I have 40 breeder with a mixture of LPS, SPS, and zoos. I am starting to lose a handle on controlling my bubble algae issue. Since I'm limited with fish options due to tank volume I'm thinking of throwing in 6 Emerald crabs. My only reservation is I've heard they can eat corals. Thoughts, tips....help!
Sps... Bubble algae.... Emerald Crabs??
- Thread starter Veosk
- Start date
AdamDeMamp
New member
The only successful way that I got rid of my ba was using a 50:50 hydrogen peroxide mix and scrubbing it on the ba with a tooth brush. If you're unable to remove your rocks, then this obviously will be a lot more difficult.
listen2bob
- David
Get small females and they will work well
trinity1012
sps addict
i just put in 6 emerald crabs and caught 3 of them picking at my sps.now they are in the sump of prop system.i heard one spot foxface will eat bubble alage...that's my next option.good luck to you!!!!
listen2bob
- David
Not joking the larger males are far more likely to be coral eaters. Particularly fleshier corals. I have been using small females for a decade with no problems, only issue I ever had was with males
listen2bob
- David
Look at the bottom carapice to sex them. I only buy the small females since the males will eventually go snacking on things I don't want eaten
trinity1012
sps addict
good to know! my biggest crabs were my coral eaters.
monkeypie102
New member
This is what a male emerald crab underside looks like... The pillar looking thing in the middle indicates male... Females do not have one... This is a way to sex all true crabs (ie hermits aren't considered true crabs...)
trueblackpercula
New member
I was able to control the bubble algea in my tank in just a couple months using four emerald crabs and dosing vodka. I have no bubble algae at all.
Good luck
Good luck
Emeralds don't likely want to eat your SPS. They would very likely much rather eat algae. However, they will not starve and who can blame them? I might suggest 2 crabs and let them take a little longer to get the job done - they are very effective. Then, you can probably sustain them without them wanting/needing to go to coral. I have had only great success with emerald crabs.
Fishypapa
New member
I had that problem with my single emerald (guess it's a male I dunno) but once I started putting in a few big chunks of clam or shrimp, he stopped bothering my SPS.
If the poor things are hungry they, like most other living things (except for Mandarins, haha) will turn to other things to keep from starving to death.
If the poor things are hungry they, like most other living things (except for Mandarins, haha) will turn to other things to keep from starving to death.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
I have always used the smaller emeralds to control/eradicate bubble algae in my tanks over the years. Every one of my tanks has always had emerald crabs. The only time I had a problem with emeralds was in my nano tank: this tank at some point stopped growing ANY algae whatsoever. At this point the emerald started to rip apart soft or fleshly corals/sponges etc and I knew it was doing so out of hunger.
At this point you either need to feed them or take them back to LFS.
At this point you either need to feed them or take them back to LFS.
