Ouroboros
New Member
I've seen a few comments here on the pithos crab, and I think I might have that type of crab, but they were called "mithrax" crabs when I bought them (sick name, I know. I imagine their shells are mithril plate armor) but when researching them I saw they're also called pithos crabs I believe. Anyway on to my experience with them:
I believe that they will possibly try to eat small hermits out of their shell, but I'm not certain. They may have only been picking it apart because it had already died in a fight over a shell with a bigger hermit, or just due to a failed molt. (Scavenging, not killing, again unsure, but they live with my slightly larger hermits fine.)
I have not seen them go after hammers, zoas, palythoas, or any of my encrusting corals. I've seen them eat nuisance algae. They don't bother peppermint shrimp, a tuxedo urchin, or turbo snails. I got 3 when I ordered them and two are males (I believe) with small claws, and one has massive claws on massive arms and is slightly larger in size overall which I believe to be the female. She will beat and chase away the males only if they get near her when she's found something to munch on or if they attempt to crawl over her when she's just sitting still somewhere. I've seen the two smaller males grapple with eachoher but they just break it up after a while. I think aggression between the three of them is largely dissipated by almost nightly small nori sheets in a clip down by the gravel.
I was worried they'd eat my decorative dragons breath macroalgae, but the worst thing they do to it is cut off very small tufts, about the size of a dime or smaller, and they wear it around as stylish hats (sometimes). Other times tiny rocks are in season, or they'll use a tuft of hair algae off the back wall as a hat.
Silly little creatures that I'd recommend for most tanks. I've heard people keep them in sumps, as well.
I believe that they will possibly try to eat small hermits out of their shell, but I'm not certain. They may have only been picking it apart because it had already died in a fight over a shell with a bigger hermit, or just due to a failed molt. (Scavenging, not killing, again unsure, but they live with my slightly larger hermits fine.)
I have not seen them go after hammers, zoas, palythoas, or any of my encrusting corals. I've seen them eat nuisance algae. They don't bother peppermint shrimp, a tuxedo urchin, or turbo snails. I got 3 when I ordered them and two are males (I believe) with small claws, and one has massive claws on massive arms and is slightly larger in size overall which I believe to be the female. She will beat and chase away the males only if they get near her when she's found something to munch on or if they attempt to crawl over her when she's just sitting still somewhere. I've seen the two smaller males grapple with eachoher but they just break it up after a while. I think aggression between the three of them is largely dissipated by almost nightly small nori sheets in a clip down by the gravel.
I was worried they'd eat my decorative dragons breath macroalgae, but the worst thing they do to it is cut off very small tufts, about the size of a dime or smaller, and they wear it around as stylish hats (sometimes). Other times tiny rocks are in season, or they'll use a tuft of hair algae off the back wall as a hat.
Silly little creatures that I'd recommend for most tanks. I've heard people keep them in sumps, as well.
peaceful , big knobby brown brittle starfish and I’m scared he will pick at my coral. So, real experience , should I try it. I have a 20 gallon nano
