99% sure emerald crab ate my micromussa

[moretor1]

I should've saw this coming. The first thing it did when I dropped it in was start pulling at some encrusting zoas...
Those zoas eventually dissapeared too, mostly likely the crab.

The first head I thought was a salinity issue and possibly flow ripping it off. But a second head overnight a few days after I topped off.

I doubt it was my peppermint shrimp as it wouldn't have been able to rip it out or eat it as cleanly. Either way both the emerald and the peppermint are going back to the lfs when I get paid.

I'm done with both of them at this point.
I'm just devastated because it had been getting so much growth recently

 

[Uncle99]

I banned every single crab and shrimp 5 years ago.
Now I have no mysterious deaths and no longer replace snails.

Crabs really are not required, but favoured by LFS as they are quite profitable.

A well maintained and stable system will contain all the CUC that you can’t see, and they are free.

My rocks are clean and sand white for 4 years now.

Except for snails, which cause no trouble, I have no CUC.

 

[MoshJosh]

Could be. I like emeralds but have seen them go rogue in the past. That said, make sure your parameters are on point, don’t want to blame the crab and miss a differ issue. Again, could definitely be the crab, but always worth double checking.

 

[moretor1]

Could be. I like emeralds but have seen them go rogue in the past. That said, make sure your parameters are on point, don’t want to blame the crab and miss a differ issue. Again, could definitely be the crab, but always worth double checking.

Parameters are on point atm. Everything was recovering from a bad temp spike a bit ago and I've seen lots of growth everywhere.
This crab literally doubled in size in one molt. I thought it was a different crab that had snuck in. That combined with the fact that I've been cutting back on feeding means he's been premeditating it for a while.

Pretty sure he's also the reason the "rim" of my duncans looks so sad sometimes

Also any ideas on how to catch the jerk? He sits under the rocks 99% of the time

 

[MoshJosh]

Parameters are on point atm. Everything was recovering from a bad temp spike a bit ago and I've seen lots of growth everywhere.
This crab literally doubled in size in one molt. I thought it was a different crab that had snuck in. That combined with the fact that I've been cutting back on feeding means he's been premeditating it for a while.

Pretty sure he's also the reason the "rim" of my duncans looks so sad sometimes

Also any ideas on how to catch the jerk? He sits under the rocks 99% of the time

You might need to make a crab trap of some kind (I have never made one so I can’t help you there) otherwise will just have to wait till he’s out and move quickly.

 

[moretor1]

Ended up catching the crab with a jar by burying it slightly in the sand and then chasing it into it

Returned the crab and the peppermint shrimp and picked up this little guy for ~$20 after credit

It's either a rose or rainbow, thought it was just a plain red but the blue or green on the base/bottom of the tips is just very dark.
It was more noticeable this morning And will hopefully color up nicely

 

[TX_REEF]

I have witnessed both hermit crabs and emerald crabs eating healthy micromussa before. my emeralds all live in the fuge now.

 

[moretor1]

I have witnessed both hermit crabs and emerald crabs eating healthy micromussa before. my emeralds all live in the fuge now.

Ungrateful crab didn't even get rid of the bubble algae