Sally Lightfoots Reef Safe ?

espkh9

espkh9

Member
I got some sally lightfoot crabs for my 125 reef they were part of my CC they do a great job consuming algae and any left over foods and keep the tank great along with the rest of my cc but I noticed that as they got bigger from 1 inch to about 3 inches now..they claw and try to slash any tang or fish that swims through a cave as they graze algae off a rock...this leads me to belive that they are NOT reef safe. Can anyone offer some opinions ? thanks.
it's gonne be tough to get them out but they are an essential part of my cc.
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
I dont have any experience with them but I have read that once they get big they will try to grab at small fish.
 
goober_hunter

goober_hunter

Member
i bought mine when he was the size of a quarter, he did fine in my tank. he just died a couple of days ago, he grew to about 4 inches long. not that agressive, but each one acts different. good luck
 
espkh9

espkh9

Member
well they claw at the fish even large tangs..they are about 3-4 inches it will be tough to get them out as they are bottom dwellers usually..i'll need some luck. anyways thanks.
 
nano reefer

nano reefer

Active Member
no, they dont eat fish. they are algae eaters. i have one and the body size is about 1.5 inches in diameter, plus those huge legs. he and my little 1 inch yasha goby are good friends.
 
andy51632

andy51632

Member
I was leary of mine too. I took them out but had to break down my tank to do it. They are lightning quick compared to every other crab I have kept. I believe they would have no problem catching a fish if they wanted too.
 
andy51632

andy51632

Member
The best thing to do if you cant get them out is to keep them well feed so they won't get hungry and start looking at other livestock to eat.
 
espkh9

espkh9

Member
what do the eat besides algae ? they eat anything I feed my fish but is there anything in particular they like to eat ?
I feed greens,formula 1 and 2 frozen foods and pellets,combos of krill,mysis,cyclops,plankton, etc...all in rotation.
 
espkh9

espkh9

Member
I feed all my inahibatns well but came across this devistating picture today I saw one of my smaller sally's eating and enjoying one of my emerald crabs for dinner !!

the pic is to follow, there's no way to get them out unless you really get lucky and I cant destroy my reef to get them.
they are an excellent CC but when they get too big beware.

 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
Depends on what you mean by reef safe, Sally lightfoots from what I have witnessed in my own tank are oportunistic feeders they eat whats available. I have long suspected my inability to keep peppermint shrimp, and the loss of my coral banded shrimp was possibly at the hand of my Sally lightfoot. MY SLF does get aggressive toward my fish when they try to swim down and steal food from it but really can't see it catching a healthy fish, claws are too small even on a crab that is 3-4" to do much damage. I can definetly see where they could catch and consume a sick or dying fish and am guessing that is where they get there reputation for killing fish.
That being said "Reef Safe" can have several different definitions but generally it just means they won't consume corals there are several critters that are considered "reef safe" that will eat snails, shrimp, crabs and even fish but don't bother corals.
 
nano reefer

nano reefer

Active Member
if it runs out of algae to eat in the tank, you better feed it meaty foods. Otherwise it will eat whatever it can.
 
espkh9

espkh9

Member
ill drop in an extra formula 1 frozen cube for the 3 of them....those cubs dont break into little pieces in salt water being mixed they stay whole..how do you mix it so it breaks up and the whole tank can get thier food no just the tough guys ?
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Nano Reefer
http:///forum/post/2574873
no, they dont eat fish. they are algae eaters. i have one and the body size is about 1.5 inches in diameter, plus those huge legs. he and my little 1 inch yasha goby are good friends.
Actually Sally's are known fish predators.
As with most crabs, they are opportunistic feeders.
 
espkh9

espkh9

Member
are they gonna eat my regal and purple tang thier sizes are regal-5.5 " and purple 3.5 inches ?? the sallys are 3 of them in a 125 and they are the body size of a half dollar and the legs extended...
 
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