emerald crab

[salt one]

last time i got a clean up crew it came with 2 emerald crabs one was small and the second was very large. after sometime everything started to disapear until just the 2 emeralds were left and the hermits. should i get rid of him? i want to get another clean up crew but i don't want to find that he has been eating everything.

 

[b_ball12_99]

You sure its the emeralds and not something maybe living in your lr?

 

[nm reef]

I've heard of folks getting rid of emeralds due to deaths and disappearences....but I gotta tell ya I have 2 emeralds in each of my 55's and they have never been a problem of any kind...........'cept for hiding now and then

 

[silent bob]

i have 4 emerald crabs in my 29 reef, and 15 in my 110 and i'm having no problems

 

[yostrat]

Emeralds are not dangerous to anything cept Bubble algae [/LIST]

 

[flydan]

Hey,
I agree that the smaller emeralds are good in a reef. HOWEVER, I added two very large ones to my tank and I watched one of them:
1. rip my elegance coral to pieces
2. grab a snail, turn it over and gut it.
3. grab a brittle star, snip a piece off of it and eat it.
I didn't eye witness the rest of the damage it did, but I lost several mushrooms and two star polyp colonys before I got them out.
If yours is more than 2" inches across, I'd get it out of there ASAP.

 

[madd catt]

mine just have got my algea.

 

[gabbys125reef]

oh no! all crabs won't mess with my corals will they? I have red leg something crabs are they safe?

 

[flydan]

Hey,
Red leg/scarlet hermit crabs are fine! Make sure you have extra shells in your tank for them to move into when they outgrow their present home. That way they don't kill a snail for its shell.
Didn't mean to freak anybody out. I just had a real bad experience and wanted to share it so other folks don't have to go through what I did.

 

[kdlbem]

I have seen my emeralds rip pieces off my trumpet coral(luckily it's a fast healer), and saw one going for a flowerpot coral. I am currently trying to get the last one out, along with a rather large cleaner shrimp that won't leave the corals alone(constantly picking at them, and stealing the food I give them ) I am probably going to add some snails instead.
Keep an eye on the emeralds
B

 

[bluewater]

My Emerald crab rocks. Only eats algae. He
has strange behavior though. Sleeps under
my BubbleTip Anemone. Right at the base of
the foot, and pretty much chills there for
cover and shelter.

 

[kc2jdg]

maybe it's not your emerald crab... do you ever hear clicking sounds coming from your tank? are the hermit crab/snail shells cracked or broken? any small fish or shrimp missing lately?
mantis shrimp hiding in your lr enjoy devouring cleanup crews.