PDA

View Full Version : why is my porcleain crab dead?


coryaquarium101
06/03/2008, 11:05 PM
I came home from work and my porcelain crab was on his back, looked dead, but then it kinda moved to where it usually is and is half way up on a side of rock. I also have had a couple hermits die lately as well. I tested the water and ph is 8.4
calcium is 320 (kinda low)
carbonated hardness 12
phosphate 0
nitrate and nitrite 0
amonia 0
1.025 salinity

Its a 37 gallon tank, aquac remora skimmer, 2 koralia #1's, pc lighting, 1 big chromis, 2 clowns, about 5 or 6 hermits. 11 astrea snails, 1 fighting conch, 1 sexy shrimp. 1 condy anem.

I do weekly 5 gallon water changes with RO water.

any suggestions?

prime311
06/03/2008, 11:09 PM
Well just to get the obvious questions out of the way. Have you used any cleanign products near the tank? Do you feel any tingling(from stray electricity) if you put your hand in the water?

coryaquarium101
06/03/2008, 11:11 PM
no i am very careful with cleaning products and haven't felt any tingling from electricity.

fattyratrat
06/03/2008, 11:28 PM
i have heard things about those guys being very picky and annoying as hell to keep alive. Your tank looks pretty perfect, so i would bet on that, and my second guess being a ****ed off hermit or something.

prime311
06/03/2008, 11:28 PM
Maybe double check your tests at an LFS. Sometimes the test kits go bad or give inaccurate readings.

O-man21
06/04/2008, 12:24 AM
Are there any other inverts looking unhealthy? Is there a possibility of copper getting into the tank?

coryaquarium101
06/04/2008, 11:40 AM
Besides some dead hermits. I work up this morning, and my condi anem. is very dark in color and shrunk down, last night it was looking fine. Maybe it was because it was dark, and I just turned the lights on I don't know. I have no clue how copper would get into my tank?

cory.

sunfish11
06/04/2008, 12:20 PM
Are you sure they are actually dead and you are not just seeing thier molts? Crab and hermit molts are often mistaken for being a dead crab because they look so complete.

Lisa

coryaquarium101
06/04/2008, 12:55 PM
I know it was the porcelain crabs real body. Also, when i find dead hermit crabs, i find the claws and a little white glob with no shell near. is that the molt or a real dead hermit crab?

O-man21
06/04/2008, 12:56 PM
Thats the molt. If the real crab died it would be eaten by the other hermits or have the shell still attached.

coryaquarium101
06/04/2008, 01:49 PM
Should I remove the molt if I see it? I have removed them a few times thinking it was a dead hermit, thats good to know its just a molt. thanks.

sunfish11
06/04/2008, 01:55 PM
No you can leave the molt, it shouldn't be a problem. As far as the porcelain goes, crab molts look about exactly like a dead crab as well. It probably isn't a sign of impending doom that your crab died. Sometimes it happens.

Lisa

coryaquarium101
06/04/2008, 02:41 PM
how long does it take for a porcelain crab to make a new molt then? do they dissapear then come out again?

coryaquarium101
06/04/2008, 04:28 PM
anyone know?