crab eating fish

[Forge]

First, while I am newly registered, I have lurked here for a while, and have a tremendous amount of respect for the knowledge shared here. Thanks to all.
I have had a sally lightfoot crab and a pygmy angelfish in my 29 gallon aquarium since January of 2000. Both are still doing well. Since that time, I have added other fish as well: I added a gramma last November, which appeared healthy right up to the time he disappeared. At the time, I blamed his disappearance on a now-departed mantis. 7 months ago, I added a swissguard basslet. When I arrived home today, the crab was eating the basslet. I don't know for certain that the fish didn't die before the crab found him (It's possible). My question is if anyone here has any experience with this crab eating an otherwise healthy fish, or if sally lightfoots are strictly scavengers.

Thanks,
Forge

[Biomanjcs72]

They are scavengers, their chelae (claws) don't get big enough to actively hunt fish like that. Your basslet was more than likely killed by something (disease or otherwise) and the lightfoot just took the opportunity to get a free lunch. HTH

[scout]

I agree. My Sally has never given any of my fish a problem.

Mike

[Forge]

It may well be that the fish died first, and the crab found it before I did. It was certainly dead when I found it, anyway. If that's the case, then the crab got a meal far more expensive than one I have ever enjoyed.

[ReefHog]

The only crab I have seen attack fish in any of my tanks was a shame face crab. This thing would bury itself in the sand and litterally jump up and grab for the fish with it's large claws as the fish swam by. I think your ok with a sally though.