emerald crabs

[elChino]

i just bought some more emerald crabs as my last few died a while ago. my emerald crabs did just what i wanted them to do; eat all the turf algae. they did this a lot quicker than i had expected and now i'm worried them may die due to lack of food. i know turf algae isn't their only source of food but what else do they graze on other than turf and bubble algae and is there anything i should be giving to just them? as with anyone, i would think, i hate it when things die so i want to do what i can to help them survive. i bought 5 and have a 55 gal tank, maybe too many?

thanks in advance.

 

[Teremei]

yeah probably too many. But you care and that shows so I know you'll do anything you can to help them be happy in your tank. I just have 1. I used to have a pair, I mean I actually saw the female give birth. But they are both gone. Now I have 1 male. ANYWAY. . .

A good idea would be to get some of that dried seeweed select you can buy at fish stores. And either rubberband cut out long thin strands to a rock, or clip onto a fish clip and place it near the sand. They eat that stuff trust me. And it will feed any snails and crabs you have that happen to not have enough food in the tank.

Put some of that stuff in your tank, and trust me. You will see your emerald crab picking at it having a good time with it. It's best to feed them algea type items that way they keep a taste for "greens" and not meaty foods such as snails and fish.

 

[elChino]

right on, thanks for the reply, and i just happen to have some of that stuff handy with no fish to eat it.. i may move 1 to my 10gal to lighten the load.

thanks again, that's good to know..

 

[Paintbug]

i agree that 5 in a 55g is to many. i have 2 in my 75g. they handle just about any algae i have except cyano. i too feed mine seaweed selects. i will put a small peice on a feeding stick and let them take it. if my clip hits the sand that i use for feeding my grazers, the crabs are on it before the dust settles. LOL i feed mine about once every 2-3 days. seems to keep them from "exploring" for food.

 

[elChino]

good to know, of course my lfs doesn't tell me anything about feeding them extra. unfortunately, that place isn't a good source of legitimate advice.