Male vs Female Emerald Crabs

[Jmas4]

I heard female emerald crabs are smaller and less prone to attacking fish and eating coral. Is this true? What are your guys experience?

Thanks and Happy Reefing!

 

[wesman42]

I don't put anything in my tank that has a reputation for: nipping, biting, eating, regurgitating, snipping, clipping, or poking at my corals...emerald crabs included.

 

[cmcoker]

That has been my experience, the males are the ones I have had to remove. Could be coincidence, I guess, but easy enough to sex them.

 

[Subsea]

As a macro grower I have used Emerald Crabs for years. I have seen them pull food out of my anemones and raise claws when fish get too close. Can’t say that I have seen any real aggression toward coral or fish, however I don’t doubt that a crab could go rouge.

 

[Art2249]

That has been my experience, the males are the ones I have had to remove. Could be coincidence, I guess, but easy enough to sex them.

How do you tell the difference?

 

[Jmas4]

How do you tell the difference?

Males have a light house shaped abdomen, while females have a bee hive shaped abdomen.

 

[Subsea]

How do you tell the difference?

Look at the abdomen hinge on the underside of crab. The female hinge is very wide at the bottom, which is where the egg mass is carried.