Untrustworthy crab?

[molly]

Hey-
I have two clownfish that like to swim at the top corner of my 30G at night. I have noticed my emerald crab hovering under them and stretching himself upward with claws outstretched. Yesterday, he was also caught rubbing himself against a turbo snail.
I freaked out and made him a quick snack of blanched spinach (30G with 30 lbs of lv. and ample diatom algae for the taking...but.....) He did eat some of this.
Should I be wary of this guy or do you think he is harmless? If I feed him occasionally will he quit it? I am thinking of giving him a permanent residence elsewhere. He is fast becoming unloved.
Thanks!

 

[kevin r.]

Molly,
I'm in no way a pro, but I have a simuliar tank with emerald crabs as well. My crab does the same thing to my damsels, usually in self-defense. As far as I know emerald crabs are harmless to fish, coral and other inverts. They like green bubble algae and green hair algae. As far as diatoms, the only thing I've heard of that like it is cerith and nirite snails. I'd give your crab a second chance until he does some damage. I hope this helps.

 

[jedimaster]

Are all emerald crabs green? The thing is I have 2 crabs about the size of a looney...1 and 1/2 times the size of a quater. One is white and the other is a brownish grey.

 

[yardrat]

i do know of one being red and one being green.. i do have the green crab.. but yet to find one red at my lfs

 

[accurate]

ok!! let me add on this one..
I had alot of hair algae and the first thing a lfs told me was to get some emerald crabs, they would take care of it. Well, i did and they took care of some of the hair but the really big thing they took care of is my Coraline Algae.. The nice purple kind that actually looks good all the time and the kind you don't want to get rid of. I came in the second day after i got them and i had two rocks that were almost white!!!!!!!
Oh my,, i freaked,,, not that algae,, the other stuff....
Well, I made them a new residence quick. I have since gotten others because everyone said my exp was not normal. The same thing happened so when i moved, i got rid of them. Things were still happening and i got the flashlight and found a orange one . Two days after i found it it appeared on my overflow filter and made him a new res. I now have snails and some hermits.. Just my exp. and not saying i won't get some more in the future but for now.... No Way.