Help choosing a crab?

[rileyrayne]

Some Marshall Island live rock will be arriving either today or tomorrow and I was hoping to get some algae eating crabs. These are the only crabs my LFS has:

Sally Lightfoot
Blue Legged
Red Legged

In a few weeks I plan on getting some very small, juvenile clownfish, so will any of the above crabs possibly attack/eat my clowns? And which crab would be best for cleaning?

Thanks!

 

[blot60]

get a few blue legged hermits and a few red legged hermits and one sally. the hermits are good cleaners and an important member of the cleaner crew along with some snails.

 

[Mrseptember15]

I'm not sure about the sally lightfoot. But the red and blue I know for sure do not harm clownfish. But I've heard stories about them having agression toward eachother and also snails. I've only seen my blue legs fighting once but I seperated them because I didn't want to buy anymore . If you decide to buy the blue/red legs then I advise you get some extra shells because they will fight eachother for the shells.

 

[650-IS350]

I don't really trust any crabs... only snails and conchs... all crabs/hermits are ALL opportunistic... if they have a chance to eat the clown... chances are they will...

 

[klyons]

I couldnt agree with you more Delsol650. I have both red and blue legged hermits and have watched them eat any thing they can get to. I have lost many snails and am to a point that im tossing them in my sump when i can. Stick with snail/conchs.

 

[petoonia]

I've never had a problem with my hermits. Make sure they have plenty of food, and empty shells. I would skip the sally lightfoot, I think emerald crabs are a little more well behaved see if your LFS will get any in the near future.

 

[Sk8r]

Sally lightfoots are cute when small, but grow huge and eat fish: unfortunately, they're also faster than greased lightning.

 

[650-IS350]

yup had a couple in my tank when I first started reefkeeping and was unaware off them... molted a lot and grew fast....

very fast moving, VERY aggressive.. took out a bunch of inverts, and smaller fish they could overpower...

A Big no no... good in a sump though

 

[650-IS350]

Just go with snails... a combination of

Trochus
turbo
astrea
Nerite all for algae

Nassarius/tongan version - for scavenger and janitor, sand turnover
Conchs- algae/detrius and sand turnover
Cuccumber- sand cleaning
MINI brittlestars from IPS- detrius cleaner.

HERMITS- even though fed and have extra shells WOULD still predate on snails, sesile inverts or smaller fish...