Swims got...eaten? (GRAPHIC PICS)

[citiliviey]

I've had Swims for a little over 1 1/2 years now and he has always been such a character. I've lost him and found him between my mattresses, he somehow got down my front stairs and through my gate to my driveway once, he has always been one of my favorite crabs to tell stories about. But suddenly yesterday morning I found my Viola hanging out around the pools and noticed Swims under him. I've seen my bigger crabs just climb over others for whatever reason but this time I wanted to investigate closer just to make sure things were okay. That's when I saw it, my beloved Swims seemed in distress, and over the next hour the Viola moved just enough for me to see that he was definitely dead and it looks like he had been...eaten? I've heard of crab aggression and fighting/killing/eating on each other, but I hear those while talking about molts and stuff mostly, and he didn't look due for a molt. That whole day I had hoped I was just looking at an exo and that he had left his shell up top to molt again, but as I kept checking, I knew my hopes were unfortunately not true. The Viola was there ALL DAY and I knew every time I turned my back that he was probably munching. I think multiple crabs killed him the night before and Viola just stayed up all day, cause that evening I found 3 others hovering in that area, (how) do I remove him? Does this mean they need more meat or calcium or protein in their diet? How can I prevent this from reoccurring? Part of crabbing is trial and error, but this error hit me hard, I'm feelin' the pain of failing at protecting one of my kiddos. Please help me figure this out. I don't even know if this was for survival or aggression (I'm guessing aggression). Here are some pictures and I'm 99% sure that is NOT an exo. Thanks so much!

[citiliviey]

[Giner13]

I hope it's not true!! And if so I'm so sorry for this huge loss!!
Maybe someone else more experienced can chime in as I'm not real sure???


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[KayedeeLove<3]

:'(

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[rainbow_crab]

I'm so sorry for your loss! Its never easy loosing a pet! In my own experience crabs tend to eat what's readily available. Scavengers by nature another crab is a great way to get nutrition. I have had crabs attack and kill another, but have also had a dead crab that the others started munching. If your providing a varied diet rich in protein, and offering calcium /mineral sources. Then it may have just been an easy meal for the others. Its hard saying because if he died on his own then the others were just taking opportunity to get a free meal. If he was killed it may have been aggression from another crab, or you may have a cannibal who needs more nutrients. Sorry this probably isn't much help.

[soilentgringa]

I would suggest filling out the emergency template questions to give us an idea of what may have happened.

Cannibalism does happen, but it is not normal and there is usually a reason.

I have had crabs die on the surface of PPS and none of the others disturbed them at all.



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