Are Arrow Crabs Reef Safe??

[NanoReef87]

I have an 18 gallon reef would it be safe to add a arrow crab once the tank is established or will it pick apart at corals or grow to large for the tank????

[Alice]

They aren't reef friendly. They will pick at corals, eat all your little fanworms and bristleworms and as they get pretty large, they will also be a danger to small fish.

Arrow crabs are neat looking but well...they're crabs and not to be trusted

[Alice]

OH! Welcome to TRT!

[Ray1214]

I had an arrow crab go hannibel lector on my critters. When I caught him eating my neon gobies, he got quarenteened to the predator tank. He got into a fight with a puffer and subsequently lost.

Ray

[budzstr]

I had one that was a new addition to a mature tank.
It killed a Sarcophyton by perching on it and clipping off the polyps.
Before the lights came on the second day i had it I caught it RIPPING the mantle through the closed shell
of my beautiful maxima clam!!
A lesson learned too late.
IMO they should be classified as a reef PEST.

[Ray1214]

BTW, gorgeous brains and tank pics Budzster.

Ray

[budzstr]

Ray, THANKS
too bad the tank is missing this now

[LittleFishBoy]

I once had a pair of Arrow Crabs. They mated, then a few days later, he KILLED HER!!!!! I was a little upset with him, so i threw him in with a puffer..... Need i say more... cruel? maybe, but an eye for an eye..... (motto in my tank) (can get spendy )

[NanoReef87]

Thats for the info, too bad i always thought they were cool any other insight on wut crabs are reef safe for a 18 galon tnak

[CAT]

Originally posted by NanoReef87
Thats for the info, too bad i always thought they were cool any other insight on wut crabs are reef safe for a 18 galon tnak

What do you have in the tank now? I prefer to add cleaner shrimp to crabs. Lots of personality and will clean up leftover food even after you feed them You can always get snails to clean the algae.