Anyone have luck with a Emerald Crab?

Salty Brother · 01/21/2006, 08:54 PM

Just wanted to know, have some bubble algae. But Ive heard that most of the time they dont do anything. Also are they agressive?

dwhit0102 · 01/21/2006, 08:57 PM

It really depends on the attitude of the crab because I had one and didn't know it untill I placed the rock in my dad's tank and it came out. It was fine with his fish and corals, but I have heard that they have gotten aholed of a fish or 2 so it's really seems like a miss or hit with them.

coralfarmer84 · 01/21/2006, 09:36 PM

i had some, they are really cool looking guys. They kept to themselves unless a fish got too close then they would raise there claws, but in my opinion they are too slow. All they did was forage all day. Just remember once they are in the tank, they are not gonna come out, they can grap onto anything and never ever want to let go. good luck

skippy2 · 01/21/2006, 09:44 PM

I put 1 in to control my bubble algae. It took a couple of months for him to start eating it.

Salty Brother · 01/21/2006, 09:51 PM

skippy, has the crab harassed anything in your tank?

skippy2 · 01/21/2006, 09:58 PM

No, not at all. I have heard though that they can. Must just depend on the individual crab. I had 1 in my 20 when I first started and he was a model citizen too.

Paintbug · 01/21/2006, 11:33 PM

I LOVE MY CRABS!!!

seriously, i have 2 (used to be 3) in my tank. they have been perfect tank mates. i havent seen them eat anything but the algaes they were supposed to. i havent had them attack any corals, or fish either. once they took care of the bubble algae, i did start feeding them some algae strips. it seems to keep them from "hunting" their next meal.

Kigs · 01/21/2006, 11:49 PM

i love my emerald. he's always out foraging. never had a problem with him harassing anyone in terms of fish, corals, inverts. occasionally he would get into a wrestling match with my huge nassarius snail but he always end up backing away first.

Jewells · 03/17/2010, 06:55 PM

I have been reading a lot about these emerald crabs because I am considering getting one myself, just to get into the crevices and help out my snail. I am wondering if when the algae is scarce that they don't start looking for other food and just need to be fed to keep them in check?

otrlynn · 03/17/2010, 07:06 PM

Mine has never gone after fish, and the little bit of bubble algae I had is gone. Unfortunately it does not seem interested in hair algae though... I def. don't feed mine 'cause I figure his job is to keep cleaning up the crevices between the rocks!

rsaha · 03/17/2010, 07:06 PM

I have 2 in my 120 and they keep my ongoing battle with bubble algae in reasonable check...

SaltieG · 03/17/2010, 07:31 PM

My emerald is very peaceful and he scavenges all day long. Everyone in the house seems to think of him as the highlight of the tank whenever he shows himself.

lougotzz · 03/17/2010, 07:34 PM

Mine ate stuff, i've also seen him attempt to eat things much larger then him, i.e yellow tang.

Agu · 03/17/2010, 08:35 PM

They're hit and miss. Had some in a prior tank that were model citizens. Added one to a current ten gallon and it thought a beautiful red blastumossa was lunch. It's fortunate that the emerald was so busy eating my prized coral it was easy to catch.

Frogmanx82 · 03/17/2010, 09:25 PM

I find if they have plenty to eat, they won't mess with much. A starving crab is dangerous though. I always leave a bit of cheato in the tank for them to munch on. They love the stuff. I have 3 and two of them are what I would call large.

When I saw one picking at my feather duster, I noticed the chaeto was all gone. Once I put some it, the feather duster hasn't been messed with since. I've had them about 6 months.

MSUvsUM · 03/17/2010, 09:38 PM

I think they're great and they'll eat what you want them to eat before they pick on something you don't want them to touch. I think though if they take care of that food that the chaeto idea mentioned above is a good one. Although I did have probably one too many in my 29 a few years ago, b/c I would get to see a pretty intense wrestling match at least once per week.

Frick-n-Frags · 03/18/2010, 07:07 AM

i always had good luck with them over the years. although they had plenty to keep busy with so they probably never got hungry and cranky. definitely waved off the fish when it got too close. they crawled on everything, but only cleaned or picked at certain things that must have been amiss on the corals. the corals benefitted greatly from the constant algae patrol around the edges.

workman · 03/18/2010, 07:42 AM

Never had a problem with them bothering anything. I have three in a 220 gallon. I rarely see them. They tend to stay hidden within the rock work.

whipit · 03/18/2010, 07:50 AM

I haven't had any trouble with my emerald crabs other than failure to molt. I have had bubble algae come in on a corals from time to time and my emeralds devour it

reef321 · 03/18/2010, 08:15 AM

I had one for a while, it was fine and just ate my algae and whatever else it could scavange. One of my damsels got sick though and was probably already dying so the emerald caught it. I saw it holding on to the fish so I scared it and he let the fish go. Unfortunatly the fish died later. I never saw him catch a healthy fish though, I don't think it could if it wanted to.

JeF4y · 03/18/2010, 09:01 AM

Hit & miss.

I bought 3, put the smallest in the display and other 2 in the sump. Then when the biocube split, they all went in the sump until the upgrade of the 60. Once I got the 60 in place, I put one back in the display but it was the wrong one. He ate everything in sight. It took me almost a week to catch him and once I did, all 3 went into the sump where this happened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fADsFK8J-5M

Emeralds are evil... I'm down to one now in the sump (featured above). We call him Mongo and he is now huge. He's around 2" across and eats massive pieces of silverside once or twice a week.

lostintheocean · 03/18/2010, 09:26 AM

i have 2 in a 72, they are always grazing on algea and detritius, havent seen them eat any bubble algea though but who knows, they are hard to spot almost invisible, i do plan on getting a nother one or two never bothered any of my fish

corbett_n · 03/18/2010, 09:28 AM

mine took care of my red valonia algae

SC Trojan · 03/18/2010, 10:09 AM

ive had great luck them as well, i have 5 (4 smaller green males and 1 large red female) and theyve done a terrific job at taking care of my red turf algae! Been battling that algae for over a year with no luck but its been about three weeks with them in there and those little guys went to town on that stuff. Id never thought id be red turf algae free but between them an a couple turbos i picked up at the same time i think in a few months my take will finally be void of that junk.

noahm · 03/18/2010, 10:28 AM

I have 4 in my 125 that are great, and one in the sump that would tear through zoas like they were butter. They seem to be fine if they don't go 'rogue', but once they do, they never go back. The other ones will pick stuff right out of the zoas without a thought of tasting them.

01/21/2006, 08:54 PM	#1
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Anyone have luck with a Emerald Crab? Just wanted to know, have some bubble algae. But Ive heard that most of the time they dont do anything. Also are they agressive?

01/21/2006, 09:44 PM	#4
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	I put 1 in to control my bubble algae. It took a couple of months for him to start eating it. __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

01/21/2006, 09:58 PM	#6
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	No, not at all. I have heard though that they can. Must just depend on the individual crab. I had 1 in my 20 when I first started and he was a model citizen too. __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

01/21/2006, 11:33 PM	#7
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	I LOVE MY CRABS!!! seriously, i have 2 (used to be 3) in my tank. they have been perfect tank mates. i havent seen them eat anything but the algaes they were supposed to. i havent had them attack any corals, or fish either. once they took care of the bubble algae, i did start feeding them some algae strips. it seems to keep them from "hunting" their next meal. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

03/17/2010, 06:55 PM	#9
Jewells Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Beaverton, Ore Posts: 51	I have been reading a lot about these emerald crabs because I am considering getting one myself, just to get into the crevices and help out my snail. I am wondering if when the algae is scarce that they don't start looking for other food and just need to be fed to keep them in check? __________________ "Float like fish food, sting like an Anemone". 12g nano Current Tank Info: Marineland 12g Eclipse system standard no mods

01/21/2006, 08:57 PM	#2
dwhit0102 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 269	It really depends on the attitude of the crab because I had one and didn't know it untill I placed the rock in my dad's tank and it came out. It was fine with his fish and corals, but I have heard that they have gotten aholed of a fish or 2 so it's really seems like a miss or hit with them.

01/21/2006, 09:36 PM	#3
coralfarmer84 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,267	i had some, they are really cool looking guys. They kept to themselves unless a fish got too close then they would raise there claws, but in my opinion they are too slow. All they did was forage all day. Just remember once they are in the tank, they are not gonna come out, they can grap onto anything and never ever want to let go. good luck

01/21/2006, 09:51 PM	#5
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	skippy, has the crab harassed anything in your tank?

01/21/2006, 11:49 PM	#8
Kigs Moved On Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: LI, NY Posts: 2,182	i love my emerald. he's always out foraging. never had a problem with him harassing anyone in terms of fish, corals, inverts. occasionally he would get into a wrestling match with my huge nassarius snail but he always end up backing away first.

03/17/2010, 07:06 PM	#10
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Mine has never gone after fish, and the little bit of bubble algae I had is gone. Unfortunately it does not seem interested in hair algae though... I def. don't feed mine 'cause I figure his job is to keep cleaning up the crevices between the rocks!

03/17/2010, 07:06 PM	#11
rsaha Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 587	I have 2 in my 120 and they keep my ongoing battle with bubble algae in reasonable check...

03/17/2010, 07:31 PM	#12
SaltieG Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Mentor on the Lake, Ohio Posts: 745	My emerald is very peaceful and he scavenges all day long. Everyone in the house seems to think of him as the highlight of the tank whenever he shows himself. __________________ 125 Reef.

03/17/2010, 07:34 PM	#13
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	Mine ate stuff, i've also seen him attempt to eat things much larger then him, i.e yellow tang.

03/17/2010, 08:35 PM	#14
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	They're hit and miss. Had some in a prior tank that were model citizens. Added one to a current ten gallon and it thought a beautiful red blastumossa was lunch. It's fortunate that the emerald was so busy eating my prized coral it was easy to catch. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

03/17/2010, 09:25 PM	#15
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	I find if they have plenty to eat, they won't mess with much. A starving crab is dangerous though. I always leave a bit of cheato in the tank for them to munch on. They love the stuff. I have 3 and two of them are what I would call large. When I saw one picking at my feather duster, I noticed the chaeto was all gone. Once I put some it, the feather duster hasn't been messed with since. I've had them about 6 months. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

03/17/2010, 09:38 PM	#16
MSUvsUM Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 30	I think they're great and they'll eat what you want them to eat before they pick on something you don't want them to touch. I think though if they take care of that food that the chaeto idea mentioned above is a good one. Although I did have probably one too many in my 29 a few years ago, b/c I would get to see a pretty intense wrestling match at least once per week.

03/18/2010, 07:07 AM	#17
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	i always had good luck with them over the years. although they had plenty to keep busy with so they probably never got hungry and cranky. definitely waved off the fish when it got too close. they crawled on everything, but only cleaned or picked at certain things that must have been amiss on the corals. the corals benefitted greatly from the constant algae patrol around the edges. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

03/18/2010, 07:42 AM	#18
workman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 48	Never had a problem with them bothering anything. I have three in a 220 gallon. I rarely see them. They tend to stay hidden within the rock work.

03/18/2010, 07:50 AM	#19
whipit Moved On Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 313	I haven't had any trouble with my emerald crabs other than failure to molt. I have had bubble algae come in on a corals from time to time and my emeralds devour it

03/18/2010, 08:15 AM	#20
reef321 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: evergreen, CO. Posts: 200	I had one for a while, it was fine and just ate my algae and whatever else it could scavange. One of my damsels got sick though and was probably already dying so the emerald caught it. I saw it holding on to the fish so I scared it and he let the fish go. Unfortunatly the fish died later. I never saw him catch a healthy fish though, I don't think it could if it wanted to.

03/18/2010, 09:01 AM	#21
JeF4y El Conquistidor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,057	Hit & miss. I bought 3, put the smallest in the display and other 2 in the sump. Then when the biocube split, they all went in the sump until the upgrade of the 60. Once I got the 60 in place, I put one back in the display but it was the wrong one. He ate everything in sight. It took me almost a week to catch him and once I did, all 3 went into the sump where this happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fADsFK8J-5M Emeralds are evil... I'm down to one now in the sump (featured above). We call him Mongo and he is now huge. He's around 2" across and eats massive pieces of silverside once or twice a week. __________________ I've made a small fortune in Reefing! I just started out with a large fortune and the rest came easily. Want a Cleaner Wrasse? Consider a shower! ;-) Current Tank Info: 60 Cube!

03/18/2010, 09:26 AM	#22
lostintheocean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: deep blue Posts: 467	i have 2 in a 72, they are always grazing on algea and detritius, havent seen them eat any bubble algea though but who knows, they are hard to spot almost invisible, i do plan on getting a nother one or two never bothered any of my fish

03/18/2010, 09:28 AM	#23
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	mine took care of my red valonia algae

03/18/2010, 10:09 AM	#24
SC Trojan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: perris, cali Posts: 137	ive had great luck them as well, i have 5 (4 smaller green males and 1 large red female) and theyve done a terrific job at taking care of my red turf algae! Been battling that algae for over a year with no luck but its been about three weeks with them in there and those little guys went to town on that stuff. Id never thought id be red turf algae free but between them an a couple turbos i picked up at the same time i think in a few months my take will finally be void of that junk.

03/18/2010, 10:28 AM	#25
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	I have 4 in my 125 that are great, and one in the sump that would tear through zoas like they were butter. They seem to be fine if they don't go 'rogue', but once they do, they never go back. The other ones will pick stuff right out of the zoas without a thought of tasting them.