zoa ?'s

[kdfi]

Hi all, I am new to RC.

I have been in the hobby for about 3 years 2-1/2 of them salt water fish only tanks. I just recently took up reef tanks. I do have a question. I was told I should remove my emerald, and lightfoot crabs because they pose a danger to the zoa frags I have. I thought I would ask this to get more than one persons opinion.

thank you for your advice.

 

[TheReefer84]

i have an emerald in my tank with zoas and other corals they dont touch anything but the algae.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

In my opinion, there seems to be mixed emotions on whether or not they are safe. If you do a search, you will find just as many reefers who are against keeping Emerald crabs with zoas as you will those who believe they are completely safe. Instead of telling you what to do, I will simply say this from personal experience. If you have a tank with a few frags or colonies, I'd go ahead and add him to your tank and just keep an eye on him. On the flip side, if you have a tank full of zoas as I do, I wouldn't go near an Emerald. I believe the potential devastation far exceeds the voracious desire the have to consume bubble algae.

The control of bubble algae is most often the reason many reefers have them in their systems, as well as the fact that they are extremely active and great to watch. What makes this and all the other sites great, is that we can read varying opinions that will assist us in making an informed choice. I have over 120 colonies of Zoanthids and Palythoas and I choose not to take the risk of losing them when I know from eyewitness accounts of their potential to consumes polyps. Below I have listed but a few links in response to the question which has been posed many times.

Not bragging, but I seldom have or see bubble algae, ( KNOCK ON WOOD ), in my system. I just went and checked and I found 4 bubbles. I simply remove them with my hand by rolling or rocking them left to right to dislodge them. Many advocate pulling them off intact instead of popping ( bursting ) them as this will release thousands of new baby spores, seeds etc back into the water column. If I can't reach them, I go ahead and pop them anyway. It is no different then having an Emerald Crab who will pop them as well all day long when he consumes them.



http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=958171&highlight=emerald+crabs

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=881185&highlight=emerald+crabs

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=691180&highlight=mucho+emerald

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=691180&highlight=emerald+crabs

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=429884&highlight=emerald+crabs


A good alternative to keeping Emerald crabs, is to maintain a very low nitrate level and a daily watchful eye on all of my frags and colonies. Seaslugs, rabbit fish, surgeons, diademas are known to control bubble algae are great choices in controlling Bubble algae.


Good Luck, Mucho Reef

 

[Lytehouse]

MUCHO,

Curious, since you've done this much longer than me, would you consider this difference in behaviors people document about emerald crabs to be more individual personalities of the crabs or more how much/little someone feeds leaving the crabs a little more opportunistic? (or C none of the above or all of the above)

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I have never studied Mithrax Crabs ( Emerald crabs ) , I'm only speaking from personal experience which also coincides with what others have posted which supports it. Can I sit here and say for an absolute % 100 certainty that all Emeralds can and will consume your zoas, NO. Could it be the regional collection of the Mithrax which denotes which ones will eat zoas or not? Could be. But at the risk of finding out after the damage has transpired, I choose to error on the side of caution with thousands of dollars in street value of priceless zoanthids and palythoas that I have worked so hard and paid good money to collect; I simply won't take that risk.

I'm not telling anyone not to buy them, I'm simply saying, I don't trust them. I don't trust any crab for that matter, not in a tank full of zoas. If I'm not mistaken, and I stand corrected since I can't find my book by him, even A. Calfo says they can't be trusted. Now if I can only find my book so I can be sure that I didn't just put my foot in my mouth.

To answer your question more directly, it could very well be the temperment of a particular Emerald that causes them to consume zoas. I doubt very seriously that it is because of a lack of food since I saw my Emeralds years ago consume my crazy red zoas with food floating around and landing right next to them while they were eating my reds.

I can honestly say that I don't know why some eat zoas and some don't. My only concern is to keep them from reeking havoc and that can only happen if I allow it. It's just my 2 cents and I hope it doesn't cause an uproar.

Mucho Reef

 

[Lytehouse]

Thanks,

I understand choosing to error on the side of caution. Makes sense to me. Just wanted to hear from you or anyone, with a few years ahead of me in the hobby.

Startin' to sound like an AA meeting.....

 

[kdfi]

thank you for the info mucho. I will keep them for now but with a watchful eye.