Emerald crab and clean up crews

I rarely see my emerald crabs eating bubble algae. But, I too had a significant bubble algae outbreak when i accidentally spiked my tank with TSP and raised the PO4 level to 10 PPM. I added my first 6 emerald crabs when the bubble algae covered nearly all the rock that was not taken by coral or mushrooms. While I "occasionally" found an emerald crab eating a bubble, it was typically one that was already popped, or very loosely hanging on. I think what happened is the bubble algae population exploded and then crashed. The emeralds might have been eating the very smallest of bubble algae cells as they picked "invisible to me" algae off the rock and then stuck something into their mount.

Mine do like to feed on the flake food and frozen food that drop below the fish. I've NOT had them attack my hermit crabs, gobies, or trochus snails. They've not bothered my coral. I recommend you keep 1 or 2 in the tank unless you catch them misbehaving.
 
I have two emerald crabs, if you supplement their diet with seaweed then you'll never have a problem with them, or that's at least from my experience
 

WHAT’S USUALLY THE FIRST CLUE THAT SOMETHING IS OFF IN YOUR REEF?

  • A fish’s behavior or appetite changes

    Votes: 12 16.0%
  • A coral looks different or stops opening normally

    Votes: 45 60.0%
  • Water clarity or surface appearance changes

    Votes: 10 13.3%
  • Equipment sounds or flow seem different

    Votes: 8 10.7%
  • A test result catches my attention

    Votes: 15 20.0%
  • Algae or other growth starts changing

    Votes: 15 20.0%
  • I usually notice when the problem is already obvious

    Votes: 4 5.3%
  • It depends on what’s going on

    Votes: 15 20.0%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 1 1.3%
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