Emerald crabs are reef safe, right?

[mrmustard]

Have they ever messed with anything in your tank? Like, anemones, bubble corals, anything like that? I need to get rid of some bubble algae, so I was thinkin bout gettin one. Whaddya think?

 

[Agu]

Some people have reported that emeralds have bothered soft corals but in general they're considered reef safe .

 

[kraze3]

Emeralds are supposed to be reef safe but from what ive heard they are hit or miss with the bubble algae. Sometimes they rid your tank, sometimes they ignore it.

You could remove manually while doing a water change. Use a siphon to suck them out of the tank immediately in case they break, otherwise they will spread all over your tank.

 

[kingtoad]

As Agu said, they are considered reef-safe crabs. Although, crabs in general are predatory by nature. Just keep an eye on him as he gets bigger. He should be next to harmless as a small fry.

And kraze3 is correct as well, not all Emerald Crabs will go for bubble algae. It is really a hit / miss. The ones I have don't touch bubble algae, but they're lawn mowers. They'll eat just about anything else.

 

[CrystalAZ]

I have eight of them in my tank. They have completely eradicated the bubble algae and haven't bothered anything else.

So I'd say - GO FOR IT.

Crystal

 

[sassyfishy]

All crabs are opportunistic feeders. Having said that, however, I've had no problems with my emeralds. I have three of them, and they don't bother any of my corals. They've eliminated my bubble algae completely (though I've heard this can be hit or miss). It's funny watching them "race" to the formula 1 sinking pellet food that I feed once or twice a week. They're amazingly adept at finding and grasping those tiny pellets!!

 

[rooroo]

How big do emerald crabs get?

Also, I have a neon dottyback that killed my peppermint shrimp. Either he ate them or harrassed them till they died. Could I expect the same from the dottyback with emerald crabs? Or will the emerald crabs defend themselves better? The peppermint shrimp just ran away.

 

[Paintbug]

male emerald can get about 4-5" across their claws. females stay smaller. the biggest female i had was about 3" across.

i doubt your dottyback will bother the emeralds. they will fight back, and they have better armor. .

 

[rooroo]

Thanks! I'll pick a few up along with some new hermits tonight.

 

[TereKers]

I have 2 in my tank and they eat the bubble algae...and flakes surprisingly. They don't bother corals from what I have experienced.

 

[onecrzyboi4u]

I have 1.. only thing he bothered was my kenya tree.. didn't touch anything else.. i do put a pieace of krill in for him to snack on.

 

[mrmustard]

Thanks people. I got one. we'll see.........

 

[Riclat]

Well, a few words of caution. Large emerald crabs can attack small fish. I think that's happening in my tank.

I bought six emeralds to help control a bad algae problem. The algae's now gone and some of the crabs have grown to about 3" across including claws. Several small fish (chromis, scooter blemmy, neon goby) have disappeared without a trace. The other day I found a chromis with a nasty gouge stuck on a powerhead intake.

I regularly test my water, and it's fine. Meanwhile, I've seen the crabs try to grab passing fish.

I'm going to try and get the critters out of my tank this weekend, which will mean taking out all of the rockwork.

Riclat

 

[MrChico]

Put a jar in the tank leaned up against the rockwork, and put a little food in the jar, the crabs go in to get the food, and they cant get out.

 

[grunter_1]

Hey All, my expierence with the mithrix has been that they go for the bubble algae only when it's small but if it's bigger than a pencil eraser then they just leave it to get bigger and bigger and...well you get the point. Other then that, they are clumbsy and knock over rocks to get to whatever it is that they want---and--- they will develop a carnivorous appetite. My Polish rage was invoked after finding my emerald with the severed head of my orange spotted goby pincered between his back legs just walking around the tank and stopping for a bite here and there. I was sorely tempted to skewer him but instead disassembled the tank, removed him, and took him to the LFS (and said a prayer for the next owner). The sight of my goby's head will forever haunt me, those hazed over sightless eyes staring at me accusingly....shudder.