Reef Safe Crabs

[Phycodurus]

the zebra urchin crab (Zebrida adamsii) is another uncommon one but one of my favorites. also supposed to be reef-safe. i only see mine once in a while lol (180G tank) piggybacking on an urchin.

 

[monti mike]

What about pom pom crabs? They’re super cool and listed as reef safe. I have a red climber crab in a sps only tank, zero damage and zero bubble algae! Love him

Team Pom Pom! They’re awesome and don’t hurt anything.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Team Pom Pom! They’re awesome and don’t hurt anything.

Wow! That’s a lot of eggs! Y’all making sushi or trying to raise them?

 

[monti mike]

Wow! That’s a lot of eggs! Y’all making sushi or trying to raise them?

When you can’t get sushi during quarantine... make your own! Spider roll anyone?

 

[HuduVudu]

So I’ve been looking at many species of crabs recently and the main ones such as emerald crabs can grow to be quite aggressive and coral eaters from what I’ve seen. I’m thinking about getting a porcelain crab because I’ve heard they’re filter feeders and aren’t aggressive. Are there any other species of crabs that you would recommend?

Coral crab. They are bit hard to find and you end up having to buy a wild colony to get them but they are very cool and they don't bother anyone. Mine looks a bit different than the masked ones but he is still kewl none the less.

Sorry for the squatch photo he is a bit of a recluse.

 

[takitaj]

Are you sure the pom poms anemones wouldn’t sting my fish? Also aren’t they really timid and rarely seen in a tank? If not I’d be down to get one.

The crab will hold them up if a fish gets too close but I honestly don't know if they could actually do any harm. It could be just a natural reaction to hold up their claws but of course they can't do anything with their hands full. The anemones are TINY! About the size of the Y in tiny. I never had any issues although my fish never showed any interest in the crab. They usually 'hide' in plain sight and will come out in the open when you feed waving their pompoms then licking 'em off. Like Cornelius looking for silver and gold in Rudolf the red nosed reindeer. lol

 

[JohnGP]

Like many have mentioned I've had no problems with Pom Pom crabs, Porcelain crabs(Red, Blue and regular green) and Pithos have been good too. I currently have two Pithos and about 4-5 Porcelain crabs in my tank with zero problems. I know a lot of people have had no problems with Emeralds, Sally Lightfoot and Arrow crabs but I've had problems with all three in the past. It seems that once they get large enough they start to kill and eat stuff, even small fish and decorator shrimp. I won't put either Emerald, Arrow or Sally's in any of my tanks anymore due to them going rogue on me in the past.

 

[X-37B]

I have 5 emerald and about 10 scarlet hermit crabs with no issues in my 120.
They like to climb into my stags and acros but dont seem to be an issue at the moment.

 

[H3rm1tCr@b]

So I’ve been looking at many species of crabs recently and the main ones such as emerald crabs can grow to be quite aggressive and coral eaters from what I’ve seen. I’m thinking about getting a porcelain crab because I’ve heard they’re filter feeders and aren’t aggressive. Are there any other species of crabs that you would recommend?

About emerald crabs, yes they can be little turds but I’ve never had one do much else than throw some claws. I currently have a red variant with a leg span of four inches who is shockingly placid. Look into sponge decorator crabs too! Mine is great and reasonably reef safe. He ate a sponge (as expected, was dying anyway) loves brine shrimp and hair algae, and will occasionally grab a zoa and put it on his back.