Lawnmower Blenny and Emerald crab ... How much hair algae can they eat ?

[mikegronholz]

I have a good amount of hair algae and am looking to start getting rid of it. Curious to know how fast an emerald crab and a lawnmower blenny would eat it all up. Imagine a softball COVERED in hair algae. That's what I have in a 20g. The algae has done wonders for my pod population, but I think it's time to start pruning !!!

 

[katara]

my experience has been exactly the opposite..I've had 5 emeralds for at least 4 months now and they didn't put a dent in my hair algae(perhaps it's too long) Anyways, I added my l.m. a couple of days ago and he seemed to be just sitting on top of a pile of hair algae..later when he moved I noticed that the spot where he was "sitting" had a chunk of algae completely gone!I hope he's not too full he's still got alot of work to do!

 

[jason weber]

try a rabbit fish i had hair algea starting to take over my tank and got a rabbit fish and he wipped it out in no time.

 

[steve40]

do emeralds only eat algae, cause i have an emerald crab but not that much algae growth yet. will he be ok

 

[krishj39]

steve, you may prefer to hear from someone else, but yes they will eat other things as well. all crabs are opportunistic feeders and so also omnivores (eat anything they can grab).
my emeralds and lmb do eat a lot of hair algae. my lmb has the FATTEST little belly! but, they still aren't enough to get rid of all the hair algae. it seems to be there are some spots or algae neither will touch.

 

[clarki]

I have an emerald crab and a lawnmower blenny but the best thing for eating my hair algae has been my queen conch! She mows it down in no time!!

 

[jdragunas]

i have two LMB's and neither of them have ever eaten my hair algae...

 

[adrock16]

I just added a coral beauty to my 55g and he seems to be doing a pretty good job on the hair algae.

 

[promisetbg]

Rainsford gobies eat it like spaghetti...too bad they are so small.

 

[sweetdawn]

turbo snails not as cute but the mow down hair algea

 

[jdragunas]

once again, i have 6 turbo snails, and they don't eat my hair either..... what's wrong with my pets?

 

[snailheave]

what's wrong with the owner?
i know!

 

[jdragunas]

<---- i don't even know what that means...

 

[snailheave]

i've had one lm who starved to death amid forests of hair algae. my turbo snails do not touch hair algaes either.