emerald crabs and zoanthids.
- Thread starter mfinn
- Start date
M, how's it going my friend, long time? Hey I know I don't post much anymore, but I stopped by and saw your thread. You know I would never steer you down a bad path but I would never add ECs to control bubble algae. ECs are like Sally Lightfoot crabs and they are voracious eaters as that's all they do 24/7. I would never place either of them in a zoa/paly tank. Do a quick search on several threads I posted right here in the forum back in the day. ECs might be safe herbivores until their shell reaches the diameter of a quarter. Then they become omnivores and will consume anything.
It's best to try to reduce your nitrates, then remove as much as possible by hand. Please do not remove them with tweezers or the like. Use a siphon and roll the bubble algae off the rock by hand or the end of your siphon. If you pop them, you'll release thousands of new spores inside and you'll create a bigger problem. Surgeons, diadema, rabbit fish and some sea slugs are a great choice as well to control and rid your bloom.
Good luck my friend.
Mooch
PS. Do a quick search in this forum for this thread....."do any of these critters eat zoas"
It's best to try to reduce your nitrates, then remove as much as possible by hand. Please do not remove them with tweezers or the like. Use a siphon and roll the bubble algae off the rock by hand or the end of your siphon. If you pop them, you'll release thousands of new spores inside and you'll create a bigger problem. Surgeons, diadema, rabbit fish and some sea slugs are a great choice as well to control and rid your bloom.
Good luck my friend.
Mooch
PS. Do a quick search in this forum for this thread....."do any of these critters eat zoas"
Last edited:
mfinn
Active member
Been a long time. Nice to hear from you.
Yeah, I'm not real comfortable either, but the bubble algae is getting bad.
Tried some a few years ago and lost a pipefish within 3 days.
I have been working on it almost daily but it's bad.
Have considered a rabbit fish but it's a small tank ( my 50) and not sure which one.
Sea slugs? Tell me more.
Thanks again.
Oops.....I think I suggested the wrong thread. That thread might be a great reference as it relates to ECs and polyp consumption.
If you search on bubble algae and Emerald crabs you'll get a ton of hits on this topic.
I had to go check my book.....but it says the "ercolania and possible other slugs" will take care of the problem.
I helped a friend with a very serious BA problem in his 70 many many years ago. We took a 6 ft clear siphon hose and meticulously rolled over and removed at least a thousand BA from his tank. We strained the BA as we removed them then poured the water back in the tank after every round of removal to maintain water levels. By the 10th run....we were 80 % finished. Near the end.....we replaced the water with well aerated make up water and cleaned the front 3 inch of substrate across the front glass. He added a poly pad and within 48 hours he slashed his trates back to acceptable levels. He never had an issue again.
Let us know how you proceeded. Good luck boss.
MUCHO
If you search on bubble algae and Emerald crabs you'll get a ton of hits on this topic.
I had to go check my book.....but it says the "ercolania and possible other slugs" will take care of the problem.
I helped a friend with a very serious BA problem in his 70 many many years ago. We took a 6 ft clear siphon hose and meticulously rolled over and removed at least a thousand BA from his tank. We strained the BA as we removed them then poured the water back in the tank after every round of removal to maintain water levels. By the 10th run....we were 80 % finished. Near the end.....we replaced the water with well aerated make up water and cleaned the front 3 inch of substrate across the front glass. He added a poly pad and within 48 hours he slashed his trates back to acceptable levels. He never had an issue again.
Let us know how you proceeded. Good luck boss.
MUCHO
sixpackgarage
reef mechanic
I have not seen my emeralds touch zoas, but the two that I've had both had a taste for my stylo.. my stylo is my baby, therefore I don't have any emeralds in my display anymore.
Ooooooh the true stories I can share with you over the years regarding emerald crabs. Once an EC taste a coral......he will never stop until they are all gone. Glad you removed it.
mfinn
Active member
My worst experience with emerald crabs is several years ago I was dealing with the same problem and added 3 emerald crabs that were kind of big to the tank. I figured bigger = eating more bubble algae. lol
What a mistake that turned out to be.
Within 3 days my only fish in the tank which was a multi banded pipe fish that I had in the tank for almost 2 years disappeared. Gone.
What a mistake that turned out to be.
Within 3 days my only fish in the tank which was a multi banded pipe fish that I had in the tank for almost 2 years disappeared. Gone.
Mael
New member
My experiences only...
have had mithrax off and on for 3 yrs now and they have never touched a single polyp. Even when the rose in my old tank and the green in this one got huge they never touched coral(unless the plug had algae on it) They are omnivores for sure, not sure about the age difference as I have had tiny babies scavenge frozen that settles, but anecdotal at best.
As for fish, yes, when larger they will go after smaller fish, they are too slow to catch most species unless they are sick or already on the way out but it is a real possibility that they might get lucky. If you lost multiple fish you had the ninja of mithrax =p
Also a factor, I have had some mithrax that straight up ignored bubble algae, maybe 2/6 over the years....they would pick at other algae and detrious but not BA. I like the little critters over all, but they are definitely a "with caution" purchase
have had mithrax off and on for 3 yrs now and they have never touched a single polyp. Even when the rose in my old tank and the green in this one got huge they never touched coral(unless the plug had algae on it) They are omnivores for sure, not sure about the age difference as I have had tiny babies scavenge frozen that settles, but anecdotal at best.
As for fish, yes, when larger they will go after smaller fish, they are too slow to catch most species unless they are sick or already on the way out but it is a real possibility that they might get lucky. If you lost multiple fish you had the ninja of mithrax =p
Also a factor, I have had some mithrax that straight up ignored bubble algae, maybe 2/6 over the years....they would pick at other algae and detrious but not BA. I like the little critters over all, but they are definitely a "with caution" purchase
I know its a little of topic but my experience with emerald crabs was that i put it in my tank cause it looked cool and it was free haha but it ended up killing all 3 of my Mexican turbo snails which were like ping pong size and that was with in two weeks its no longer in my tank
Scffvariable
New member
I would not. After starting to have polyps go missing I found it to be my EC!
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