Guesses to why my porcelain crab died?

[djryan2000]

I’ve had a pair of porcelains in my tank for a little while and the last few days they both were doing wonderful - eating, moving around the tank ect..
My bigger one mysteriously died today (found him belly up).

Two hours before I found him dead he was nonchantly eating and walking around.

I tested my water, 0 ppm for ammonia and nitrites, between 0 and 5 ppm of nitrates, ph a little over 8.

My cleaner shrimp and hermits seem to be fine. I can’t figure out why he could have died - any guesses?


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[mcgyvr]

Likely just age.. It happens..

[primo21]

sure it wasnt a molt??

[ThRoewer]

Originally Posted by djryan2000

I’ve had a pair of porcelains in my tank for a little while and the last few days they both were doing wonderful - eating, moving around the tank ect..
My bigger one mysteriously died today (found him belly up). ...

What kind of porcelain crab, the white ones with dot patterns which associate with anemones or the greenish ones who normally hide in the rocks during the day.
The anemone associated crabs need a suitable host anemone. Without it they will die rather sooner than later.

[djryan2000]

Originally Posted by ThRoewer

What kind of porcelain crab, the white ones with dot patterns which associate with anemones or the greenish ones who normally hide in the rocks during the day.

The anemone associated crabs need a suitable host anemone. Without it they will die rather sooner than later.

Not sure. Its spotted and a darkish gray and hides in the rocks. I know for a fact It was not an anemone porcelain though - they sold those guys separately. I have a second one that appears to be doing good. Actually molted a little after I posted this thread.


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[ThRoewer]

Is it one that looks like this:



I had a bunch of them but they all disappeared over time and I'm not sure why. They are primarily filter feeders, but they should also be able to get by on scavenging frozen fish foods like mysis.

[djryan2000]

Originally Posted by ThRoewer

Is it one that looks like this:







I had a bunch of them but they all disappeared over time and I'm not sure why. They are primarily filter feeders, but they should also be able to get by on scavenging frozen fish foods like mysis.

That’s him!! I’ve been feeding frozen mysis once daily and I also added pods the day after I got them - just threw them in, no refugium.


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[Crooked Reef]

I second age. I believe they only live 2-3 years on average. You may have gotten one that was already 2 years old when it was collected.

[ThRoewer]

The anemone crabs must live longer than these porcelain crabs. I have one that is over 3 years old and still not fully grown. This would parallel the unusually long life expectancy of anemonefish which is about 3 times as long as that of equally sized damselfish.

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[djryan2000]

Originally Posted by ThRoewer

The anemone crabs must live longer than these porcelain crabs. I have one that is over 3 years old and still not fully grown. This would parallel the unusually long life expectancy of anemonefish which is about 3 times as long as that of equally sized damselfish.

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The other one did not molt - it died too! I thought I saw a molt when I left yesterday morning but when I just checked all I could find are pieces of what is clearly the actual crab, and sure enough he’s nowhere to be found in the rocks.
My red legged hermits, Halloween hermits, and cleaner shrimp all seem fine. I can’t figure out what happened


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[Uncle99]

Crab for lunch!

[reefinJ]

Originally Posted by Uncle99

Crab for lunch!

Lol. All I know the average lifespan of porcelain crabs is 2 years.