MY CRAB IS DEAD!

[im_netta]

My LARGE hermit crab was found one morning on top of his shell dead. He was covered in a clear whispy slime that within a small amount of time became thicker and appeared similar to a cob web that was blanketed over the entire crab. The rest of the tank kinda stayed on the other side until I took it out (which stunk really bad) Does the dead crab release any kind of toxin or anything that I should be worried about? And what about the shell? Do I take that out too?

 

[1979camaro]

just his body breaking down, no toxins to worry about...you can leave the shell if you want...any idea how it died?

 

[aresgod]

probably old age, average lifespan of a hermit is like a year anyways

 

[zanoshano]

sorry to hear that, how long did u have it?

 

[S.Reef]

You dont need to take out the shell. The death is probably related to old age.

 

[im_netta]

Actually the next day my coral-banded shrimp was dead so I took a sample of my water to mlfs and my nitrate level was off the charts! They told me that high nitrate levels is very poisonous to invertabrates. Any ideas how to lower that nitrate level ASAP?

 

[S.Reef]

A water change, a nitrate sponge, cleaning out the pads...stuff like that.

 

[zanoshano]

what were the reading? off the charts literally?

 

[aresgod]

what are the parameters of your tank, how big, lights, filter, skimmer, levels, what you have stocked in the tank ect... that will help find the source of your nitrates

 

[zanoshano]

have you tested yet? do you have a qt?