Emerald Crabs = Reef Safe?

[amajda0519]

My husband just recently bought us to emerald crabs for our 75 gallon reef tank and I was just wanting to make sure they're safe. We don't have much by the way of corals yet just some mushrooms and green star polyps.
Thanks!

 

[ballet ninja]

Yes, they are mithrax crabs and rarely do they pick at corals/mushrooms. They typically feed on bubble algea, and green hair algea. They will also take mysis shrimp and probably other meaty foods.
They do sometimes, but not always, pick at corals so you have to watch the guys close. I, however, have not had one pick at any of my corals/anemone, and I have only heard a few stories about them pestering corals.

 

[socal57che]

I vote yes.

 

[oceanlover]

My two emerald crabs have been in my tank for a year now with no trouble. I don't see them a lot but they are now double in size from when we got them. They also peacefully exist with my strawberry crab.

 

[marka1620]

I have 6 in my 47 gallon and two of them are fairly big. Have never hurt anything in my tank. I feed them dried seaweed.

 

[privatejoker]

I had four in my 75 until I used interceptor. They were fine, never went after fish or corals. They didn't eat the bubble algae either

 

[mr_x]

Originally Posted by privatejoker
http:///forum/post/2730889
They didn't eat the bubble algae either
i've had many emerald crabs in many tanks. once in a while they pick at a coral, but not enough to worry about it.
i also, have never seen a single one eat bubble algae.

 

[amajda0519]

Thanks guys. I'll keep an eye on them with my corals. They did eat my bubble algae. I didn't have very much, just a few patches on 1 rock, but ever since I put them in my tank it's been gone! Now only if they'll go after the hair algae!

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by amajda0519
http:///forum/post/2731786
Now only if they'll go after the hair algae!

Don't hold your breath.

 

[geoj]

Not reef safe will eat green star polyps.
I have had two emerald crabs mow through green star polyps.
Pulled the crabs and the GSP recovered.

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by GeoJ
http:///forum/post/2731892
Not reef safe will eat green star polyps.
I have had two emerald crabs mow through green star polyps.
Pulled the crabs and the GSP recovered.
Uh, keep the crabs and pull the GSP. You'll have far more headaches from the GSP than the Emeralds, for sure.

 

[dennis210]

I have had emerald crabs forever; and sorry to say they have never once showed interest in any nuisance algae. Not bubble ot hair. Mine will be seen picking around corals, but it seems to be where water movement is slowed passing around or by a coral and things settle out. The only negative I have is that the largest one in my tank will kill smaller ones I have tried to add. At night they all seem to crawl up to the top of rocks and stand with claws raised above like a boxer who has just won a bout!

 

[nycbob]

emerald crabs r great and reef safe. i hv seen mine actually push a small sleeping fish away so he could pick things off the rock.