CRABS!

[JDSmith]

I need some information on emerald green crabs and red(orange) fiddler crabs. How well do they get along with fish?

 

[reefman23]

I have heard several people suggest NOT to introduce emeralds into a reef tank. Dont know anything more than that. Hopefully someone else can help out.

Jesse

 

[rescuediver19]

Emerald Crab... not a good idea... I have one and he is pissing me off because ill wake up and a coral will be knocked off its rock. Very pushy

 

[drty811]

i have had acouple emeralds in the past. i found them to be very agressive when they grow larger, also like rescuediver stated, knocking everything over. they are very strong little crabs, even when they are very small. didnt really ever notice them doing a good job on cleaning the algae. HTH

 

[Taaang77]

I have an emerald crab seems to leave everyone alone and do his own thing. I think he is kinda cool.

 

[The Kapenta Kid]

This reference says Emeralds (Mithrax) may grow into fisheaters.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/crabs/swcrabs.htm
I've got one and he is only about half an inch across and just fun to watch picking at algae, but I can imagine they would be problematic if they grow to 2.5 or even 4 inches.

 

[KidNano]

I have a decent size emerald (1.5 inches across his body) and he eats snails and algae, but my fish are all so territorial he stays away from them. They're always chasing him away. It's pretty funny watching him run from a blue damsel that's half his size. He does that "hey, hey" thing like the crabs in "finding nemo" but hasn't grabbed one yet. He's pretty slow and the fish are pretty fast.

 

[johnanddawn]

i don't trust any crab even emeralds but then again porceleins (sp?) and lightfoots are kinda cool i guess...