[jenkinsc]

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
ph 8.2
temp - 80deg f

I cycled my tank with very well cured live rock + 20#'s live sand. I got the algae bloom at around 2 weeks. At 3 weeks the LFS said i should throw a few snails and hermit crabs in, so i did.

Acclimated with an hour of floating, an then an hour of small water additions. They have done well for two weeks, except for one of the snails that i think fell over on his back on night, and was 'evicted' by one of the hermits.

Anyway, a few days ago, i noticed one of the red legged hermits his back, and i thought it looked like he was trying to flip himself over...so i helped him. then, he went back over on his back, and he appeared to be trying to get out of his shell. and there was a white almost transluscent looking 'thing' attached to him. i then thought, well, maybe he's just changing shells, or shedding skin or something. I hadnt seen him in a while, so i started looking around last night, and found him dead.

Any ideas? I'm wondering if he was attacked by another crab, or if it was a disease.

I tried removing the body, but as i touched it, it fell apart into little pieces too small to extract. Im now wondering when or if i should expect my levels to spike, and by how much?

[sw_annie]

The first time my hermit crab molted I thought that he had died, but he was fine inside his shell. He has molted many times now and is so big he's scary! Check his shell to see if he's just hiding until his new 'suit' hardens up.

[jenkinsc]

when i found him, he was out of his shell, not moving, and literally 'fell apart' when i touched him lightly. he was dead. no doubt.

[sw_annie]

Sorry you lost your hermit. Was he the only casualty?

[jenkinsc]

yes. the blue legged hermits seem to be fine, as to the snails.

[docjones]

I have had this problem too, I had 10 hermit crabs and ywo have died. Not sure why, all my levels (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) are zero. I cant figure why they died either.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by docjones

I have had this problem too, I had 10 hermit crabs and ywo have died. Not sure why, all my levels (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) are zero. I cant figure why they died either.

I know this sounds heartless but crabs are there for clean up. They eat anything meaty including each other. I swear they eat and kill other small critters for the fun of it. When one dies, smile and buy 3 more to replace it.

[rlcline76]

I agree, not to minimalise your loss but you will see this all of the time. I always buy a few extra, keep a few larger shells around...they can be a bit vicious.

[Gohn]

My hermit crabs (red and blue leg) are the only deaths in my fairly new 6 mos.- fairly low light - soft coral, damsel tank, but it is weird (and sad). Neat little guys. I've lost more than a few. It looks like that some shells may even have been bored into. No other crab or snail has had any such problem in this tank. All healthy from Nassariaus to teeny green crab. I never had a hermit crab problem before in tanks going back years. Love a mystery - not so much when it involves life forms. Ph + all tests are right on. Thanks all.