' get bigger they can shatter the glass on your tank.Please search

 

[liz]

What does a mantis look like?

 

[sammystingray]

I tend to agree with the aggression theory....I would think something is tearing it's legs off. I have always kept sallys, and never have I seen ones legs "fall" off. I've seen them tore off, but never fall off.

 

[php]

a mantis has kind of a centipede body and a lobster type head but more rounded