Green Emerald Crab

the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
When my tank first started, I threw a GEC in to see what he would do. I know they are oppertunists and will get what they can. All the GEC did was actually break small pieces off of my LR and killed my recently molted Cleaner Shrimp. I don't know if mine was just a bad egg but Im extremely hesitant on getting another one to control my very small cluster of Bubble Algae. Can anyone give me any experiences they have had with GEC? I wanna get one but I'm worried.
 
alabama reefer

alabama reefer

Member
Emeralds usually get the rap for killing things when actually they are only cleaning up the mess. If it killed your cleaner shrimp then there was already something wrong with it, IMO. I have always had emeralds and they have never done anything other than there job.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
I have two emeralds and they are very happy just eating algae and scrounging on the rock surface. They have not messed with anything in my tank and seem fairly docile. I have fish and a hermit and they are all harmonious. I think maybe you got a bad apple... Mine have never broken any of my LR... IMO, I would get another and see what happens. If they are not working out, take them out and donate them to you LFS, or get a crustacean eater... JM2C.
 
r1v2c

r1v2c

Member
I haven't had any compatibility issues with my emerald, but I have seen it pick off coraline algea from my LR to eat it. The only thing is, I got the emerald to help with some bubble algea.... but nothing, it almost seems uninterested... i think the bubble algea thing might be a hit or miss....
 
uneverno

uneverno

Active Member
Same as w/ Peppermint Shrimp and Aptaisia, I find that my Emerald is useless at containing Bubble Algae unless it's very small. Even if it is small, they break the bubbles which spreads the algae.
As far as it killing something, I don't see that happening unless that something is already ill (which with shrimp is extremely difficult to detect.) Emeralds are not predators IME, but they are opportunistic scavengers. Chances are high that the Cleaner was already in bad shape. Not implying that was your fault by any means, but there's really no way the Emerald could've caught it otherwise - if, in fact, that's what happened.
We frequently tend to blame the aminal eating another one for having also killed said victim when that's not necessarily the case.
As w/ any critter though, YMMV.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
I have atleast 10 snails, small and large, atleast 8 very very small hermits, 4 or so larger hermits and my pencil urchin, among other verts. ( the GECs actually clean my urchins spines!!) They are all happy together :)
 
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