green crab

[mlm]

Tonight I noticed a green crab about the size of a quarter with very furry legs almost like a spider scraping stuff of of my live rock and eating it. I was wondering if this thing will damage any of the live rock and if I should remove it. I have this purple stuff growing all over my live rock not sure what it is but I think it looks good and I would not want the crab to eat it all. BTW the crab must have come in the liverock b/c I did not put it in the tank.
MLM

 

[dburr]

It's called an emerald crab. Nice to have in a reef. It will eat algea. Loves the bubble algea. Mine picks at the rock all the time (when I see him, they hide alot)
good luck

 

[artskoi]

You will like the Emerald Crab.They are neat and the greatest green.Safe for reefs.The purple is a Coraline Algae.I have some to and it is the deepest purple.Emerald will leave it alone.

 

[iceburg98]

If it's an emerald, you'll be fine - they eat algae ad help clean the tank.
However, i had a crab (came in on a piece of rock) in my tank that looked like an emerald crab, but intsead of having the scissor-like claws for picking at algae, he had larger crushing claws. Also, he only came out at night, and would move some smaller shells and rock around to make a little fort. I ended up having two fish die, and i can only attribute it to the crab. I did manage to get him out of the tank, and now everything seems to be fine.
I don't mean to scare you. All i'm saying is make sure what you have is an emerald. If it eats algae and is out during the day, and has smaller scissor-like claws, you're fine. Just sharing an ecperience togelp make you more aware...

 

[krazzydart]

you saved yourself $20-$30 (haha) its a good thing.... freebies don't come that often!!! enjoy.....

 

[salttrigger]

Artskoi are you sure they are reef safe?because mine just kill 2 anemonies and 2 of mi favorite fish.

 

[artskoi]

Mine leaves the polyps and Mushrooms alone.My LFS keeps their Emeralds in with there invertebrates and have for 30 years,that I have been going there.

 

[artskoi]

Mine leaves the polyps and Mushrooms alone.My LFS keeps their Emeralds in with there invertebrates and have for 30 years,that I have been going there.

 

[bluewater]

Mine is white, with green legs.
It sleeps at the base of my largest BTA.
That's where it hangs out most of the time.

 

[teetee]

My crab started off as a nice emerald green color, but now it is white. Seems as if it is bleached somehow. Anyone know why this crab might have chanded color? BTW I have my crab with soft inverts and so far I have had no problems. It is a bit larger than a quarter.

 

[chocostar]

Emerald Crabs will be one of the most productive members of your reef setup. I have an emerald that litterally burrowed underneath of a very large (8 inch base) long tentacle anenome. He lives there and comes out to eat all the time. He loves to eat the things the anenome drops. He is a great addition to the tank.
Regarding their bad behavior, I did see him cut a mushroom in half once, but it was bennificial becuase that mushroom turned into two polyps instead of one.
I hope you enjoy your emeralds because they are a neat creature for your reef.