View Full Version : White Shell On Emerald Crabs
kill4u
01/19/2009, 11:03 AM
Hello,
I have had a 90 gallon FOSW tank running for about 18 months....
What I have noticed recently is that the shells on my emerald crabs are turning from green to white.......
I added 2 more crabs and their shells changed to white in about 3 days......
The pH in the tank is 8.02.....Salinity 1.024.......
Any ideas??????
Thanks,
Brian
What's your alkalinity? Calcium level? While you don't ordinarily have to test calcium on a FO tank, testing alk is a real good idea, and alk won't stay up without mg AND cal supplements. If your consumption is for some reason running ahead of your water changes, some odd things could start happening. And this is an odd thing. Have you been adding any supplements at all??
I don't know about crustaceans, but unless your Michael Jackson, I would assume pigment loss to be a sign of malnourishment.
kill4u
01/23/2009, 07:09 PM
Sorry for my delay in responding....
Here are my water parameters:
Temp = 80.1
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 40 ppm
ph = 8.09
Salinity = 1.025
Calcium = 340 ppm
Phosphate = 0
Alkalinity = 8
Magnesium = Do not have test kit
None of these parameters look really out of whack for a fish only tank...... Salinity is a little high but I have a lot of evaporation to replenish right now........
Thanks for looking...
Brian
My red mythrax did the same thing, not sure why but I think it had something to do with super low Mg. (400ppm)
SteveNMegz
01/24/2009, 02:43 PM
our emeral crabs shell slowly turned white and began to grow coraline on him, after a while he just died out of no where, not saying this is going to happen but just our experience
kill4u
01/24/2009, 04:03 PM
I got a Magnesium testkit (Salifert)
Mg = 1260.....
I have lost other emerald crabs in the past.... So I will not be surprised if they die again.......
Thanks...... Brian
I don't really know. But everytime my Emerald crab gets white on the top of his shell, he molts. I've found 2 of his past suits, and he molted again because he is nice and green again.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.