Rogue Emerald Crab

[Sharkbait19]

Hi,

One of my first inverts in my tank was an emerald crab named Sebastian. He's entertaining, really fun to watch, and livens up the tank, especially during a fallow period. When there were fish, he would usually hide. However, in their absence, it seems like he's trying to test my limits--irritating corals, hanging out in my hammer colony, and really doing everything an algae eater shouldn't do. I also am under the assumption that he killed my firefish back when I did have fish. Despite these annoyances, I still think he's really neat, and probably one of my favorite creatures in the tank. And then today, he decided to test how far he could go, and he totally decimated my brittle starfish. I really don't know what to do with him. It's in a nano tank with no real sump, and I would like to keep him if I could. Why is he acting up? Is he hungry? Is there something I can do to tame his "curiosity" and recklessness?

Thanks! Happy reefing!

 

[lapin]

Back to the fish store would be a good choice.

 

[Sosuke]

It depends on the specific crab you have as they are all different. Some will be angels while some will eat fish, coral, and inverts. I would take it back to the LFS IMO as its not worth the risks.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I'm afraid that is the only option for me. The issue is he really has been there since day one, and I do really like him. But I suppose if that is the only option.....

 

[rubertoe93]

You said there was a fallow period? Are there fish in your tank? I’m going through the same at them moment, when I feed my coral I add a bit of mysis for my cleaners and emerald crab!

 

[Sharkbait19]

You said there was a fallow period? Are there fish in your tank? I’m going through the same at them moment, when I feed my coral I add a bit of mysis for my cleaners and emerald crab!

So I had fish, then they got ich, so I went fallow for 90 days. The emerald crab was a pain during that time. Then I got a pair of clowns, but even after QT they tracked in brook, so now they’re out for six weeks. The emerald crab is back out and thinks he’s the boss again. The clowns will be back in in five weeks.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Here’s a pic of the most recent incident. It’s still alive but is a little bit sad looking...

 

[vetteguy53081]

They are capable of raising havoc, reason why no longer allowed in any of my tanks

 

[Sharkbait19]

He killed the brittle star. I was about to save the poor guy when the emerald crab ripped the central disk in two. This is the last straw. I'm getting rid of this little pest.

 

[king aiptasia]

He killed the brittle star. I was about to save the poor guy when the emerald crab ripped the central disk in two. This is the last straw. I'm getting rid of this little pest.

yeah crabs can be troublesome, i was gonna suggest making a glass divider to quarantine him to one part of the tank

 

[Sharkbait19]

I honestly have a large attachment to the crab, I think he's neat and has a lot of personality. But I'm really disheartened by what he did yesterday, and just don't even know what to do with him.

 

[ehealy13]

Can you put him in your sump?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Can you put him in your sump?

Not really, it's a fluval 13.5 and there's not really much of an area for a crab to live.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Not really, it's a fluval 13.5 and there's not really much of an area for a crab to live.

actions have consequences, he really should have thought about that beforehand. Maybe some hard time will teach him a lesson!

 

[king aiptasia]

maybe you can put more entertaining food items in for him? crabs like to pick at things and maybe he would appreciate some "toys" like fibrous meat shavings