Do Emerald Crabs eat Coraline?

nattydread · 07/27/2008, 02:57 PM

This is the second attempt i've made at using Emerald Crabs to control buble algae. The algae is as prolific as ever, and my rocks have been picked clean of coraline.

I notice this the first time I tried out an emerald, They seem to pick endlessly at the rocks/coraline.

Whats your experience?

KyleO · 07/27/2008, 03:06 PM

My experience is that my Emerald crabs won't eat coraline or bubble algae.

They do pick at the rocks endlessly (as we expect them to) and will scour rocks of just about everything else. They will also sometimes accept small bits of fish and shell-fish but mostly low cropped algae.

jab502 · 07/27/2008, 03:36 PM

If corraline has stopped growing on your rocks I would say something is going on outside of the emerald crab. I don't think they eat corraline and even if they did there is no way a few of them could strip your rocks clean.

07/27/2008, 02:57 PM	#1
nattydread Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: st. louis Posts: 406	Do Emerald Crabs eat Coraline? This is the second attempt i've made at using Emerald Crabs to control buble algae. The algae is as prolific as ever, and my rocks have been picked clean of coraline. I notice this the first time I tried out an emerald, They seem to pick endlessly at the rocks/coraline. Whats your experience? __________________ If it it's not broken, don't fix it. Current Tank Info: 120 Oceanic tech, RK2 controller. Mrc sump. ER rs-180, Geo Kalk reactor w/ aqua medic doser/topoff, vortech x 2, Aquatinics solarflare,Phosban reactor, 40#s tonga, 75# Marco.

07/27/2008, 03:06 PM	#2
KyleO Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brentwood, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 737	My experience is that my Emerald crabs won't eat coraline or bubble algae. They do pick at the rocks endlessly (as we expect them to) and will scour rocks of just about everything else. They will also sometimes accept small bits of fish and shell-fish but mostly low cropped algae. __________________ Enjoy every moment......you don't have nearly as many left as you think!!! Current Tank Info: 135g Frag tank w/ attached 30ga Cube and 50ga refugium

07/27/2008, 03:36 PM	#3
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	If corraline has stopped growing on your rocks I would say something is going on outside of the emerald crab. I don't think they eat corraline and even if they did there is no way a few of them could strip your rocks clean.