Emerald Crab

[DEL 707]

I have a 55l tank and I was thinking about getting an emerald crab. The tank has a bubble algae infestation, I would like to crab to eat it, but I'm not counting on that fact. I think it's a cool looking invert and if it helps clear up the algae, I'll consider that a nice bonus.

Is the crab going to pose any danger to my current livestock?
I have a yellow clown goby, blue neon goby and a tailspot blenny. Along with 2 fire shrimp.
I do have a clean up crew of red legged hermit crabs, nassarius snail and trochus snails.

Coral wise, I have some softies with a few LPS.

I am also on the lookout for a pitho crab. If buy chance I do get 1, would there be issues between the 2?

 

[TX_REEF]

I have seen emerald crabs eat LPS, I would not put them in a reef tank personally. Mine all live in the refugium now. Check out pithos crabs instead. I have never seen one eat coral, and I regularly witness mine eating bubble algae: https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/pitho-crab

 

[DEL 707]

I've been trying to get 1, but it seems nearly impossible to find 1 in the UK.

 

[kevgib67]

I've been trying to get 1, but it seems nearly impossible to find 1 in the UK.

I’ve heard many times that people have experienced them eating coral and I believe they do but I don’t believe it’s the norm. Ive had them in my tank for most of 20 years and they have never failed to rid my tank of bubble algae.

 

[JayM]

I've got 3 emerald crabs in a 100 gallon display. Never bother anything but algae.

 

[Subsea]

Emerald crabs can go rouge. For certain, they steal food from anemones.

 

[slythy]

I have had as many as 10 in my 70g and 20 in my 180. I dont have any issues with them picking on corals or fish.

 

[bubbgee]

Only starved emeralds will start eating corals. always leave some pellets and algae wafers around where they are. Some algae will also be appreciated.