My Evil Emerald Crab...

Guatney · 10/23/2013, 12:32 AM

I bought a biocube off craigslist a month or so ago and it recently bloomed a outbreak of red bubble algae (from previous owner). My tank is under ick quarantine at the moment so there are no fish, only hermits and my soft coral collection.

I bought the biggest emerald crab i could find to combat the attack of the algae, which this 2" hairy little beast conquered most of....then he started some other "activities".

He climbed the back wall trying to escape. (maybe normal)

He picked up my small Zoa colony and ATE ALMOST ALL OF THEM

He stands perched on the highest rock and waits with his large claws out for a fish to not notice him as they swim by (luckly i havent put any fish with him).

I noticed all my corals looked distressed and closed up.

Despite trying to reason with him by feeding him chunks of frozen meaty foods for my dwarf angel (which he graciously devours off the end of the stick i fed him with) he continued his mini wrath on my tank.

After he climbed onto my large Yellow Leather Coral (my favorite in the tank) and started picking at it i put him in a bucket with a powerhead until i can try to take him back to the LFS

has anyone heard of this?

is there any way to fix my bubble algae problem without emerald crabs?

thanks, jess.

Guatney · 10/23/2013, 12:32 AM

he also ruined my baby mushroom colony

ninjamini · 10/23/2013, 05:42 AM

Clean more bottle. Cut the top off and invert then glue together. Put a nice jack shrimp in and wait for hi. To find it. He will. When he goes in he goes out right to the sump.

fishysteve · 10/23/2013, 05:53 AM

He already has it in a bucket.

blackthunda77 · 10/23/2013, 09:14 AM

FYI, Emerald Crabs are not usually "Hairy". Got a pic?

Guatney · 10/23/2013, 09:59 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1019345...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1019345...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1019345...n/photostream/

blackthunda77 · 10/23/2013, 10:05 AM

Yup, thats an emerald crab.

discocarp · 10/23/2013, 10:07 AM

The small ones are better algae eaters (but still hit or miss). The big ones are absolute terrors. I've grown to hate them.

Crna · 10/23/2013, 12:04 PM

I have a small one, or he used to be, in my BC14. He just molted for the second time, and is freaking huge now. And this guy is pretty brazen, so he has me concerned. Hasn't munched on any of my coral, or fish, yet. But I'm worried it's just a matter of time. Going to try to get him this afternoon, and back to the LFS he goes. Been wanting some sexy shrimp, so we're gonna enjoy them instead!

10/23/2013, 12:32 AM	#1
Guatney Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 43	My Evil Emerald Crab... I bought a biocube off craigslist a month or so ago and it recently bloomed a outbreak of red bubble algae (from previous owner). My tank is under ick quarantine at the moment so there are no fish, only hermits and my soft coral collection. I bought the biggest emerald crab i could find to combat the attack of the algae, which this 2" hairy little beast conquered most of....then he started some other "activities". He climbed the back wall trying to escape. (maybe normal) He picked up my small Zoa colony and ATE ALMOST ALL OF THEM He stands perched on the highest rock and waits with his large claws out for a fish to not notice him as they swim by (luckly i havent put any fish with him). I noticed all my corals looked distressed and closed up. Despite trying to reason with him by feeding him chunks of frozen meaty foods for my dwarf angel (which he graciously devours off the end of the stick i fed him with) he continued his mini wrath on my tank. After he climbed onto my large Yellow Leather Coral (my favorite in the tank) and started picking at it i put him in a bucket with a powerhead until i can try to take him back to the LFS has anyone heard of this? is there any way to fix my bubble algae problem without emerald crabs? thanks, jess.

10/23/2013, 05:53 AM	#4
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	He already has it in a bucket. __________________ On a break

10/23/2013, 09:14 AM	#5
blackthunda77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast/West Coast Posts: 4,887	FYI, Emerald Crabs are not usually "Hairy". Got a pic? __________________ - John *blackthunda stands for a black Mistubishi 3000GT with black rims I used to own. Don't get any funny ideas! Current Tank Info: 200 Gal custom tank with dual corner overflows, 80 gal custom sump/refugium, Neptune Apex controller, Dual Lumenmax Elite reflectors with 250 Radiums, SWC 160 Cone Skimmer, 2x Jebao WP-25....and some other stuff.

10/23/2013, 10:05 AM	#7
blackthunda77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast/West Coast Posts: 4,887	Yup, thats an emerald crab. __________________ - John *blackthunda stands for a black Mistubishi 3000GT with black rims I used to own. Don't get any funny ideas! Current Tank Info: 200 Gal custom tank with dual corner overflows, 80 gal custom sump/refugium, Neptune Apex controller, Dual Lumenmax Elite reflectors with 250 Radiums, SWC 160 Cone Skimmer, 2x Jebao WP-25....and some other stuff.

10/23/2013, 05:42 AM	#3
ninjamini Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 2,306	Clean more bottle. Cut the top off and invert then glue together. Put a nice jack shrimp in and wait for hi. To find it. He will. When he goes in he goes out right to the sump.

10/23/2013, 09:59 AM	#6
Guatney Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 43	http://www.flickr.com/photos/1019345...n/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/1019345...n/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/1019345...n/photostream/

10/23/2013, 10:07 AM	#8
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	The small ones are better algae eaters (but still hit or miss). The big ones are absolute terrors. I've grown to hate them.

10/23/2013, 12:04 PM	#9
Crna Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 246	I have a small one, or he used to be, in my BC14. He just molted for the second time, and is freaking huge now. And this guy is pretty brazen, so he has me concerned. Hasn't munched on any of my coral, or fish, yet. But I'm worried it's just a matter of time. Going to try to get him this afternoon, and back to the LFS he goes. Been wanting some sexy shrimp, so we're gonna enjoy them instead!