emerald crab

[pfaff]

I found one of my five emerald crabs that I have dead this morning. Is this common for them to die quick? He's been in the tank for about two weeks.

pH 8.4
Ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
sg 1.025

180g 9 weeks old

[jschulzpt]

Are you sure that it died? They do molt and the old exoskeleton looks like the original. It may have been already sick if it already died from the shipping process and stress.

[jenglish]

I know they live longer than 2 weeks usually but I don't think they are all that hardy. Thats JMHO. The good news is 4 will probably still be plenty for a 180. Sometimes you just get an old one or a sickly one. I doubt there is a vetrinarian checking out every member of a CUC. As long as you don't see more inverts dropping I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[Hop]

If it isn't a molt, it could be that there is an insufficient food source? Just guessing since I doubt your parameters you listed had a part in its death.

[crvz]

I agree with jeglish, inverts like that can be finicky and I imagine it was just in poor health when you got it. I wouldnt worry about just one of them dieing.

[pfaff]

thanks everyone for the help. i do know that it was dead based on the smell when i took it out of the tank LoL. i'm hoping that he just wasn't healthy and everything else in the tank will be ok