Crabs

[Mm16]

I have been getting different opinions about how many crabs I should have . My tank is 300 gallons, I've herd from 300 to 10. Ive put up to 300 in but many have died, so im assuming it was too many. Any opinions?

 

[LostInTheDark]

Well, first, you really don't need any crabs. If you want some to handle different algae and detritus it depends on how "dirty" your tank is. If your tank is new with not a lot of food then just a handful is fine and you can add more as the tank matures. Lots of reefers don't keep and crabs or snails and do just well without them. I have several different types of hermit crabs and a bunch of snails and like what they add to the tank. I used to have some emerald crabs but they never seemed to last very long. Just be careful what you add because some crabs become pest.

 

[Lenny_S]

IME all snail CUCs are better than having any crabs, especially hermit crabs. No matter how much algae and empty shells are available for them, hermits will systematically kill and eat all but the biggest snails in the CUC. Maybe I just had the wrong hermits, but that has been my experience. So I only do all snail CUCs.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I will do emerald crabs, but that is about it. Mostly snails and urchins.

 

[chefjpaul]

Crab cakes......crabs are food not friends