Nasty Emerald Crab

[grzy]

I have an emerald crab that eats just about everything. Lately he has been picking on my zoas and trying to eat them. The zoas just close up, but I was wondering if the emerald crab will continues to do this? There is plenty of other food for him in the tank. (Couple bubble algae, some hair algae, etc...)
Does anyone else have problems with there emerals crabs eating different things that they don't want them to?

 

[emmitt2]

My emeralds got the permanent boot when i caught them eating my zoa's after a patch of yellow polyps mysteriously disappeared.

 

[grzy]

Yeah, I am worried I amy have to do that as well.
The problem is I have them due to some bubble algae and hair algae. They are doing a great job eating that stuff as well.

 

[emmitt2]

You should be able to get rid of the algae without the emeralds. Why are you getting it is the question. Are you using ro/di water? Do you have enough flow? how longs do you leave your light on?
Do you have any other clean up crew? snails, hermits?

 

[grzy]

I know I leave my lights on to long. Roughly 12 hours. I only have one blue knuckle crab, about 30 snails, they don't eat the hair algae on the rocks though. I don't have a tremendous amount of flow. ( the tank is a 30 gallon octagon) I am reducing the amount of light down to about 8-9 hours. And I am using ro/di water.

 

[crzyfshygy]

I have had 4 emeralds and 3 were kickedout for coral munching

The one I have now I caught red handed eating my purple shrooms. The only reason I kepp him in there is to keep bubble algae in check. Any time I catch him near corals....I poke a pc of PVC at him to get him away. EMERALDS EAT CORALS I HAVE SEEN IT FIRST HAND WITH 3 OF THEM. One of them ate my Digitata and tryed my pocillapora

 

[grzy]

Yup, it seems the emerald may have to go. I may get a lettuce nudi. Do these eat any coal?

 

[bojik]

Originally Posted by grzy
I have an emerald crab that eats just about everything. Lately he has been picking on my zoas and trying to eat them. The zoas just close up, but I was wondering if the emerald crab will continues to do this? There is plenty of other food for him in the tank. (Couple bubble algae, some hair algae, etc...)
Does anyone else have problems with there emerals crabs eating different things that they don't want them to?
I had same issue it took a likeing to eating my star poylp so he took a ride back to the LFS

 

[gatorwpb]

Are Red Mithrax (sp?) Crabs less likely to pick on corals than their green cousins?
Im thinking of getting emerald and/or red mithrax crabs soon, and dont want any future problems.

 

[grzy]

I have only tried the emerald crabs (green). I am not sure about the red mithrax