Emerald crab attacking RBTA?

[Lukielight]

So I've had a new Bubble tip anemone in my tank for 2 weeks now. He settled in the first day and for the rest of the two weeks he was fully inflated and happy, only deflated a couple times for short periods of time. Then two nights ago I came home to it shrunken and hidden with a ripped off tentacle laying on the live rock below it. Since the it's been hidden in the crack only inflating a few tentacles. Last night I found my emerald crab picking at it. What are the chances the crab ripped off the tentacle and is harassing the anemone? The only other culprit I could think of is my copperband butterfly, but I havent seen him go near it?

 

[Mike N]

I had a rogue emerald that would rip tentacles off of frogspawns and anemones. Prime suspect I would think.
I've seen CBBs nip on anemones, but never ripping tentacles.

 

[Lukielight]

I've seen him rip pieces of my GSP off before which made me suspicious. I just dont have a sump or another full time tank to send him to. But better a $5 crab than a $60 anemone.

 

[Mike N]

Good call.

 

[Lukielight]

Good call.

Well mike I confirmed it this morning I caught him red handed with the tip of another tentacle. Now to catch him.

 

[Mike N]

Well mike I confirmed it this morning I caught him red handed with the tip of another tentacle. Now to catch him.

That little f-er!
Good luck getting him out, they're not exactly easy to catch.

 

[Lukielight]

His boldness got him caught. Went back to tearing apart my GSP about 30 minutes after I tried to grab him the first time. Not sure what turned him bad apple he had been stuffing himself on the nori I feed my tang for the past 4 months hes been in there.

 

[Mike N]

Nice! That is bold for sure.

 

[Miller535]

My understanding is that emeralds are a hit or miss. Which is why some sites that sell them sell them as, "reef safe with caution".

 

[Lukielight]

I've seen some say that when they get bigger they become problems and also that hairy legged ones seem to be more problematic than smooth legged. My guess is just it depends on the crab.

 

[Mike N]

I keep about 6-7 emeralds in my 40b and have done so for years to control bubble algae. I normally evict them when their claws start growing out of proportion to the rest of their bodies. The one in OP's picture would have been expelled long ago..

 

[Lukielight]

Is there anything I can do to coax the BTA out of hiding? It closed up in a crack as tight as it could and hasn't moved for 2 days.

 

[Born2beblack]

Im having a similar issue where mine was moving under a rock and my emerald crab pinched it and its been under there for a day now and idk if i should move it out or not.

 

[Lukielight]

I'm not the guy to give advice but mine died about a month after the crab got it. I'd get rid of the crab as soon as possible if its harassing the nem.

 

[sprungson]

man, thanks for the post. For sure, I am going to go hunting for my emerald crabs tomorrow.

BTW, does anybody know if the Clowns will attack the crab if he harrasses the anemone? All my anemones are hosted by clowns, so i'm wondering if that will deter the crab

 

[sprungson]

I just read on liveaquaria that if they do not get enough food they will turn on corals and inverts.