Emerald crabs

I added 2 emerald crabs to my 55G setup about 3 weeks ago. Two weeks ago I thought my red one had died cause he was laying on the bottom being moved around by the current. I got it out and realized it was his shell and he had molted.

Today I came home from work and found him laying on the rocks upside down and figured he died. Then I saw him moving around just to the left under a rock. I pulled the molt out and will show it to my kids when they get home from the library.

I am very excited the red crab has molted twice in about 3 weeks. I had 2 emerald crabs at different times in my 30G setup, but they both died. I am very pleased that these 2 seem to be doing well and they are molting which seems like good news to me. ;D

 

Fooled you twice. Molting means growing so that is good. Successful molts mean your water chemistry is to the crabs liking.

 

Well, there you go! I don't think I've seen red emerald crabs. I learn something new everyday in this hobby it seems.

 

A few years ago I experienced the same thing with a spiny blue lobster. I thought he multiplied overnight, then thought he was dead until I saw him in the corner of my tank. I took the shell out and I couldn't even tell where he got out of it. No holes or cuts at all in it... Weird

 

The molt I took out was the same way. Completely intact. I think it has a "trap door" in it for them to get out.