Experiences with emerald crabs?

[bubba005]

I just added a female emerald crab to my Fluval evo in order to tackle a bubble algae outbreak. While I did not see her mess with any corals, I’m now somewhat paranoid since I have some zoa frags with only a few polyps that I am sure she could make quick work of. If anyone can share their experiences with these critters, it would be very insightful

 

[towels]

Added one 2 weeks ago and removed him because he started picking at acros. Some people have difficulty with them while others don’t. I probably won’t be adding another:/

Sucks because he was eating gha like a beast

 

[bubba005]

Added one 2 weeks ago and removed him because he started picking at acros. Some people have difficulty with them while others don’t. I probably won’t be adding another:/

Sucks because he was eating gha like a beast

I’ve read that the females are usually less likely to be coral nippers than bigger males, so I hope that mine will just focus on the abundant bubble algae when she gets hungry.

 

[feelingfishy]

Had 10 in my 235 reef and only one seemed to be rouge. As was mentioned before it was the largest male with red on the claw. He decided to take a nip off my homewrecker 1/2inch frag ( it survived ).. He had expensive taste so I had to banish him to the sump.

 

[fishywishy]

I’ve used to have a few red and green ones for a while. They didn’t eat my corals and took care of bubble algae.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I have about 40 in my system. Sure, some pick at stuff they shouldn’t, but so do I.

 

[Coral Memere]

I've never had a problem with them and eating zoas. (I have LOTS of zoas!) I have a problem with them knocking the frags all over kver the place.

 

[TX_REEF]

I caught mine eating LPS. They live in the fuge now.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Ask me about the gorillas and the stone crabs that I can’t get out… oh, and my dumb butt put an arrow crab in my tank. This was him 30 minutes after I put him in… he has been moved to my pest tank.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have about 40 in my system. Sure, some pick at stuff they shouldn’t, but so do I.

How big is your tank?

 

[mjszos]

Every one I’ve had has nipped at coral. But they also do a great job on bubble and hair algae.

It’s a fair trade, IMO. A little taste of zoa in exchange for a lot of taste of algae.

 

[kevgib67]

In about 20 years of reefing I’ve had them in my tanks and I have never had a problem, although I believe some have experienced a bad one from time to time. I put my first one in back in the nineties due to bubble algae and it did a great job, I’ve kept them ever since.

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Never getting one again... Every single one I've had went straight for my zoa's. Male, female, small or big it didn't matter... The better option is a Percnon Gibessi. Way and way more reef safe. One of those guys cleaned my bubble algae in a matter of days in my 15G. Now it's just chilling in my 25G. They do get rather big, so you do probably have to trade it in after a few months.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

How big is your tank?

Display is 400g

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

All this talk about Emeralds and I had a weird observation last night after lights out with a red flash light. So on top of a rock, I had a snail on a snail on a snail, literally. Then, about an inch to the left I noticed one of my larger emeralds had a smaller emerald on like a headlock. Which, that emerald had another emerald in a headlock lock. Then, there were 3 other emeralds trying to join in and the other 3 getting it on we’re not having it. One of these guys has no pinchers, he lost them weeks ago and I can’t believe he is still alive. Very odd behavior.

 

[twentyleagues]

I dont trust or like crabs in general (mixing with other things at least). I got 3 emerald crabs to handle some bubble algae I was at my wits end with. They destroyed my acan collection instead never touched any bubble algae. I stuck them in the sump got 4 pitho crabs, again with the crabs! Pithos do work! Can recommend.

 

[bubba005]

Seems like she’s being a good citizen for the time being and hanging out near my rics. Fingers crossed she does what I need her to! If not, I’m ready to order an army of pitho crabs from reef cleaners

 

[Schwabst]

I've tried on several occasions to have emerald crabs but they always seem to end up picking at my Acros. One chewed up a homewrecker pretty good. I've never seen them eat my bubble algae. The only crab that I haven't had an issue with and does a great job keeping the rock clean is a red mithrax crab that came with my live rock.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

IDK I'll let you know when I can find it lol. Dropped one in my deskmate to tackle bubble algae. I haven't seen it for a week now. Bubble algae hasn't gone down so maybe its tackling something else. The two hitchhiker snails are here. So its eating something. Or its dead. But I heard they are good hiders.

 

[bubba005]

I've tried on several occasions to have emerald crabs but they always seem to end up picking at my Acros. One chewed up a homewrecker pretty good. I've never seen them eat my bubble algae. The only crab that I haven't had an issue with and does a great job keeping the rock clean is a red mithrax crab that came with my live rock.

I had good luck with a male and female cleaning out bubble algae in my 31g, but the male began to act suspicious around corals and was banished to my sump. The female is still in there and keeping things tidy. I saw her eating on my toadstool a few days ago, but she didn’t seem to be damaging it at all and was likely just picking algae off of its skin. I just get nervous when adding new ones since I know they can be a mixed bag.