Thinking about adding an emerald crab

[Bnortz]

Hello,

I'm thinking about adding an emerald crab to my CUC, but i have read that they are a nuisance to many people and may eat fish. Also people say that they would never add a crab to their tank.

Please tell me how they are if you have one or if you know if you don't have one.
Thanks,
Sam

 

[snarkes]

I've never had an issue with Emeralds and I've had them in every one of my tanks. They occasionally get caught with a fish in their claws, but its more likely that the fish died before the crab caught it.

 

[b0bab0ey]

I've never had an issue with Emeralds and I've had them in every one of my tanks. They occasionally get caught with a fish in their claws, but its more likely that the fish died before the crab caught it.

+1

I've never had a problem with them being fish eaters. They seem to move too slow to catch one anyway. I did see someone say in a recent thread that they had a problem w/an emerald crab eating zoas. But I haven't had that problem with the two I have in a 58g reef.

 

[wrathofgod4]

never had a problem here either plus they give you something else to look at

 

[charleneatkins]

I swim by my emerald crab, even picks up after itself

 

[disc1]

I had to move mine to the sump for being a general nuissance and nipping zoas.

 

[pkirby]

I had one that would nip at zoas... but I paid attention to him and saw he wasn't harming the zoas... he was cleaning up a film of algae that was on their base. I haven't had any problems with emerald crabs...

 

[ryeguyy84]

no problems here... they get a bad rep for being fish eaters but like someone above said the fish was dead before they got to it, just doing their job of cleaning up.

I very rarely see mine though he lives in a rock.

 

[Whisperer]

Mine picks algae off the rocks almost all the time. I caught one picking the tips of an acro one night and placed him in the sump. Felt sorry after a few days and place him back in the DT. He hides when I am close to the tank. Haven't seem him Pick on corals again...yet.

 

[disc1]

To tell the truth I think that is what mine was actually doing. Although he did take a daily bite out of a blue mushroom and spit it out. I guess he had very little memory of it not being tasty the day before.

 

[BrklynArch]

Mine been great, he has a ton of personality and helps keep the rocks nice and tidy.
He occasionally wanders by some of my poyps and zoas but just runs his claw by them checking for algea snacks between the stems.

 

[ReeferBill]

Emerald Crabs?

Emerald Crabs?

The first emerald crab I had started to eat my new pink open brain coral. The last 2 I have now I got to controll my bubble algea but they got lazy. I have not seen them eat any zoas or palys. Maybe that coral was dying anyway and the emerald crab was just doing what comes naturally. Try one out and you can always catch it and trade it back in at your LFS.:wave:

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I am very interested in this also I have heard the same thing. I do like their color and would like a variety in my tank as well.

 

[Bnortz]

how many would be good for a sixty gallon?

 

[briankmarsh1980]

I have a few, I think they are great little workers and they won't kill snails for there shells
I have never had a problem with them.

 

[briankmarsh1980]

Oopps double post

 

[crobattt]

i had 2, they both tried to eat my watchman, i eventually had to move them out.

 

[Bnortz]

hmm i have a watchman may take the risk though

 

[Emmanuel75]

Mine ate one of my Zoas, he was about to get to my other before I moved him. Hasn't touched one since.

 

[Bnortz]

Is there any alternative invert or anything that will eat hair/bubble algae of the rocks that isn't as much of a risk as an emerald?