Emerald crab?

I've been trying to decide if I want an emerald crab. We've had some bubble algae issues, but for the most part, it's under control. I just manually remove it (hopefully intact) with a water change while siphoning and try to catch any spores with the siphon. I just had 3 small patches yesterday. I've heard that emerald crabs may or may not go after bubble algae, but that they also may or may not go after corals. Anybody have any success with emerald crabs? If I get one, it will be a very small one, but I also worry about getting it out of there when it gets too big (as in how to catch the thing). Any advice will be appreciated!

 

I have had very good luck with my emerald crabb with no coral and livestock loss...
I am sure you know if the bubble alge pops you have a good chance of that stuff poppin up some where else... I would keep manualy removin the rock (if possiable) and remove the bubble alge out of the tank that way not to chance another out break..

If i left some thing out and can fill in where i left off tagg your it..!!


Good Luck..!!

 

catching it - the trap pest type traps for crabs are quite effective - should you need to do so at later date

also a good piece of live rock with a nice sized hole in it (cave rather than right through hole) place it on sand bed near your rock work - put some food in there, crab goes in - you go near, crab hides in hole, you remove rock

 

Whilst Emerald Crabs do eat bubble algae, they often pop it in the process and make the problem worse.

They are very cool crabs in their own right though.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! If I can find one small enough, I may try it. I guess I could banish it to the sump if it becomes a problem!

 

we have 2 emerald crabs and they do not touch our bubble algae, so we manually remove. They have not touched our corals, thankfully! The emmies are also fun to watch. they look so greedy scavenging the rockwork.

 

mine did try to eat my turbinaria... so i banned him to the fuge. He's back up in the dt now but on probation

 

I have had a few emerald crabs. They never live more than 4 months for me. But they don't cause me problems either.

 

You could feed it to princess if it becomes a problem too. Thats what I do with problem inverts in my reef, dinner for the mantis shrimp. I don't want them messing with my amphipod population I have going on in my sump.

 

I had a bit of bubble algae a few months ago. Not sure if the emerald ate it but It didn't last long .. It just went away. Emeralds are good in a reef. I had a couple of Royal grammas that sleep in holes and I suspect the emerald got them but I'm not for sure.