Pitho Crabs Got The Job Done

[reeftankdude]

The bubble algae really got out of control. Got 7 Pitho Crabs from Salty Bottom Reef Company. I have a 20G high so it took about five days for the Pithos to clean house. The crabs sent to me are about an inch and half. I received six males and one female that has huge/long claws. The female was not as aggressive in eating the bubble algae. The Pithos did not kill the Peppermint Shrimp in the tank and have not gone rogue towards my coral. However, I will remove all but one into a 2 1/2 gallon tank to play it safe.

Salty Bottom Reef Company - Your Source for Premium Marine Aquarium Life

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[lapin]

Nice

 

[Stomatopods17]

I put pithos crabs in my 125, they cleaned it entirely of bubble algae in a week. They disappeared after awhile but what can ya do.

My 29g started to have a bubble algae outbreak, pithos were out of stock everywhere so I resorted to emeralds.

My 29g still has bubble algae... but they got rid of my Zoa problem! They even took care of my mushrooms!

Never again I'll be more patient for pithos next time, now I need pest control for the emeralds, tank was built for a mantis anyways, I just hoped I'd solve the bubble problem before I put one in there.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

The bubble algae really got out of control. Got 7 Pitho Crabs from Salty Bottom Reef Company. I have a 20G high so it took about five days for the Pithos to clean house. The crabs sent to me are about an inch and half. I received six males and one female that has huge/long claws. The female was not as aggressive in eating the bubble algae. The Pithos did not kill the Peppermint Shrimp in the tank and have not gone rogue towards my coral. However, I will remove all but one into a 2 1/2 gallon tank to play it safe.

Salty Bottom Reef Company - Your Source for Premium Marine Aquarium Life

www.saltybottomreefcompany.com

I have 3 in my tank, all males but man do i love them! They are great algae cleaners for sure. I supplement their feeding with nori tied to a rock with a rubber band.

 

[reeftankdude]

Update

The one female that I have clings onto and breaks the limbs off the smaller male crabs. The very small claw males is what you want. The female is still in the tank, but locked in a mesh bag until I can take it to a shop. Those crab leg limbs made a great snack for my large Duncan coral.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

lol, I bet. Yeah all mine are definitely males, but I do have one that lost a few limbs too, not sure how. But he is missing 3 back legs on one side, and his claw on the other. He still gets and eats just fine though. I know they will grow back, but I do believe it takes quite some time and several molts.

 

[Reniva Ma]

I put pithos crabs in my 125, they cleaned it entirely of bubble algae in a week. They disappeared after awhile but what can ya do.

My 29g started to have a bubble algae outbreak, pithos were out of stock everywhere so I resorted to emeralds.

My 29g still has bubble algae... but they got rid of my Zoa problem! They even took care of my mushrooms!

Never again I'll be more patient for pithos next time, now I need pest control for the emeralds, tank was built for a mantis anyways, I just hoped I'd solve the bubble problem before I put one in there.

How many pithos did u add in the 125?

 

[JoJosReef]

Pithos are great.

New video by Joseph Campo

photos.app.goo.gl

New video by Joseph Campo

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[reeftankdude]

Here is a photo of the bubble algae eating pithos in my 2 gallon tank. Gave the female to a LFS.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The bubble algae really got out of control. Got 7 Pitho Crabs from Salty Bottom Reef Company. I have a 20G high so it took about five days for the Pithos to clean house. The crabs sent to me are about an inch and half. I received six males and one female that has huge/long claws. The female was not as aggressive in eating the bubble algae. The Pithos did not kill the Peppermint Shrimp in the tank and have not gone rogue towards my coral. However, I will remove all but one into a 2 1/2 gallon tank to play it safe.

Salty Bottom Reef Company - Your Source for Premium Marine Aquarium Life

www.saltybottomreefcompany.com

I often recommend these crabs as they are good workers and more trustworthy than emeralds. I also do see some aptasia in the pics

 

[reeftankdude]

I often recommend these crabs as they are good workers and more trustworthy than emeralds. I also do see some aptasia in the pics

Three peppermint shrimp had a buffet with the aptasia.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Three peppermint shrimp had a buffet with the aptasia.

Which is great to hear. Often you see/hear of others who get false or wrong type of peppermint and their zoa and soft coral get eaten

 

[Lavey29]

Three peppermint shrimp had a buffet with the aptasia.

All my peppermint shrimp did was dance in front of me.

 

[JoJosReef]

All my peppermint shrimp did was dance in front of me.

Perhaps they identified as sexy shrimp? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I never got peppermints because I worried that they would eat baby RFAs and I was dead set to have RFAs making babies.

 

[reeftankdude]

Make sure they are the real deal peppermints. Look for three limbs on each side. You also have to feed them once in a while. What I do is put a Hikari Crab Cuisine nugget in a turkey baster and drop it near the shrimp. They have a great scent of smell for what is in the current. So even if the food nugget is not near it will be eaten shortly.

 

[bearman88]

The bubble algae really got out of control. Got 7 Pitho Crabs from Salty Bottom Reef Company. I have a 20G high so it took about five days for the Pithos to clean house. The crabs sent to me are about an inch and half. I received six males and one female that has huge/long claws. The female was not as aggressive in eating the bubble algae. The Pithos did not kill the Peppermint Shrimp in the tank and have not gone rogue towards my coral. However, I will remove all but one into a 2 1/2 gallon tank to play it safe.

Salty Bottom Reef Company - Your Source for Premium Marine Aquarium Life

www.saltybottomreefcompany.com

Thanks for posting this - I too am battling a bad bubble outbreak in my 65g. Think I should get about 8 pithos? It's covered about 5% of my rocks at this point.

 

[mfinn]

I'm another case where the Pitho crabs did a good job.
I bought 3 for my 66 gallon tank. One died in the first few days, but the other 2 cleaned up all the bubble algae I can see.

 

[reeftankdude]

Thanks for posting this - I too am battling a bad bubble outbreak in my 65g. Think I should get about 8 pithos? It's covered about 5% of my rocks at this point.

I would get eight as some pithos may not eat the algae. The two or three that wont eat the algae can be taken to the LFS. They are very easy to catch with a small fish net.

 

[bearman88]

I picked up few pithos crabs from Reef Cleaners, and wow. These guys knocked out my terrible bubble algae infestation in about 3 weeks. They clean everything so far, with no downside yet.

I've seen them eat algae, cyano, sift through sand, etc.

I have not seen them harm any coral yet, although I'm worried if my tank gets too clean, they may get hungry/bored.

All in all, this is the cleanest my tank has ever been, and I'm at a very hands-off time and lacking water changes etc.

They seem too good to be true.. wondering what the catch is to this miracle crab lol.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I picked up few pithos crabs from Reef Cleaners, and wow. These guys knocked out my terrible bubble algae infestation in about 3 weeks. They clean everything so far, with no downside yet.

I've seen them eat algae, cyano, sift through sand, etc.

I have not seen them harm any coral yet, although I'm worried if my tank gets too clean, they may get hungry/bored.

All in all, this is the cleanest my tank has ever been, and I'm at a very hands-off time and lacking water changes etc.

They seem too good to be true.. wondering what the catch is to this miracle crab lol.

You can always supplement feeding them with nori! That’s what I do. Just secure a piece to a rock or shell with a rubber band they will be happy to eat that as well.