unusual Behaviour of Red Claw Crabs?

S

Stuart Watson

AC Members
Jun 30, 2003
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London, UK.
www.succeedsystems.co.uk
Good morning!
Following the death of my RCC's recently after 3 weeks (sesarma Bidens I am told they are) I set about cleaning the 18" tank, completely stripping-out as if from new.

After treating 10L of water with AquaSafe, and taking the remainder from the water-change in my community tank, and allowing to settle for several days I introduced 3 crabs. The fed like fury and looked really happy.

Last night when I got home one was on its back and its shell was "unpeeling" from underneath. Totally motionless even when "prodded" and moved around the tank - actual nothing"ness" happening.

One other was very sluggish too and only just responded to being moved. The 3rd appeared OK.

In panic, n ot wanting more death, I did a 50% water change straight out of the bathroom tap treated with Aquaclear and stirred very vigorousely and put this into the tank and the sluggish crab appeared to rally, the third remaining OK.

I have the filter, VitaTech 180 onto full and created a lot of movement in the water (the tank is 2/3 full with lots of plastic plants provideing plenty of shelter and room out of the water) and sit now at work in hope that all will settle down for tonite, when I am prepared to do another water-change in necessary.

I was wondering if any of you have had similar, can tell me what the peeling-open of the under-shell (oblong "finger" of shell on the bottom of the carapace) means or refers too or can suggest what might be at fault.

Could it be the "brackish" problem or London water? My LFS has an RCC keeper who kept them for years in FW with no trouble and my tank has Barbs so Brackish is not good and they cannot go into my community tank.

Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Hi Stuart

Have you tested the water for ammonia and nitrite? From what RTR said these crabs are very sensitive to this and if the tank has not cycled there may be an ammonia spike going on.

Ade
 
Hi Ade!
No but I intend to do so tonite as I am getting a full new "advaced" water test kit to replace my 15 years aged kit.

The water has no discernable smell of ammonia or anything else except crab (!) but of course this means little as we are not that sensitive by smell.

Funny how you think of your fish like you do your kids when they are unwell - I have spent lots of time today wondering how they are as Wifey is out so I cannot ask.

She just called as I typed(!) and said they are stationary but seem happy enough with good colour and moving mouth parts (as she described it!).

Looking ahead to happy days with my crabs! Damned little critters really grow on you - is it a boy/man macho thing

:-)
 
Thanks Elgecko,
I have read and appreciate your effort on crabs - I will be much more informed tonite after testing however having done a 50% change in water with "clean AquaClear" water which picked them up very much, I have now found 16 hours later one has keeled over onto its back again. Will nvestigate as soon as I get home, leaving now!!

I am wondering if the coloured gravels in the tank and leeching chemicals into the tank although the Barbs are fine ... getting madly desperate now!
 
Hi!
Not got my cop yet - will stop off tonite. I have vexed evrybody with the facts of the fish tank - including 3 LFS's and another forum I belong too.

In short, not only my Crab tank, with Tiger Barbs, but my goldfish tank and community tank all have 0.1mg/liter of ammonia, at least 4mg/litre NitrIte, at least 25mg/litre NitrAte and pH about 7.5

My LFS tested the water and got the same. I tested my treated tap water and got pucca results. As soon as it went into the tank it went straight to over 01.mg/litre!!

All crabs and fish doing well, crabs are seemingly trying to mate, and the fish frolic very happily, chasing the outlet on the filter and twirling around each other and the real plants.

Plants are thriving, tiger snails and "wild snails" from the plants and the congo frogs and catfish all happy as larry and all eating very well.

All water so crystal clear you could walk into it and not know there was anything there.

Now how is that for confusion ... must be a knackered test I though but no as the LFS also had the same results.

I am not worried anymore and will test the water weekly and record the results in case I can find some patter!!

**** I confused!!
 
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