Emerald Crabs : How many?

[chadm]

Ok, I have a mated pair of Emerald crabs in my 30gal Cube. They regularly brood larvae.. However, I would like to get 2 or more Emerald crabs to help out in the clean up of the tank. (mostly the algae) .. I am wondering if I will be destroying my mated pair, (since it is fun to watch them release their larvae, not to mention free fish food) by introducing possible rivals? Or will they all just get along?

Btw, my mated pair never leave each others side, where one is you will always find the other a few inches away.. I never knew crabs were like that!

Thanks for the help!

Chad

 

[CapitalO]

I wouldn't add anymore. IME emeralds are opportunistic hunters, especially when they get older and larger (seems to depend a lot on the individual too). I had a large emerald in my tank that would occasionally pick at the coral -not because he was eating it, just testing it out. Lack of food also seems to drive the opportunistic tendency; more emeralds would mean less food.

Also, the fact that you have a mated pair of emeralds is really cool. If it were me, I wouldn't want to gamble with it.

 

[Shawno]

Wow your lucky to have a mated pair. i think thats friggen awesome. and when i order 2 emerald crabs this week i hope they will do well in my lil tank. i want alot of cleaning species in my tank and about 1 or 2 clowns. thats it. its only 34 gallons total.

 

[chadm]

Yeah, it is pretty neat to watch, the female releases her larvae pretty regularly. Fun to watch and free food for everyone.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

MY emeralds were a serious PITA...cant say i am sorry to have seen them perish..

cheers to you though...got any pics of this spawning behaviour?

and i agree with the above...dont add anymore