Emerald Crabs safe?

k2bordr03 · 01-08-2008, 01:49 AM

So i decided to pick up a emerald crab about 2 weeks ago. Last night I was looking in the tank when lights were out and noticed the crab hangin around my palm glove polyps...not sure if he was eating them or picking at the polyps directly but he was shifting them with his claws. I purchased it from the LFS and was told they are good for clean up and are reef "safe" but after reading from some sources that they have been known to eat corals, ive become worried that i might start losing corals. I dont really have an abundance of coral yet since the tank is new, but i will definitely know if he eats one of the polyps. The crab is about 3/4-1" and im wondering if i should take him back or leave him in the tank. Any suggestions?

BoomerD · 01-08-2008, 01:52 AM

Depends on your definition of safe. The last one I had tried to dismantle one of my serpent stars, so the crab got banished to the sump. Crabs, even emeralds, tend to be very opportunistic feeders. I had a Sally Lightfoot crab in my 90 that I watched catch and eat a baby Bangaii cardinal...that was it for that crab too...After that, I got rid of all my hermits except the scarlets...even the blue legs tend to be pretty opportunistic, and are well known for killing snails to take their shells...

k2bordr03 · 01-08-2008, 01:57 AM

bummer

I'm new to the sw hobby and trying to get my bearings still. I just put 6 corals in the tank and really would hate to lose them to a $6 crab. Its not like i have any missing that i have noticed, but I'm not so sure it was a smart purchase after I read more on emerald crabs.

Tru2nr · 01-16-2008, 12:39 AM

they are usually reef safe provided they have plenty of food to eat

Jason25 · 01-16-2008, 06:59 AM

Not to get side tracked but how old is your tank? Adding 6 corals at once seems like alot.

Witfull · 01-16-2008, 10:19 AM

look at my sig~

framerguy · 01-16-2008, 10:42 AM

IME when emeralds a smaller they are good algae eaters. As they gain age and size they tend to shift to a more meaty diet..like fish and coral. Use them when they are small and ditch them when they get large. If you notice them pulling polyps it's time to get rid of them.

Witfull · 01-16-2008, 10:44 AM

^you musta read my manifesto~

Crab Manifesto

framerguy · 01-16-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witfull

^you musta read my manifesto~

Crab Manifesto

Hey, that's pretty cool. No I hadn't read that but it's dead on with what's been happening in my tank. I bought some little guys, they ate algae just fine. Then they got bigger and one day, whammmmo, they're eating clove polyps as fast as they can. In the fuge they go. Got some more little ones, eatin' algae as we type! I've got the fuge ready and waitin'...

LivingTheDream · 01-16-2008, 09:21 PM

I once had an emerald crab that must had been fed gun powder at the wholesalers!..LOL.

After a week of getting his barrings, he first started bullying some coral... Then went on to shred some Nassarius snails, and then gutted a small horseshoe crab I had. Needless to say I won't have one of them again.

Chris

Tru2nr · 01-18-2008, 04:04 PM

mine are gettin big and do a great job eating algae but i have a feeling they're not gonna stay that way for long i found one who was eatn' some algae off of my star polyps but he looked up to something considering everytime i looked close to the tank at him he ran and hid which is new for him so i think he knows hes doin somethin wrong

BEELZEBOB · 01-18-2008, 04:09 PM

most risks pertaining to mynthrax crabs ive heard is from them attacking like snails stars conches and other mobile verts.

i think they're given a "reefsafe" title most likely because they are not in the genius of crabies the feed on corals.

but you never know.

especially if some uber reefer like WIT says they're nasty

01-08-2008, 01:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
k2bordr03 Tunicate Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Emerald Crabs safe? So i decided to pick up a emerald crab about 2 weeks ago. Last night I was looking in the tank when lights were out and noticed the crab hangin around my palm glove polyps...not sure if he was eating them or picking at the polyps directly but he was shifting them with his claws. I purchased it from the LFS and was told they are good for clean up and are reef "safe" but after reading from some sources that they have been known to eat corals, ive become worried that i might start losing corals. I dont really have an abundance of coral yet since the tank is new, but i will definitely know if he eats one of the polyps. The crab is about 3/4-1" and im wondering if i should take him back or leave him in the tank. Any suggestions?

01-08-2008, 01:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,225 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Emerald Crabs safe? Depends on your definition of safe. The last one I had tried to dismantle one of my serpent stars, so the crab got banished to the sump. Crabs, even emeralds, tend to be very opportunistic feeders. I had a Sally Lightfoot crab in my 90 that I watched catch and eat a baby Bangaii cardinal...that was it for that crab too...After that, I got rid of all my hermits except the scarlets...even the blue legs tend to be pretty opportunistic, and are well known for killing snails to take their shells... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

01-08-2008, 01:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
k2bordr03 Tunicate Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Emerald Crabs safe? bummer I'm new to the sw hobby and trying to get my bearings still. I just put 6 corals in the tank and really would hate to lose them to a $6 crab. Its not like i have any missing that i have noticed, but I'm not so sure it was a smart purchase after I read more on emerald crabs.

01-16-2008, 12:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tru2nr Achilles Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 832 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Emerald Crabs safe? they are usually reef safe provided they have plenty of food to eat

01-16-2008, 06:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jason25 Achilles Tang Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 881 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Emerald Crabs safe? Not to get side tracked but how old is your tank? Adding 6 corals at once seems like alot.

01-16-2008, 10:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
framerguy Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 2,920 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Emerald Crabs safe? IME when emeralds a smaller they are good algae eaters. As they gain age and size they tend to shift to a more meaty diet..like fish and coral. Use them when they are small and ditch them when they get large. If you notice them pulling polyps it's time to get rid of them. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 75g Main, 55g Fuge w/DSB/+-25#LR, 25g Sump, turboflotor skimmer, 2x250w MH(9hrs/d), 4x65w PC(14h/d), 950gph mag drive/seaswirl return, 100# LR, 3" SB chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

01-16-2008, 09:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
LivingTheDream Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 401 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Emerald Crabs safe? I once had an emerald crab that must had been fed gun powder at the wholesalers!..LOL. After a week of getting his barrings, he first started bullying some coral... Then went on to shred some Nassarius snails, and then gutted a small horseshoe crab I had. Needless to say I won't have one of them again. Chris

01-18-2008, 04:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tru2nr Achilles Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 832 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Emerald Crabs safe? mine are gettin big and do a great job eating algae but i have a feeling they're not gonna stay that way for long i found one who was eatn' some algae off of my star polyps but he looked up to something considering everytime i looked close to the tank at him he ran and hid which is new for him so i think he knows hes doin somethin wrong

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