Emerald crab worries?

DonJuanAntwon · Oct 7, 2022

Got a little bit of bubble algae. I’m thinking of getting an emerald crab to help out. Any worries of an emerald crab interaction with my clownfish, gobies, peppermint shrimp, tiger conch, or assortment of snails? Basically I got a nice community setup where everyone gets along and I don’t want to disturb that. Thanks.

Pistondog · Oct 7, 2022

I would not worry about those, rumor has it tbey can get nippy with some corals if no other food is available. Loved my crabs!

Alexopora · Oct 7, 2022

DonJuanAntwon said:
Got a little bit of bubble algae. I’m thinking of getting an emerald crab to help out. Any worries of an emerald crab interaction with my clownfish, gobies, peppermint shrimp, tiger conch, or assortment of snails? Basically I got a nice community setup where everyone gets along and I don’t want to disturb that. Thanks.

Personally, my emerald doesnt have issues with my clown and starry dragonet. Gets along well with the trochus snails and coral banded shrimp as well. Based on my observation, fairly peaceful but do ensure it has enough to eat or it may snack on corals.

TokenReefer · Oct 7, 2022

But then if you feed em will they eat the bubble algea...can get tricky...

vetteguy53081 · Oct 7, 2022

DonJuanAntwon said:
Got a little bit of bubble algae. I’m thinking of getting an emerald crab to help out. Any worries of an emerald crab interaction with my clownfish, gobies, peppermint shrimp, tiger conch, or assortment of snails? Basically I got a nice community setup where everyone gets along and I don’t want to disturb that. Thanks.

No interaction concerns but males are hard to trust often going after zoa and other soft coral.

Alexopora · Oct 7, 2022

Token_Reefer said:
But then if you feed em will they eat the bubble algea...can get tricky...

i dont target feed them but as I broadcast feed my tank so Im sure some gets caught by the emerald crab. Also I cant guarantee that the emerald crab will control bubble algae (a quick look around this forum will show different experiences on this from other reefers). For mine it worked as my tank has become largely devoid of bubble algae except the powerheads and filters (places where the crab cant get to). You still need to make sure you keep up with your regular water maintenance and manually remove bubble algae whenever possible. Careful when removing, try not to burst it.

AwakenedReefer · Oct 7, 2022

I have one in a 7g tank and have observed her closely. Honestly she is not really an issue. She got rid of the bubble algae fast and I have never seen it again. The most annoying thing she does is run across or climb various corals. She just spends the day scraping rock and she eats all the algae she can get.
Once, months ago, I mounted a new Yuma in the tank and she didn’t like where I put it so she pinched it and yanked it away. I should have known better, it was her spot. I frequently observe her cleaning throughout/around/amongst the zoas. I hate her on them but she keeps the sand and bs from building up amongst them.
There are also 3 hermits and 1 astraea snail and they all get along. Now she has pushed a hermit around a time or two.
Also they seem smart. I use some black tongs to feed her and a pair a chrome tongs to tap and run her off when she climbs corals. Now she has learned when the shiny pair comes out she better run and hide but the black pair she frantically runs too.
I have considered taking her back to the store due to well not needing her anymore but ultimately she is allot of fun and the tank would not be the same without her.

anthonygf · Oct 7, 2022

Just suck them out of the tank during water changes. Get a stainless steel straw and a hose, wrap a rubber band around the straw to create a seal when placing straw into hose. This works well on a variety of pests.

dannyd_ · Oct 8, 2022

My emerald crab didn't have issues with tank mates, but I caught him trying to eat my gonis. At first I gave him a break thinking maybe he was trying to get algae in between or something, but the next time it was like he was trying to give them a haircut. Took him back to the pet store the same day.

DonJuanAntwon · Oct 10, 2022

Got one emerald crab for my 10 gallon. As soon as I got him in he started chowing down on the bubble algae. Would you stick with just one for now and see how he does?

Rick's Reviews · Oct 10, 2022

I'm still researching emerald crab porcelain crap and pom pom crab to finish off my aquarium.
All these reviews help contribute to my decision

TokenReefer · Oct 10, 2022

DonJuanAntwon said:
Got one emerald crab for my 10 gallon. As soon as I got him in he started chowing down on the bubble algae. Would you stick with just one for now and see how he does?

I would in that size tank. They can grow pretty rapidly

DonJuanAntwon · Oct 10, 2022

Token_Reefer said:
I would in that size tank. They can grow pretty rapidly

How much bubble algae can one emerald crab clean out? I guess I’ll find out soon

bnord · Oct 10, 2022

it’s easy to sex them, if the local shop will allow you to pick out a female you’re in good shape. If it’s random, males go in my sump and females go in my tank. I agree with the above that males can get a little unruly. As to Gonis, I have several flourishing colonies in two or three emeralds in each of the tanks. But you never know, if it was plucking bubble algae versus keeping good Gonis I know which way i would go
And absolutely the only place I find bubble algae is on the back of snails a d on powerheads
por are basically slightly mobile barnacles and harmless and Pom Poms you might see once a week

DonJuanAntwon · Oct 10, 2022

bnord said:
it’s easy to sex them, if the local shop will allow you to pick out a female you’re in good shape. If it’s random, males go in my sump and females go in my tank. I agree with the above that males can get a little unruly. As to Gonis, I have several flourishing colonies in two or three emeralds in each of the tanks. But you never know, if it was plucking bubble algae versus keeping good Gonis I know which way i would go
And absolutely the only place I find bubble algae is on the back of snails a d on powerheads
por are basically slightly mobile barnacles and harmless and Pom Poms you might see once a week

I hope it trims up my waving hand anthelias for me. I’ll keep the thread updated if it starts eating any corals.

DonJuanAntwon · Oct 10, 2022

bnord said:
it’s easy to sex them, if the local shop will allow you to pick out a female you’re in good shape. If it’s random, males go in my sump and females go in my tank. I agree with the above that males can get a little unruly. As to Gonis, I have several flourishing colonies in two or three emeralds in each of the tanks. But you never know, if it was plucking bubble algae versus keeping good Gonis I know which way i would go
And absolutely the only place I find bubble algae is on the back of snails a d on powerheads
por are basically slightly mobile barnacles and harmless and Pom Poms you might see once a week

Also, what’s the way to sex them? I can hopefully see if i got a male or female