Emerald Crabs

[FishNewbie]

Has anyone had a problem with their emerald crabs eating their hermits. I have witnessed 3 different occasions where I've caught them eating them, don't know if they were already sick, or wether I can expect them all to disappear?
Have just added my cleaning crew,no fish yet, so should they be being fed or just cleaning the algae?

[Spanky]

FishNewbie,
It seems that any crab with a hint of green can be sold as "emerald". There are a lot of different Mithrax. Most however are opportunistic in their feeding. If you don't have enough/the right kind of algae, they'll eat almost anything. I really don't like them in a tank.
JMO
Jerel

[kimanne]

I have two small emeralds and they don't bother even my smallest hermits. I have read that the way to tell if it's a true emerald is to look at the joint (like the elbow?) closest to the claw, and there should be a dot of red. Both of mine do have that. The only thing bad I have heard of emeralds is that when they get big, they become bulldozers. ~kim

[Pegasis]

Kimanne,

I had never heard of the red dot thing on Emeralds, but I checked my 4 Emeralds and sure enough the red dot was there. A couple of them are really getting big. I like them. They never seem to bother anything and keep the plantlife in check.

Take care,

[DAN THE MAN]

It dosn't matter if their true emeralds or not if there is not enough of what they want to eat around they may turn on tank mate as a diet supplement. Usually starfish or hermits. True emeralds are less likely to turn on others than there look alikes but still may.