Just got 7 emerald crabs....having second thoughts.

[slojmn]

I have a very established reef tank with lots of nice corals, mainly SPS but scolys, chalices, fungia, acans, zoas and a few mushrooms (PZ GodSpawn, Red Devil, and Jawbreaker) as well. I have bubble algae to plague proportion. The more I pull out the more of it comes back. Its terrible My tang doesn't touch it. I bought some emerald crabs as a last resort. They just arrived and I am acclimating them. A couple are pretty large and I am starting to worry due to all of the crazy stories I have read about rogue Emerald Crabs.

 

[Ricksreef1]

I had an outbreak in my 40 and put two in,it only took them about two days to clear it up.I took one back to lfs to avoid problems.Just keeping the one keeps it under control now.
Depending on the size of your tank,once they have done they're job you might want to reduce the number you end up keeping.

 

[slojmn]

I threw in a bunch of bubble algae to see what they would do. Four of the seven went after it with gusto, the two largest went after it quickly and are fighting each other over it. The other three, Meh, not much movement to take the bubble algae. It doesn't mean they wont though. I am so conflicted.....

 

[slojmn]

I had an outbreak in my 40 and put two in,it only took them about two days to clear it up.I took one back to lfs to avoid problems.Just keeping the one keeps it under control now.
Depending on the size of your tank,once they have done they're job you might want to reduce the number you end up keeping.

That gives me some positive hope. I think it will take more than two days....I have thousands of bubbles everywhere. I had a black tang for years and he kept the tank spotless once he outgrew the tank I moved him on to a bigger home and the bubble algae started, it was a slow process but once it got a foothold it went crazy about a year ago. Its impossible now. I ohave every kid of bubble algae I've researched, except one type. I have a 120 g and the rocks structures are huge and full of corals so no chance of taking rocks out to catch the buggers but they will go into traps pretty easily. I think I'll put them in and hope they stay away from my LPS.

 

[hatfielj]

I have always had 1 or 2 emerald crabs in my 90 gal and I never have any bubble algae issues anymore. You may still find it in places they can't reach, but it will be mostly gone.

 

[slojmn]

I have always had 1 or 2 emerald crabs in my 90 gal and I never have any bubble algae issues anymore. You may still find it in places they can't reach, but it will be mostly gone.

I'm very happy to hear you have success keeping a few emerald crabs without them damaging your other inhabitants. I ended up putting on 5 of the 7 emerald crabs into the main tank and the other two into my nano tank. I figure I'll need to remove a few of them from the main tank once the bubble algae is mostly gone. I figure keeping 2-3 wouldn't be a bad idea. They are definitely eating the bubble algae in the tank with gusto.

 

[LadAShark]

I have a very established reef tank with lots of nice corals, mainly SPS but scolys, chalices, fungia, acans, zoas and a few mushrooms (PZ GodSpawn, Red Devil, and Jawbreaker) as well. I have bubble algae to plague proportion. The more I pull out the more of it comes back. Its terrible My tang doesn't touch it. I bought some emerald crabs as a last resort. They just arrived and I am acclimating them. A couple are pretty large and I am starting to worry due to all of the crazy stories I have read about rogue Emerald Crabs.

Should have just gotten an abalone tbh.

 

[chefjpaul]

Crabs are food not friends.