emerald crab tripling in size overnite.

[t-byrd]

my emerald crab molted the other night, and he came out AT LEAST
3 times the size he was. is this the same crab?
just dont see how its possible for this to happen!

 

[Palmetto]

Different crab, IMO.

 

[DrGrotto]

I have a huge emerald crab that has moulted twice in the three months that I have had him. He started at about an inch, and now he is about 3 1/2 inches from leg tip to leg tip. He is HUGE now compared to what he was when I bought him. It's probably the same crab.

How big is your tank? Is your tank so big that you wouldn't notice an emerald crab walking around? My crabs are almost always out and running around.

 

[t-byrd]

my tank is only 55g, so when i saw this huge crab in there, i wondered how i could have missed it. i did find a new crab in their that came on the rocks
just a week ago, but i dont see how i would have missed this one.
and he is always crawling around like the small emerald crab, which i havent seen since ive seen the big one.
got to be the same crab, just couldnt believe he would grow that big overnite.
now since is claws are so big, im wondering if i should take him out
so he doesnt catch any fish and munch on them.
are they known to catch and eat fish when they get big? he's about 3-3 1/2
inches across the legs.

 

[Marrowbone]

I wouldnt be surprised if its the same crab. I dont know emeralds, but when i had an arrow crab it was very well fed and it would grow VERY dramatically every few weeks. I wish i had measurements of before and after.

 

[jcm1229]

I have a huge emerald as well that I want to remove (without moving rockwork). What's the best way to catch these guys??

 

[jmeader]

There is a huge difference between the before and after molt. Don't think I've seen one quite triple in size though. An Emerald crab is not a swimming crab so it can be caught with the tipped glass method.