Experience with Emerald Crabs??

[ibizman]

I read in the archives that some have recommended emerald crabs to control hair algae. Rabbitfish is not an option due to tank size.

I was just wondering if anyone had some experience with emerald crabs that they would like to share.

I have some LPS, ricordia, and zoos. Are the crabs safe for these coral?

I have been doing regular water chages, and using a phosphate absorber. Bio-load is light.

Any other suggestions on herbivores for a small tank with a growing hair algea problem?

Jason

[cyberchef]

the onlyproblem with crabs is that they are oportunistic. They will eat anything they can get thier claws on if given the chance. besides like most of the "natural" predators of algae/aptasia... etc Most of them have not read the book and are hit and miss.

[ibizman]

Cyberchef,

Thanks for the post. I have noticed this about the crabs I have, but they haven't seemed to bother any of my corals or snails.

I have some scarlet leg hermits now that seem to be fine, but they can't/don't keep up with the hair algae. I guess I am wondering how the emerald crabs would compare, and if there are any other "small tank" options.

??

[salt creepette]

I dont really have an algae problem but my husband likes emerald crabs so we have two in my 30g. (maybe why I dont have algae problems??) I always see them picking stuff of the rocks. I only have one little stand of xenia in there so I cant tell you if they would harm other sessile inverts, but my two (small; 1") crabs have been model citizens.....(plays foreboding music....).....SO FAR..........

[tims]

i too have two in my tank with a bunch of softies.
they have not picked at any of my corals so far. actually saw one sitting under a mushroom yesterday

they really pick at everything ( LR and substrate)

[Junkzoo]

My experience,,not good,,,i quess good side was i got to remove most of everything out of my tank to remove three of them.(got a re-arrange out of it)
watched them :
scoop out/eat coral polyps
de/plume a Haw. feather duster
never touch any algae that i saw,,,
plus tear up a lot more of the stuff in my tank,,,
Jerel put in a comment, when i was down his way, when i said this about my experience with them,
said prob was cuz the crabs were "east " coast,,
and ate stuff that was not normally in their natural locale,,,
this did make sense, as the stuff they destroyed was not from where they came from,,
i believe this to be true in my case,,
also the fact that i believe their are different sub-species of emeralds,,so you gotta make sure you get the right kinds,,
Key Critters ,BTW,,,carries the "correct" ones, and also the correct kinds of hermit crabs,,,the crabs are lil guys, but MAN! do they do the job!
not a shameless plug, more like , some places will sell species tha tthey get in , and maybe not the right ones that you want,,,
in the case of my hermits, i was leary when i saw the size of them,compared to what i've seen for sale around by me,,,but again, let me tell you those lil mini -munchers earned every penny i spent on them!
my experience with Emeralds is just that, my experience,,
others had had good luck with them
with the right combo of tank inhabs,and the right Emeralds,i can say you oughta do OK,,,

[ibizman]

Anyone else with critter suggestions?

[ibizman]

BTW....

Thanks to all who replied so far.

Jason

[ruhspolostar]

- do what yah gotta do, just stay away from the Sally Lightfoot crab

[Paradox]

with a gair algae problem that covered my whole tank, I found changing to ro/do water and adding blue, red legged hermits and a bunch of snails did the trick. The snails were the best algae consumers by far. I never really saw my emerald eat hair algae. It ate some bubble algae and a lot of corralline. Ijust took him out because I wanted to save my corralline. He never touched a coral though.. If it hair algae your fighting, go for the snails and remove whatever sources of nitrates and phosphates you got. This means ro/di water..and taking a closer look at what filters you use, substrate type, and feeding habits.

[salt creepette]

I was reading in a newsletter (seascope I think) last night that turbo snails (not astrea, but turbo) have an extra special place in their heart for red hair algae. If that's what you have, maybe turbos are for you...if you dont already have them. good luck.

[Reefdude5]

Originally posted by ruhspolostar
- do what yah gotta do, just stay away from the Sally Lightfoot crab

TOO TRUE!!! Stay away from those guys! Better yet, get some and fry them, add a little butter, and wala! Just kidding, But stay away from them.
I have 7 or 8 emeralds in my 120, they started eating algae, but they've now stopped, after the algae has made a comback! They haven't touched any corals though, so go ahead and add one or two, they're cute!

[coralph]

I have had three or four emeralds in my 55 gal for the better part of a year with no probs.However each case seems different.I bought them to rid the bubble algae to no avail.

[hankstanks]

Black Spiny Urchins work well on Green Hair Alge... Or you can just threat the problems and tackle the problem that way...

[Krux]

chewie had a lawn mower blenny that ate the living daylights out of his hair algae... nice no claws fix.