Firefish with Sallylightfoot crab

[C4DC]

Sally is eating an extra snack in the form of my recent (doing well) firefish this morning. Anyone know if the crab will attack sleeping fish? Seemed to be doing well and before I get another one I figured I'd ask. I thought they were mainly opportunistic feeders, but it seems like they could pounce on the weaker type fish like while they're asleep.

 

[HumbleFish]

Anyone know if the crab will attack sleeping fish?

Yes. Any crab will (it's what they do), but this species is particularly notorious for doing this.

 

[snorvich]

Yes. Any crab will (it's what they do), but this species is particularly notorious for doing this.

Exactly. Even hermits kill snails but other crabs, especially those that are hairy, or blue eyes, are not a good thing.

 

[Marine fish man]

At my fish store I've seen crabs eat smaller fish but if the fish is on the bigger side then u should be fine

 

[RedStangGA]

Snorvich's multiple posts on crabs has convinced me to not have any in my new build. Other animals can do the same job, or better, without any risk. And I'm tired of replacing snails lol! I'll probably remove the ones in my biocube and put them in the fuge of my 60 for the rest of their natural life.

FWIW, I removed an emerald crab after a couple of days about a year ago because it was chasing my YWG.

 

[HumbleFish]

Snorvich's multiple posts on crabs has convinced me to not have any in my new build. Other animals can do the same job, or better, without any risk. And I'm tired of replacing snails lol! I'll probably remove the ones in my biocube and put them in the fuge of my 60 for the rest of their natural life.

FWIW, I removed an emerald crab after a couple of days about a year ago because it was chasing my YWG.

Good call. Even these "algae eating" crabs can turn on fish when they get big enough. The only reason "reef safe" hermits settle for escargot is lack of size for taking a fish down. But put a "regular" hermit crab in your tank and they will ambush any fish they can at night.

 

[C4DC]

Guess I will pull him and put him in my 125 with all bigger fish. Most people say if a crab has a fish, it was sick, dead, etc... I think this is more likely true for the slower crabs because they aren't quick like the sally type crabs.

 

[davocean]

Sally's have quite a rep for being aggressive, much more so than what we typically use in clean up crews.
All crabs can be opportunists, sallys go way beyond that, I would not have one in my tank.
I will use emeralds to rid valonia, but I pull them when they get big, other than that commensal or acro crabs are the only other crabs I will keep, and those are actually quite wonderful to have.

 

[snorvich]

Sally's have quite a rep for being aggressive, much more so than what we typically use in clean up crews.
All crabs can be opportunists, sallys go way beyond that, I would not have one in my tank.
I will use emeralds to rid valonia, but I pull them when they get big, other than that commensal or acro crabs are the only other crabs I will keep, and those are actually quite wonderful to have.

Exactly. Commensal or acro crabs are the only ones I will allow in the tank.