Crab or .......... Cra*

[Diesel]

There are long and short stories going around about crabs in this hobby.

Are crabs really that beneficial in a ecosystem as our reef tank or are they just a sales pitch.
Of course the are beneficial, we all know that but how many would be enough?
What kind of crab you think is the best crab?

Are they really reef save or do the but certain level bother our hard earned corals that you take care off daily?
What is your opinion about crabs in the reef?

Many question here, lets crawl in the life of a crab and have a great discussion.

 

[saltyhog]

I don't have any crabs in my system other than porcelain or anemone crabs. Hermits are helpful but not compatable with snails and I find snails much more useful. If you don't mind replacing your snails fairly often, hermit crabs are very entertaining attractions in the tank. YMMV.

 

[Diesel]

I don't have any crabs in my system other than porcelain or anemone crabs. Hermits are helpful but not compatable with snails and I find snails much more useful. If you don't mind replacing your snails fairly often, hermit crabs are very entertaining attractions in the tank. YMMV.

Yes the are entertaining.
Good point on the snails as well as that will be my next topic.

 

[fernalfer]

I have 3 emerald crabs and 3 scarlett hermit crabs and 1 halloween hermit. I guess they all have their own personalities. 1 of my 3 emerald crabs munched on my zoas, my halloween hermit loved my green star polyp and would not leave it alone. Both of them are serving life sentences in sump jail. All my scarlett hermits will eat right along my snails without ever having an issue. And the other 2 emeralds do a great job and are harmless.

 

[Paul B]

These do nothing for the tank, but they have a coolness factor which is so important to me.

 

[fernalfer]

These do nothing for the tank, but they have a coolness factor which is so important to me.

what kind of crabs are those. i likey

 

[helen ann]

I have a love/hate with the lil' crabs currently in the BC29

I absolutely love my lil' Dwarf Blue Leg Hermits, they are so dainty & cute and are perfect lil' tank mates.

I also have the Halloween hermits ... they on the other hand ... while very pretty have been served a 4/6 week eviction notice!
They are bulldozers in the tank aggravating everything in there!!! :mad: At night I hear them banging up against glass, what is up with that?
I don't even want to know what they are doing in there ...

 

[najer]

5+ mithrax / emeralds, 5 plus hermits, snails unknown, lots, mainly money / ring cowries, about to set a pico up and I will find a very small mithrax to go in there!

 

[Paul B]

Those are porcelain crabs or anemone crabs. They are filter feeders and won't live in a sterile or new tank.

 

[Diesel]

I have a love/hate with the lil' crabs currently in the BC29

I absolutely love my lil' Dwarf Blue Leg Hermits, they are so dainty & cute and are perfect lil' tank mates.

I also have the Halloween hermits ... they on the other hand ... while very pretty have been served a 4/6 week eviction notice!
They are bulldozers in the tank aggravating everything in there!!! :mad: At night I hear them banging up against glass, what is up with that?
I don't even want to know what they are doing in there ...

Banging huh

 

[helen ann]

Banging huh

Actually, YES!!! There are 3 of them in there ... what are they doing? Why are they so loud?

Hmmmmmmmmm, if I had a flashlight I guess I could peak in on them!!!

 

[Pugfishluv3]

I only like the dwarf blue leg hermits the others get to big not chancing it lol

 

[helen ann]

I only like the dwarf blue leg hermits the others get to big not chancing it lol

Yes, love the lil' blue legs ... they are my favorite!!!
They are so darn cute!!!

 

[Diesel]

Those are porcelain crabs or anemone crabs. They are filter feeders and won't live in a sterile or new tank.

The only crab that won't go after your corals or fish.
With a nem it will stay foot and they are interesting to watch.

 

[helen ann]

So, since we talking about crabs ... what is the deal with the pom-pom crab?
I want one!!! Will they going to wreck havoc on tank and/or corals?