Reef Safe Crabs

[Rednamalas]

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?

 

[MichaelReefer]

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?

If you get female Emerald Crabs you should be ok.

 

[Rednamalas]

If you get female Emerald Crabs you should be ok.

Is there any way I can sex them? Can I buy specifically females online?

 

[MichaelReefer]

Is there any way I can sex them? Can I buy specifically females online?

I know it says red crab, but its the same for Emeralds. Male have a "lighthouse" looking stomach. Females have a more open bee hive looking stomach. Most LFS know how to tell the difference and if you request females they will check. I have multiple female Emeralds and they just do their own thing. Dont mess with coral or anything.

 

[PR_nano]

I have a Pitho, same family as Mithrax, Decorative and Emerald supposed to be less aggressive. Spends a good amount of time buried in sand and comes out to pick at rocks, eats gha and bubble.

 

[Rednamalas]

Hmm ok, I might go for a female emerald crab and a porcelain crab.

 

[tmcd94]

My experience has not resulted in any reef safe crabs. I had a couple of Emeralds and banished both to the shadow realm. Not too fond of the hermit crabs either as they tend to bump into a lot of corals and harass the snails, but I know a lot of people keep both without any issues.

 

[thewalkingdad]

I have a Pitho, same family as Mithrax, Decorative and Emerald supposed to be less aggressive. Spends a good amount of time buried in sand and comes out to pick at rocks, eats gha and bubble.

Cool crab. Where did you find them?

 

[PR_nano]

Where did you find them?

Reef Cleaner, they have lots of cool inverts/cuc and their prices are great.

 

[Spare time]

Emerald crabs, as well as many others get a bad rep. People see them eating something that died and think that they killed it. Or, they don't have any algae and then as soon as the crab just pokes at something they think he is trying to kill it. I Have thousands investing into my tank and I would trust any emerald crab because, just like anything else, I know that I have to keep it fed. If I have no algae, I'd put some seaweed in. There is always a chance that the crab could try and pick at a coral, but if you have no food for it then what else is the crab to do? Scavengers will scavenge

 

[Cryptocaryon]

Its a loaded question as not all individuals of the same species are created equally. My advice would be get whatever you want but proceed with caution. If you are dead set on getting one have an exit strategy in place incase things go south.

 

[Rednamalas]

Its a loaded question as not all individuals of the same species are created equally. My advice would be get whatever you want but proceed with caution. If you are dead set on getting one have an exit strategy in place incase things go south.

Yeah my plan is to banish them to the sump if they act up haha.

 

[HeyJay]

Pom pom crabs

 

[Cryptocaryon]

Yeah my plan is to banish them to the sump if they act up haha.

Ah the sump motel. Been there

 

[Indytraveler83]

+1 for sure on the porcelain crabs. I have 5 or 6 in my system and I've never seen them do anything but filter feed.

I have two pitho crabs that I find very interesting. They love to eat macroalgae, but I haven't seen them touch coral so far. (Got them specifically to deal with some caulerpa that had ventured out of the sump)

I've never had any issues with emeralds, and only issues with a few hermits that got big and thought zoas were lunch. If your worried, the hermits are much easier than emeralds to remove. I have no idea how I'd get my emeralds out at this point...

 

[takitaj]

+1 for the pompom crab. They don't eat algae. They collect floating food by waving their '"pompoms" around (tiny anemones) and sharing the bounty.

 

[Rednamalas]

+1 for the pompom crab. They don't eat algae. They collect floating food by waving their '"pompoms" around (tiny anemones) and sharing the bounty.

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.

 

[Phycodurus]

+1 on porcelain anemone crabs ... i like their diminutive size and they’re typically not reclusive. i love watching them feed. quite benign in my experience.

 

[Phycodurus]

xenia swimming crabs (Caphyra sp.) occasionally show up in the trade. purportedly beneficial to xenia corals.

 

[PicassoClown04]

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