Sally Lightfoot

[mike35019]

Biggest question i have is will these crabs eat my xenia,gsp, brain or mushrooms? Also I have a signal goby,will he be in danger. Currently in my 55 reef I have a CBS, Cleaner, and emerald crab. Would like to add a sally. If anyone has a sally in their tank could youleave some feedback? Thanks
Mike

 

[uneverno]

I have one in my tank w/ a signal goby and two tiny Panda Gobies. It's never bothered any of them. It does go after food pretty aggressively, but I've never seen it chase anything live. It also doesn't bother my corals. I have GSP, Cloves, Rics, Zoos and a couple small LPS.
Sally's are scavengers, so should be no issue, but, there's always some risk. Personally, I'd be more concerned about the CBS than a Sally. CBS can be aggressive.

 

[ophiura]

Personally, I would never put a sally lightfoot crab in a tank that I intended to put corals in. IMO, it is a risk. Just depends how much you like them.

 

[flower]

I have two sally lightfoot crabs, they are sold with reef packages as part of the CUC by SWF.com I never heard of any problem with coral

Nor has mine ever bothered the corals. Just really good algae eaters.

 

[ophiura]

Yeah, it is a "personally" thing. I would never do it. Never. Even emeralds are marginal...I had one that ate leathers. Most crabs are opportunistic scavengers to a degree, with the exception of things like porcelain crabs.

 

[flower]

UMMM...I put something in my reef that is ify at best. I got it from SWF.com it is part of the CUC offered for a reef. How in the world can they do that without any warning?
Mine hasn't bothered anything, but the fact it may have, that is just wrong! They should remove it as part of the reef package.

 

[natclanwy]

I have had one in my tank for two years, my tank is a mixed reef and have never had any issues with the sally bothering my corals but I suppose they could be hit or miss just like emeralds. One thing is certain though either the Sally will survive or the CBS depends on their sizes in comparison both can be very aggressive, my 4" sally will not let any other decrative shrimp or crabs live in my tank.

 

[sbaumann14]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3015321
UMMM...I put something in my reef that is ify at best. I got it from SWF.com it is part of the CUC offered for a reef. How in the world can they do that without any warning?
Mine hasn't bothered anything, but the fact it may have, that is just wrong! They should remove it as part of the reef package.
they also have flame angels and coral beauties listed as "reef safe" but they can be hit or miss as well...... buyer beware

 

[ophiura]

Someone said it the other day - it is a matter of risk. the risk may be very small. But it is a big crab, and I don't care for big crabs in reef tanks. Most people will probably never have an issue.

 

[uneverno]

Yep,
For the most part, at very best, what's available to us is a guideline based on majority experience.
My 3" Sally is scared to death of my almost .75" Harlequin

My experience with CBS is that they are far more aggressive and predatory than Sallys. As such, I won't keep one of those in my reef. That's just my experience though. Y(generic)MMV.
Animals are individuals too. Overall behaviour is no indication of what any given critter's behaviour will be. Any one of us may be the unlucky person who purchases the exception to the rule.

 

[nebraska reef]

I recently purchased a 1 inch cleaner shrimp. On day 2 he molted and was immediatly was mauled by one of my two sally ligthfoots not to be seen again (first time to see a shrimp molt). I have read an adult sally lightfoot can become carniverous. Seems true.