Male vs female emerald crab

[Tyler Flynn]

I have bubble algae getting out of hand. What is everyone’s experience with male vs female emerald crabs?

is there a better option for a 60 gallon tank?
Urchin? Seahare? Other?

 

[RedoubtReef]

I've never heard of a difference or even how to determine a male or female emerald crab. Lots of people have had good luck with them. I like blue tuxedo urchins. Always worked out well for me.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have bubble algae getting out of hand. What is everyone’s experience with male vs female emerald crabs?

is there a better option for a 60 gallon tank?
Urchin? Seahare? Other?

Females are much more likely to eat the bubble algae.

I don't know if urchins eat b.a., but am pretty sure a sea hare will be ineffective.

Your #1 tool against b.a. is manual removal (and do not worry if they pop in the tank! This does not make it spread)

 

[RedoubtReef]

Females are much more likely to eat the bubble algae.

I don't know if urchins eat b.a., but am pretty sure a sea hare will be ineffective.

Your #1 tool against b.a. is manual removal (and do not worry if they pop in the tank! This does not make it spread)

so you flip them over and grab a magnifying glass to see if they are male or female?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I've never heard of a difference or even how to determine a male or female emerald crab. Lots of people have had good luck with them. I like blue tuxedo urchins. Always worked out well for me.

When you turn them over, female crabs have a triangle piece on their shell and males have a slender piece.

(Not a pic of emerald crabs, but you get the idea...

)

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

so you flip them over and grab a magnifying glass to see if they are male or female?

No magnifying glass needed

 

[RedoubtReef]

well, there you go! Learn something new every day.