Crab ID

[itz frank]

Thank you in advance.

Was told it was a strawberry crab. I've had hm about a year. Just had destruction in my reef start on sps.


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[Ron Reefman]

I think you were told correctly.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+1907&pcatid=1907

I've never seen one before, but they look as if they could be closely related to Emerald or Ruby crabs that we see all the time in the Florida Keys.

 

[Betta132]

Very pretty crab, but not good for reefs. They get fairly large and start bulldozing things and trying to eat slow-moving stuff. Best kept in a sump, refugium, or fish-only tank with fish larger than it.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Very pretty crab, but not good for reefs. They get fairly large and start bulldozing things and trying to eat slow-moving stuff. Best kept in a sump, refugium, or fish-only tank with fish larger than it.

Live Aquaria doesn't agree with you.

"Strawberry Crabs thrive in invertebrate-friendly saltwater aquariums with live rock. They are peaceful, personable, and will generally get along with other invertebrates or fish. Plus, as omnivores, they not only control unwanted algae growth, but will also feed upon uneaten food. If you're looking for a fun, interesting addition to a new or existing cleaning crew, the Strawberry Crab is an ideal choice."

And they say the max size is just 2", I have emerald crabs bigger than that.

 

[itz frank]

This guy is about max size then. And damage has completely stopped


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[Betta132]

I might be thinking of a different crab by the same name. Common names are weird.
Emerald crabs are known for occasionally going bad and attacking fish, though, and I don't completely trust any crabs that aren't either tiny or claw-less. Especially anything labeled "omnivorous", since that basically just means "highly opportunistic" when crabs are concerned.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I might be thinking of a different crab by the same name. Common names are weird.
Emerald crabs are known for occasionally going bad and attacking fish, though, and I don't completely trust any crabs that aren't either tiny or claw-less. Especially anything labeled "omnivorous", since that basically just means "highly opportunistic" when crabs are concerned.

I agree that just like people, some species of crabs, even Emerald or Strawberry crabs, can go rogue and tear stuff up and eat things they don't normally bother with.

Heck, I dropped about 50 porcelain crabs (collected out of sponges washed up on the beach after a stormy cold front passed through here in SW Florida) into my 180g tank. I also put 5 in my 25g frag tank. In literally 15 seconds after dropping 50 porcelain crabs into the big tank, they disappeared into the rocks. I almost never see them and it's been 2 months. But the 5 I put in my frag tank (no live rock and no sand) are still alive... well, 2 of them got sold off while living in small coral colonies I sold!

 

[itz frank]

The damage seems to have stopped. I even release my lawn mower blenny back into display.

I'll update this again if the damage starts again. But it's been a few days and so far, nothing.

I'm not losing anything by not having the strawberry crab. I never saw him at all.

I wouldn't purchase him again.


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