Downside to having emerald crab?

[Civicman86]

I have a little bit of bubble algae. Whats the downsize to having an emerald crap. Will he bother my Nass/Astrea snails? I read they might bother small fish too. (I plan on having a wathman goby, firefish, and my clown).

 

[fishman]

I have 3 in my 100 gallon and no problems. They are doing a good job on bubble and the green algea as well. I wouldnt get big emeralds if you get them...all of mine are small and once they get big then trade them back in for smaller ones.

 

[Civicman86]

OK cool I will do that. Just wanted to make sure im not getting a cool critter to take care of one problem, and then create another. My mistakes learning have ended enough life as it is lol.

 

[AquaReefer]

Yeah I have 5 along with many snails, hermits, nudis, and shrimp. They dont bother anything. All they do is go back and forth with their claws from the rock to their mouth.

 

[Dr.Nate]

Be sure to keep a close eye on them, especially when they get bigger. I had one take two of my fish! I finally got rid of all of them in my tank just to be safe....

 

[Civicman86]

Yeah Ill probally trade them when they get bigger. If one kills my fish.... off with his claw!

 

[kwan]

The only problem with mine is he likes to eat coraline algea.

 

[jaiden]

I am no expert here, but I have seen two types of emeralds, ones with very small claws and ones with larger claws. It is my uninformed opinion that the small-clawed ones would have trouble taking out a fish. I don't know whether this is a male/female difference or if it's a different species or what. I feel that these two types may be responsible for the different experiences people have with them. perhaps we should do a survey about these, since I have no research whatsoever to back up what I'm saying.

 

[Dr.Nate]

Well, I had a medium-sized green emerald take a "chunk" out of a tang. He lasted only a week after that. And it was a big chunk. Some say the green ones are safer, but I think it depends on the crab--obviously, mine wasn't.

 

[tjara03]

i thought they were all green... hmmm...

 

[Civicman86]

I am no expert here, but I have seen two types of emeralds, ones with very small claws and ones with larger claws. It is my uninformed opinion that the small-clawed ones would have trouble taking out a fish. I don't know whether this is a male/female difference or if it's a different species or what. I feel that these two types may be responsible for the different experiences people have with them. perhaps we should do a survey about these, since I have no research whatsoever to back up what I'm saying.

OK poll time I talked to the guy at the LFS and we both think that it would be very rare for it to happen. I guess there is always the chance but.

 

[bromion]

Mine has never bothered any of my fish, even if a fish is bothering it. It does, however, seem to exclusively prefer coralline algae over bubble or hair algae. Go figure. Luckily that stuff grows back pretty quick.