Filtration for emerald crab QT?

H

HeadstrongRSS

New member
I got a new emerald crab and have him in 3g QT. I have reason to believe he was in with a fish that had ich in his tank at LFS. I'm planning a 6 week stay for him to make sure ich hatching doesnt have a host and dies before moving to display. Jw what I should expect for water change needs. I have an air stone in there, filter, but QT is not cycled.

I have a midas blenny in a cycled 5.5g QT now that I do a 40% wc every other day to keep levels low.

Should I expect similar? What's the bioload of this dude?

Thanks RCs!
 
Crabs can be out of the water. I wouldn't bother QT him. Do a quick TTM using solo cups or something similar. Ich doesn't attach to crabs. (What I mean by a quick TTM, get a few solo cups with the desired salt water, dip him in one, then in the next, then in the next, then move to the tank.) That's really just to make sure he doesn't have any water droplets on him that contain the parasite. This is all IMHO so wait for a few replies if you want, but that is what I would do.
 
stingeragent said:
Crabs can be out of the water. I wouldn't bother QT him. Do a quick TTM using solo cups or something similar. Ich doesn't attach to crabs. (What I mean by a quick TTM, get a few solo cups with the desired salt water, dip him in one, then in the next, then in the next, then move to the tank.) That's really just to make sure he doesn't have any water droplets on him that contain the parasite. This is all IMHO so wait for a few replies if you want, but that is what I would do.
Click to expand...

That's not exactly how TTM works...
 
For fish no, but this is a crab. (that's why I said a quick TTM). ICH does not harbor in crabs, so the only concern is making sure whatever water the crab is in (and the water still on the crab after you pull it from the bag doesn't harbor ich), which is why I recommended dipping the crab in sep containers of water to wash off any possible ich containing water that was on the crab in the original bag.
 
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If purpose of crab is to control bubble algae (or any other kind of algae), do yourself a favor and lose the crab. If you're interested in keeping the crab for its own crabosity and are not concerned with its munching on coral and destroying snails, then go for it.

Just saying,

Mike
 
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stingeragent said:
For fish no, but this is a crab. (that's why I said a quick TTM). ICH does not harbor in crabs, so the only concern is making sure whatever water the crab is in (and the water still on the crab after you pull it from the bag doesn't harbor ich), which is why I recommended dipping the crab in sep containers of water to wash off any possible ich containing water that was on the crab in the original bag.
Click to expand...

This isn't 100% fool proof as far as making sure the crab isn't harboring ich. Same could be said about a frag. Hence why you're suppose to QT inverts, whether it's a crab or coral for 72 days in a fish less or ich less system before adding to to your DT to ENSURE they aren't intriducing ich into your tank
 
stingeragent said:
For fish no, but this is a crab. (that's why I said a quick TTM). ICH does not harbor in crabs, so the only concern is making sure whatever water the crab is in (and the water still on the crab after you pull it from the bag doesn't harbor ich), which is why I recommended dipping the crab in sep containers of water to wash off any possible ich containing water that was on the crab in the original bag.
Click to expand...

it is possible for ich to encyst on hard surface, such as rocks, sand, glass, or crab shells.

to the OP, i would either go with a regular Tank Transfer Method protocol, or i would just do large water changes every few days as needed to keep the levels at 0. since he's currently in a 3.3 gallon, that shouldn't be too bad to accomplish.
 
Ich aside I would get rid of it. Once they get over an inch point to point they usually eat corals and fish. Mine is now in my sump for killing two royal grammas. The first one disappeared and I thought it died after acclimation since it ran right into a rock hole and had its tail sticking out. It then backed out and swam around a few mins the went into hiding. I saw it off and on over 3 days then it was gone. So I got another RG, this one was fantastic eating well always out and got along great with my other fish, then I woke up one morning and see the emerald crab eating it where it's sleeping spot was. Instantly to the sump.

All crabs are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything.
 
i so far haven't had any issues with mithrax crabs eating things i don't want them to, even the larger ones.

that said, i also haven't had any luck getting them to eat bubble algae, and have had much better results using nutrient control in conjunction with manual removal to help control it.
 
Good feedback RC! I knew nothing of this TTM. Looking into that. I didn't mention this, but I have no plan for corals. I was going to get an anemone for the 2 clowns I have, but with my decision to get a midas blenny, I didn't want to risk having a spot that the blenny can't perch on accidentally and be stung. The osc clowns are not wild-caught, so I'm going without a hosting environment.

So, I didn't get him specifically for any type of algae control, but any he would do would be appreciated. I more got him for food cleanup, and somewhat for entertainment. He was a spur-of-the-moment purchase at the LFS because he was being hilarious in the tank, waving his arms, combing through gravel, etc.

The tank I was intending for him to go into has 1 new turbo snail (@2"), 5 red legged scarlet hermits, 2 clowns, and soon a midas blenny (2 1/2" long). I do tend to overfeed a bit, and am willing to throw like a 1/4 piece of shrimp in their daily if it helps keep the emerald happy.

That said, I'm now a bit concerned. Can this little 1" moderately-peaceful crab take down a healthy clown or blenny? The clowns currently sleep in the front-right corner really low together. A blenny sleeps ON the ground, somewhere - perched, in a hole, wherever. The blenny would be an expensive snack...could he really take him down? Seem like the crab would be going for a ride. This isn't some weak mandarin or yellow goby. It's a spazzy, healthy grown midas.

And the clowns appear to be paired. The turbo snail is new, and is slower than I'd expected. LOL! Much slower than my freshwater pond snails I once kept.

Are these little crabs really this murderous? Or are people stumbling upon them cleaning up after a fish died? I've had a few fish die suddenly...if I woke to him munching on my dead blue-green chromis, I'd have probably blamed him as the culprit too.

Display:
36g bowfront, currently using live rock AND a hob aquaclear 70 power filter. Fully cycled, now with fish in it for @ 2 months.

QT's:
Blenny in 5.5g instant-cycled tank, top-fin 10 internal filter, air pump & stone, 40% wc every-other day (due to rapidly building nitrates).

Blue Emerald in 3g uncycled tank, top-fin 10 internal filter, air-pump & stone, trying to determine WC needs in this thread. :)
 
HeadstrongRSS said:
Good feedback RC! I knew nothing of this TTM. Looking into that. I didn't mention this, but I have no plan for corals. I was going to get an anemone for the 2 clowns I have, but with my decision to get a midas blenny, I didn't want to risk having a spot that the blenny can't perch on accidentally and be stung. The osc clowns are not wild-caught, so I'm going without a hosting environment.

So, I didn't get him specifically for any type of algae control, but any he would do would be appreciated. I more got him for food cleanup, and somewhat for entertainment. He was a spur-of-the-moment purchase at the LFS because he was being hilarious in the tank, waving his arms, combing through gravel, etc.

The tank I was intending for him to go into has 1 new turbo snail (@2"), 5 red legged scarlet hermits, 2 clowns, and soon a midas blenny (2 1/2" long). I do tend to overfeed a bit, and am willing to throw like a 1/4 piece of shrimp in their daily if it helps keep the emerald happy.

That said, I'm now a bit concerned. Can this little 1" moderately-peaceful crab take down a healthy clown or blenny? The clowns currently sleep in the front-right corner really low together. A blenny sleeps ON the ground, somewhere - perched, in a hole, wherever. The blenny would be an expensive snack...could he really take him down? Seem like the crab would be going for a ride. This isn't some weak mandarin or yellow goby. It's a spazzy, healthy grown midas.

And the clowns appear to be paired. The turbo snail is new, and is slower than I'd expected. LOL! Much slower than my freshwater pond snails I once kept.

Are these little crabs really this murderous? Or are people stumbling upon them cleaning up after a fish died? I've had a few fish die suddenly...if I woke to him munching on my dead blue-green chromis, I'd have probably blamed him as the culprit too.

Display:
36g bowfront, currently using live rock AND a hob aquaclear 70 power filter. Fully cycled, now with fish in it for @ 2 months.

QT's:
Blenny in 5.5g instant-cycled tank, top-fin 10 internal filter, air pump & stone, 40% wc every-other day (due to rapidly building nitrates).

Blue Emerald in 3g uncycled tank, top-fin 10 internal filter, air-pump & stone, trying to determine WC needs in this thread. :)
Click to expand...

TTM is only for fish, not inverts.

The concern with inverts is not the "active" stage of ich, but rather the encysted stage. They can attach to any hard wet surface, including crab shells. I got ich from snails at one point. The best way to QT inverts is in a fishless tank for 72 days. After 72 days with no new additions, they will be 100% absolutely guaranteed ich free.
 
HeadstrongRSS said:
Good feedback RC! I knew nothing of this TTM. Looking into that. I didn't mention this, but I have no plan for corals. I was going to get an anemone for the 2 clowns I have, but with my decision to get a midas blenny, I didn't want to risk having a spot that the blenny can't perch on accidentally and be stung. The osc clowns are not wild-caught, so I'm going without a hosting environment.

So, I didn't get him specifically for any type of algae control, but any he would do would be appreciated. I more got him for food cleanup, and somewhat for entertainment. He was a spur-of-the-moment purchase at the LFS because he was being hilarious in the tank, waving his arms, combing through gravel, etc.

The tank I was intending for him to go into has 1 new turbo snail (@2"), 5 red legged scarlet hermits, 2 clowns, and soon a midas blenny (2 1/2" long). I do tend to overfeed a bit, and am willing to throw like a 1/4 piece of shrimp in their daily if it helps keep the emerald happy.

That said, I'm now a bit concerned. Can this little 1" moderately-peaceful crab take down a healthy clown or blenny? The clowns currently sleep in the front-right corner really low together. A blenny sleeps ON the ground, somewhere - perched, in a hole, wherever. The blenny would be an expensive snack...could he really take him down? Seem like the crab would be going for a ride. This isn't some weak mandarin or yellow goby. It's a spazzy, healthy grown midas.

And the clowns appear to be paired. The turbo snail is new, and is slower than I'd expected. LOL! Much slower than my freshwater pond snails I once kept.

Are these little crabs really this murderous? Or are people stumbling upon them cleaning up after a fish died? I've had a few fish die suddenly...if I woke to him munching on my dead blue-green chromis, I'd have probably blamed him as the culprit too.

Display:
36g bowfront, currently using live rock AND a hob aquaclear 70 power filter. Fully cycled, now with fish in it for @ 2 months.

QT's:
Blenny in 5.5g instant-cycled tank, top-fin 10 internal filter, air pump & stone, 40% wc every-other day (due to rapidly building nitrates).

Blue Emerald in 3g uncycled tank, top-fin 10 internal filter, air-pump & stone, trying to determine WC needs in this thread. :)
Click to expand...

You missed my post above where I said an emerald crab took out two healthy Royal Grammas?
 
No, I am the only one that ever had a problem with an Emerald Green Crab :lmao:

Do a search in the above search link and put in emerald crab and see what you come across, be prepared to read a repeat of my post above many times over.

Remember what I said above, Crabs are opportunistic feeders and they will eat anything!
 
I have always kept emerald/mithrax crabs, I love their personalities. Never had an issue with them except one that liked my torch coral.

I have several "nano" fish and all my original red leg hermits. Never has a mithrax crab attacked my crabs or my fish. Provide them plenty of food( I spot feed them some nori), and plenty of empty shells and they should be fine.


With that said, I have read numerous posts about them being murderous villains. YMMV
 
I've had dozens of emerald crabs over the last 25 years and have never had one touch any desirable livestock. They don't all do super good jobs at algae control but usually they will be OK at it. And they do have great personalities. I'm sure there are cases where they've eaten livestock but, honestly, anything in a tank can decide to eat or bother anything else, that's not isolated to emerald crabs.

If you do return him, but you still want a crab that's interesting, try a porcelain crab. They're probably the closest to 100% safe you can get, since they're filter feeders with pretty much vestigial claws (they have big feather-like appendages to feed with instead, and don't really use their claws).
 
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