Emerald crabs vs peppermint shrimp

Nosaj82 · Mar 6, 2017

Currently have two emerald grabs and hoping to get a few peppermint shrimp shortly. Wonder if the crabs will kill the shrimp or should I be safe adding the shrimp?

sbash · Mar 6, 2017

It is probably safe; but this is an excellent question, so I am going to tag along for the ride...

saltygoat · Mar 6, 2017

I have both emerald crabs and peppermint shrimp coexisting in a mixed reef 210 gallons. Has a heavy amount of rock in it though so maybe it's an exception since there are plenty of hiding places

wkscott · Mar 6, 2017

I've had both in numerous tanks over the years.

Nosaj82 · Mar 6, 2017

Mine is a 45 gallon with a little under the allowable limit for a tank that size. So there is hiding spots but still it's only a 45 gallon tank

babbaganoosh · Mar 6, 2017

I have both in my 90 mixed reef. Haven't experienced any problems. 2 peppermints and 4 emeralds

Nosaj82 · Mar 6, 2017

***rock***

Nosaj82 · Mar 6, 2017

Found one of my clown fish in the claws of my emerald yesterday. Not sure exactly what happened here but little nemo looked fine in the morning. I thought these crabs were harmless hence why I'm nervous about putting the peppermint shrimp in

babbaganoosh · Mar 6, 2017

Nosaj82 said:
Found one of my clown fish in the claws of my emerald yesterday. Not sure exactly what happened here but little nemo looked fine in the morning. I thought these crabs were harmless hence why I'm nervous about putting the peppermint shrimp in

I've seen my biggest emerald. Call him Goliath snap at my clown a few times. But nothing to worry about. He's such a bully he just shrugs it off.

Fish Werx · Mar 6, 2017

I have had and currently have both in my system.....
I just had to fashion a DIY trap to get peppermint shrimp out of my tank and put them in the sump because they were tearing up my LPS corals.... My emeralds have been role model citizens...But I have a good friend that had an emerald crab munching on a blue-green chromis one morning. Not sure if it died and was being "cleaned up" or if the emerald grabbed it over night? But his peppermint shrimp are good to go in a tank full of softies and LPS....
I think as with fish, inverts just have a mind of their own and must be taken on a case by case basis...

Flarandy · Jul 23, 2022

Something eats my Trochus snails within days of putting them in the 35 gal. hex
I have 2 peppermint shrimp and I have seen them trying to turn the snail over, I also lost 2 Scarlet leg hermit crabs while the were molting and just caught the Peppermint shrimp sticking it's claws into another molting hermit crab. anyone else ever hear of this. The only other thing in the tank are 2 Clownfish and a Tail Spot Blenny

TopClamSkoo · Jul 23, 2022

Had a anemone crab munching on my healthy torch once... Took him out asap!
Never trust crabs and shrimp... My scarlet cleaner used to nip at my clams too..
Took them out as well...

I don't keep crabs or shrimp anymore. Not in the last 2 tanks I setup.

homegrowncichlid · Jul 23, 2022

heh, I think you all are staving your peppermint shrimps, since they are actively hunting snails and crabs. They need to eat meaty foods, they are not vegetarians, but carnivores who prefer to eat sessile or tiny invertebrates. A shrimp hunting a snail or hermit crab is like a cat trying to eat a turtle or armadillo. If its hungry or desperate enough, they will go after anything including your finger. ouch, heh.

TopClamSkoo · Jul 23, 2022

homegrowncichlid said:
heh, I think you all are staving your peppermint shrimps, since they are actively hunting snails and crabs. They need to eat meaty foods, they are not vegetarians, but carnivores who prefer to eat sessile or tiny invertebrates. A shrimp hunting a snail or hermit crab is like a cat trying to eat a turtle or armadillo. If its hungry or desperate enough, they will go after anything including your finger. ouch, heh.

True dat...Can't argue there..
Either way, for me I'll just skip their existence in my tank.