Bad Emerald Crab

[sk8ergolie31]

I saw my emerald crab picking away at my xenia. The xenia had this hair like white thread come out of the tips where the crab was picking at. Has anyone ever seen this happen in their tank? Supposedly these guys are reef safe.. maybe hes just hungry. I fed my tank 2 days ago.
Any input would be awesome!!

 

[austinvanover]

Emerald's should be reef safe however they have been know to pick at corals from time to time. You just have to keep and eye on them. If it is picking at your corals I would remove the crab however they are extremely hard to catch.

 

[BigRedSpecial]

The "hair like white thread" is mucus; common when corals are stressed. Are you sure the crab is picking at the xenia and causing it to slime up, or is the coral stressed for some other reason and the crab is eating the mucus?

My emerald loves coral mucus, but he's never touched an actual polyp.

 

[reefbegood]

Mine touch them then go away.

 

[sk8ergolie31]

he picked at it then it shot out the 'mucus'.

ill watch that little booger from now on.
thanks for the info guys!

 

[reefbegood]

My emerald always gets into fights with my clowns when it gets close to my BTA fun to wacth

 

[sk8ergolie31]

lol thats not good. Im about to get a RBTA and another clown pretty soon!!

 

[SimilanRocks]

An emeral crab in my tank picked some SPS for dessert once in a while. They said one out of ten emeral crab will eat coral. I have had about 12 and this one is the hit. It's now in the sump with plently of macro algae. Still a few more in the tank that I'm keeping an eye on.

 

[xraydoc]

I have a branching Goniopora (not the typical "flower pot") that my emerald uses as a tree house. I have not seen him pick at it though, will have to watch more closey, and maybe threaten it with some fuge time.

 

[lvreefer]

They are an opportunistic feeder, and will eat coral, fish and other inverts if it’s convenient.

 

[rbrusletto]

mine tries to catch my mollies, unsuccessfully I might add, lol.

 

[sk8ergolie31]

good things and bad things to know about emerald crabs! haa. thanks again

 

[BigRedSpecial]

they really are like people; no two have the same personality. I've had two now who were model citizens, but you really have to watch them to be sure.