Need help quick!!!!!

[bubba1170]

I just got a new colony of Zoos yesterday. Acclimated the piece for a couple of hours and set it in the tank. After about 20 minutes my emerald crab started to pick at it and I am worried it will pick off all the polyps. Do I need to worry? Is there something that I can do other then remove the crab?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Bdimas]

I've never seen an emerald eat or pick off zoanthids. Im not saying that they wont do it. They can be a little destructive though, as far as knocking over corals.
I would keep an eye on it for sure, but its probably eating algae or something off of the rock.

 

[hexedagain]

Female emeralds have been known to nip at polyps. males are better about not doing it, but some females will nip and/or eat polyps.
This is from my experience.

 

[bubba1170]

How do I determine if it's a female? I need the crab for algae mitigation. Do you know if they will pick until all polyps are gone?

Thanks for the help.

 

[xxtriggermanxx]

if it's like a blue crab you eat , you must be able to see the under side of it. the male has a narrow v pattern in its shell .the female has a very wide v pattern in its shell. but again i don't know if that's true in this case.

 

[hexedagain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9992370#post9992370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bubba1170
How do I determine if it's a female? I need the crab for algae mitigation. Do you know if they will pick until all polyps are gone?

Thanks for the help.

The way to tell is the male has what looks like the Washington Monument on his "stomach" while the female has the Capital Building. This is a crude way to explain it, but some what effective.
If it is decaying matter, they will pick until it is gone.

 

[hexedagain]

Here's an underneath pic of a male emerald crab.

 

[Carressa]

Whenever I add new zoo's I have my emerald crab "booger" who likes to check everyone of them out. It looks like hes eating at them but I think hes just grabbing the fun bits of different flavored goodies that come in on them. I find this to be especially true if they should have any bits of alge or anything else booger finds to his liking. I have never had zoo's harmed by his Welcome to the tank activities. Mabe thats all yours is doing.

 

[jaugermeister]

Carressa - thats the same in my case, they mine always seems to be super nosy when it comes to new additions but usually leaves them alone after the first sweep for food....