Bicyclebill Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Well I learned today just how ruthless a predator these guys can be! I bought a new fish that wasn't doing well right off the bat, and before I knew it the emerald crab was upside down in the sand wresting with him and ate him within a couple of minutes.I had no idea they ate anything more than algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisQ Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 (edited) Yep, seen one munchin on one of my hammers before and never trusted that they would leave my sleeping fish alone. Sorry to hear about the fish Bill Edited April 9, 2015 by ChrisQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 (edited) Sad for the fish but a good reminder that crabs are opportunistic predators and will eat just about anything they can. IME with Emeralds crabs they will try to take advantage of whatever they can. Edited April 9, 2015 by pledosophy clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Z Reef Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I had them in the past and after catching them at night stealing food out of my open brains mouths they were banished to the sump! Never bought them again. They do nice work on bubble algae though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higher Thinking Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I was dealing with some legitimate bubble algae in the 75 and a pair of them straight knocked it out. Something I didn't anticipate was that they also ate dictyota algae. I have been dealing with that stuff growing in various patches around my tank. I was getting quite frustrated with it because it spreads so easily. It was even growing around some acans and choking a couple out. Well I was watching them a couple weeks ago and this crab was straight eating handfuls of it. I was really surprised because I had read that not many things eat it. So now I'm stoked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badxgillen Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 If you don't have algae you probably don't need an emerald crab, its too bad they are soo hard to catch once they are in an established reef tank. Most of mine are model citizens but I have had a couple that were certainly taking more than their fair share. Very good to know they are working on the Dictyota, I really don't like that nasty stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteRock Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 These guys get a bad rap! They can be thuggish ruggish, but I always take the smallest ones I can get and haven't had too many issues with them. they remind me of little green army men from the movie toy story. I love it when they are high up on rocks and I feed the tank they "parachute off", sink to the bottom, right themselves and then start scavenging. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Rogue emerald. I have one...I thought he was eating montipora for a while there, but turns out he just likes to hang out on the monti digi at night...specifically green monti. Never seen him go near the red, purple or anything but green:) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyna_baby Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Hate them.. Got one to deal with the bubble algae in my 16gal and he straight up attacked my Pompom crab! Tore off some legs and he lost his pompoms! Husband was able to save him and put him in the sump to recover but I still have not been able to find the jerk emerald to banish him! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Catch him with one of these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyna_baby Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Haha I found him today! Threw him into the display so hopefully the wrasse will eat him it the hermit crabs will arrack him.. Now I have to find my Pompom in the sump to put her back into the 16gal! Hopefully she will get her pompoms back.. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Wrasse versus Emerald.... My money's on the crab if that right happens. Mine have lived together for years in peace and harmony though. Nothing to worry about Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackice Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 She is mastaken its the blue jaw that will take care of him or the other XXXL crabs that are in there lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Emerald vs. Blue Jaw... Bets on the Blue Jaw. Personally I have never seen a larger crab attack an Emerald. Not that it doesn' happen, just never seen it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyna_baby Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I paid the big ones off with food to take him out... [emoji57] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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