Emerald crabs and wrasses

[ecam]

Need some advice. I purchased some emerald crabs to put into my display tank for bubble algae duty. My concern is that they might turn and start picking off my wrasses. The largest crab is 1.5 Inches. Is this legit concer or am I being paranoid.

 

[Raffle King]

I got 4 in my tank and they are great no problems

 

[Empire]

it's a huge concern. they will eat all your fish, corals, rocks, and sand.

 

[jgraz]

it's a huge concern. they will eat all your fish, corals, rocks, and sand.

Lol

Edwin I think your fine. A 1.5" crab is of no concern to a fish.

 

[JRWOHLER]

Lol

Edwin I think your fine. A 1.5" crab is of no concern to a fish.

Unless the wrasse is bigger then it might decide the crab is lunch.

 

[Olivier]

Unless the wrasse is bigger then it might decide the crab is lunch.

take the crab out. i have them before and they ambush my fish at night specially any fish that sleep in small cave.
buy smalllest possible emral crab for bubble algea

 

[Hawkeye]

i think the reason why you have different opinions is that emerald crabs are from the genus mithrax. But wholesalers/retailers aren't about to spend quality time figuring out a mithrax from a xanthid crab or other. Basically it's quite possible that some folks have perfectly fine crabs, and others have a mis-identified crab that decides to go murderous one night.

Crabs are biologically suited to be omnivores. Just because you put them in tank full of veggies, doesn't mean they won't scarf down some fish food, or a fish if the opportunity presented itself. I'm not sure I'd tear down a tank for a 1.5" crab, but keep an eye on it as it gets bigger.

The only crab that is absolutely reef safe are porcelain crabs.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[ecam]

Thanks guys. I rather stare at bubble algae then to watch a $5 crab snatch a rhomboid or other expensive wrasse. They are in then sump where they will spend the rest of their existence.

 

[@marko@]

When I tried emerald crabs they ate the polyps off my montis, and coralline off the rock. Then they molten and while their shell was soft my 6 line wrasse ate them.