Cleaner Emerald Crab?

[thatguy]

I just got two emerald crabs to help keep my tank clean. After about 3 minutes my Coral Beauty went next to one of them and laid on its side. The crab started picking at the fishes side, just like a cleaner shrimp. It would also run its claw down the fishes side as if it were petting the fish. It doesn't seem to bother the fish as s/he keeps going back.

I have never seen anything about this listed in relation to emerald crabs.

Is this normal?

thanks for any info

 

[Blown 346]

I've never seen or heard anything like that. My emerald crabs would pick off my snails and hermits.

 

[Amphiprion]

Interesting behavior, but not terribly uncommon. Strange things occur when you combine animals that don't ordinarily live together.

 

[Paintbug]

when my emerald was young and small he would do that to my coral beauty. now that hes big, i think the CB is like i dont think so! LOL

 

[cb9tunerguy]

sounds like he is trying to groom your coral beauty. i was eyeing up some emerald crabs today at my lfs. nice creatures. im afraid my gsp will eat them though.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=841096