Algae crab question???

Hi everyone! I'm new to a marine tank hobby and have a question. I have 3
small algae crabs in which 2 changed their shells to larger type shells last
evening. This morning there is a pinkish/clear looking crab like "thing" on
top my substrate. It's shaped like a crab and it's color is pinkish/clear
(something like the color of a shrimp). Is this the exoskeleton from a
crab? I'm sorry to be dumb at this but like I said I'm new to the marine
tank world.

Thanks in advance!
Susan

"Susan" wrote in message
...
| Hi everyone! I'm new to a marine tank hobby and have a question.
I have 3
| small algae crabs in which 2 changed their shells to larger type
shells last
| evening. This morning there is a pinkish/clear looking crab like
"thing" on
| top my substrate. It's shaped like a crab and it's color is
pinkish/clear
| (something like the color of a shrimp). Is this the exoskeleton
from a
| crab? I'm sorry to be dumb at this but like I said I'm new to the
marine
| tank world.
|
| Thanks in advance!
| Susan
|
|
Sounds like you're talking about Hermit crabs. As they grow, they
change shells, and also "molt", i.e. shed the exoskeleton. How big
are they now? Beware the hermits with tan\black legs, they get very
large and will kill\eat\maim most anything they can get a hold of.
Remove the old exoskeleton, as it rots it can affect water
quality depending on how large your tank is.


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Yea, these are hermit crabs. They are pretty small right now. Thanks for
the info. I thought maybe that was the exoskeleton but wasn't for sure.

Susan

"Billy" wrote in message
news
"Susan" wrote in message
...
| Hi everyone! I'm new to a marine tank hobby and have a question.
I have 3
| small algae crabs in which 2 changed their shells to larger type
shells last
| evening. This morning there is a pinkish/clear looking crab like
"thing" on
| top my substrate. It's shaped like a crab and it's color is
pinkish/clear
| (something like the color of a shrimp). Is this the exoskeleton
from a
| crab? I'm sorry to be dumb at this but like I said I'm new to the
marine
| tank world.
|
| Thanks in advance!
| Susan
|
|
Sounds like you're talking about Hermit crabs. As they grow, they
change shells, and also "molt", i.e. shed the exoskeleton. How big
are they now? Beware the hermits with tan\black legs, they get very
large and will kill\eat\maim most anything they can get a hold of.
Remove the old exoskeleton, as it rots it can affect water
quality depending on how large your tank is.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.773 / Virus Database: 520 - Release Date: 10/5/2004