I think my Emerald Crabs are Broken...

[J_anderson_75]

I had some bubble algae pop up in my little Evo, so I thought I'd pick up a few Emerald Crabs to knock it out and maybe help with some of the GHA I have as well. Well, I bought four and haven't seen them since I put them in about 3 days ago. And...it doesn't appear they have even taken a nibble of the bubble algae. SMH...I think they are broken!

 

[DaneGer21]

Honestly, they are hit or miss. I’ve noticed when mine DO eat the bubble algae, it’s only the smaller bubbles, not the larger bubbles.

That’s how picky mine are! Bahahahaha

 

[Ghost25]

I've never had emeralds eat bubble algae either. My experience has been pick off the big clusters, net any floaters and don't get too worked up about it. When my tank matured they didn't disappear but they became much less prolific.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Mine eats bubble algae and just caught him 3 min ago tearing polyps out of my rare toad stool and eating them right in front of me smh

 

[mehaffydr]

As stated it is hit or miss but maybe a little patience. 3 days they are still hiding freaking out from all of the change.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I have wondered why multiple times a day for weeks now it looks like this. Well now I have my answer and will be removing my emerald crab just like all other crabs they are now band from my reefs

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I wish I took a video so you could see how violent he tore the tentacles off and how much goo and puffs of clouds came out of torn tentacles

 

[anew2thereef]

Yea I had no luck with them eating the bubble algae.. I had a foxface if it was floating around the bubble algae he would for it... if not nothing lol...

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Used both claws held with one and used other to stretch it so far the ends popped off then ate it

 

[J_anderson_75]

I've never had emeralds eat bubble algae either. My experience has been pick off the big clusters, net any floaters and don't get too worked up about it. When my tank matured they didn't disappear but they became much less prolific.

Yeah, I'm not too worried about it. I've had this tank running for about a year and a half, and unless it gets overrun with bubble algae I'm not to worried. I was hoping a few emerald crabs would eat em right up though!!

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Yeah, I'm not too worried about it. I've had this tank running for about a year and a half, and unless it gets overrun with bubble algae I'm not to worried. I was hoping a few emerald crabs would eat em right up though!!

Nope will just eat your corals...

 

[Double monti 61]

They look large enough to remove them from the rock with tweezers or your fingers. I am curious to know if anyone on this website has ever had any luck with emerald crabs eating their bubble algae?

 

[J_anderson_75]

They look large enough to remove them from the rock with tweezers or your fingers. I am curious to know if anyone on this website has ever had any luck with emerald crabs eating their bubble algae?

I might try to scrape a few and see what happens. I don't want to break them open though, so if they don't come off easy I'll just leave them.

 

[Pistondog]

They look large enough to remove them from the rock with tweezers or your fingers. I am curious to know if anyone on this website has ever had any luck with emerald crabs eating their bubble algae?

Yes, but if there is other food they might prefer that.
My filefish wouldn't touch the aptasia until I stopped feeding every day.

 

[Double monti 61]

I do not believe that breaking the bubble algae open is a big problem just do it during a water change and try to remove as much particles that you can see even if you do not remove all of them at one time you can target them I have picked them out using tweezers and sucked them out when they are small with a 1/4 inch air tube.