Newbieeee

Hello, this is my first post on this forum. But i just bought 4 snails and a emerald crab for my month and a half old biocube 29. Im confused by my crab. I though they were more active. This guy has found a little cove in a rock and barely moves. He has been in there about 2 days. Is this normal? IVe heard of something called molting?

 

Welcome to 3reef. Just a few small inverts, like you just bought are a good start. Also good to build, or add on your CUC(Clean Up Crew). Molting is when the crab "molts", or sheds it's exoskeleton, to soon grow a new one. Crabs & shrimp outgrow their skeleton, which is why they molt. During this process they will become very in-active, dude to having a soft shell, become vulnerable to predators. This should take about a week, I do believe? Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

 

Welcome to 3reef! Sounds like your off to a good start! Please share a pic of your build if you have any.
Emeralds tend to hide when the lights are on and will only come out into the open during that time if they are very hungry. It's normal for yours to sit still in the crevice so I wouldn't worry to much. You can see it but it thinks since it's motionless you can't. Buy a cheap flashlight and use a sharpie to color the lens red. Inverts can't see red light and won't spook so easily. Use your red light to have a look in the tank a couple hours after it's been dark and bet you see a very different crab.

 

Ah I didn't know the flashlight trick! I'll have to try that.

 

Well thanks you guys! So he iis molting i guess haha. I will try to get pics of soon!

 

Welcome 2 3reef. Sounds like your off to a good start. Gonna needs some pics though.

 

For those of you joining us that are new to the hobby - the best piece of advice you'll get around here as a saltwater newbie is 3Reef's slogan
"Go slow, let it grow."
And for those experianced hobbyists joining us - it's still good advice
good luck and post pics soon

 

Heres a few pics of the tank. The first one shows the whole where the crab is hiding, its basically the closest hole to the middle of the pic. Ill get more up tonight