Killer Emerald crab?!

Washburn82

Reefing newb
I woke up this morning to find my emerald crab eating my clownfish's face! From what i read these are mainly algae eaters. So i was very surprised to see this. Although he has grown quite alot since i first had him. First off i find it very hard to beleive he could catch my clown. Im thinking since it was my previously sick clown i had recently out into my new tank maybe the clown was slow and sleeping or something. Im just wondering if i should get rid of the "green beast" or not. He has lived side by side with a little goby, much smaller then a clown and there has never been an issue. Any ideas?

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Sorry to hear that, but yes, emerald crabs will eat fish if given the opportunity. The larger they become, the more aggressive they become.
 
hmm may be time for a trade in then. This crab is a monster compared to when i first had him. He is such a great cleaner though id hate to get rid of him. But i dont want my fish fearing for their lives after lights out.
 
Crabs in general are little evil plotters!!! The reasons why I wont have them are
1-They can kill fish
2- They can murder snails
3- They can crawl out of your tank and look startlingly like a giant spider crawling across your floor causing a total freakout if you haven't had your morning coffee yet and its still dark in the house......

The last one is particularly terrifying.
 
lol i like point number 3. Im going to take him to my LFS tomorrow and see if hes willing to take him, and im sure he will. I gotta admit im gonna miss him, hes very cool looking but since that happened last night ive noticed him kinda snapping at other inverts in my tank. Hes got to go. He will most likely do better in a larger tank with larger fish.
 
That looks like a male emerald. Males can get very mean. All the emeralds in my tank are female & excellent cleaners. I would get another emerald if I was you, just make sure its a female. Females have & keep tiny claws FYI.
 
Ya hes a little trouble maker he hangs upside down in his little cave and anything that swims by or under he pops out and pinches at them. Thanks for the advice chuck they are great cleaners. I seen my LFS just got a new emerald i didnt pay much attention to the claws though ill look closer tomorrow. Im sure my LFS will find him a good home. Or become food for his huge toadfish, things a bottomless pitt.
 
LOL @ marines_wife. I at this moment kind of feel the same way. I did like my emerald though he was a great cleaner. Any suggestions on fish for my 20 gallon long now? My current inhabitants are just 1 clown now (btw seems to be much happier on her own) a steinitz's goby i believe. A marble, cleaner and peppermint shrimp and about 5 hermit crabs.Oh and a big ass mexican snail. I was thinking of a firefish maybe or cardinal. Im not too familiar with the smaller types of fish. Always wanted a flame angel and am aware of their coral nipping traits. Any other small fish suggestions. A FS owner told me an engineering goby would be fine in my tank but from what i read they get like 6". Seems way to big for my tank. Would a flame hawkfish be out of the question for my tank? ill stop now before i go nuts asking about specific fish. :)
 
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LOL @ marines_wife. I at this moment kind of feel the same way. I did like my emerald though he was a great cleaner. Any suggestions on fish for my 20 gallon long now? My current inhabitants are just 1 clown now (btw seems to be much happier on her own) a steinitz's goby i believe. A marble, cleaner and peppermint shrimp and about 5 hermit crabs.Oh and a big ass mexican snail. I was thinking of a firefish maybe or cardinal. Im not too familiar with the smaller types of fish. Always wanted a flame angel and am aware of their coral nipping traits. Any other small fish suggestions. A FS owner told me an engineering goby would be fine in my tank but from what i read they get like 6". Seems way to big for my tank. Would a flame hawkfish be out of the question for my tank? ill stop now before i go nuts asking about specific fish. :)

Firefish are great, I would love to have one but I know that they can be jumpers and putting a lid on a bow front isnt a easy task and not one I want to embark on. I think most cardinals are relatively peaceful, but they need a tank at least 30 gal if memory serves. The engineering goby needs a large tank, 70 gal from what live aquaria says, and I would think that is because they get so big and like to burrow throughout the sand. Honestly I would hop on live aquaria and start looking through their fish. They have a marine compatibility chart and a fairly decent list of fish and what size tank they need. I am a fan of researching before you buy. Youll know exactly what you want, not spend money on things that will be unhappy in your tank and ultimately end up costing you money whether it be because they died or because you had to rehome them
 
I think a cardinal would do fine in a 20, they dont really move around much. They tend to find a corner and just chill. A firefish would also do great, or a clown goby.
 
Crabs are evil. They were put on this planet purely to be consumed by humans with butter.

AHHHHHHH!!!!!! I love the evil Little bastards..... Arrow crabs are awesome hermits are awesom as well same with POM POM Crabs and nem crabs and porcelain's....

Though a bucket of king crab legs and garlic butter does sound good for tonight ;) also a nice side of swordfish with lemon butter mmmmmm..... damn it now I'm hungry!!!
 
Thanks all. I do reasearch but from what i read online and from what i hear they are two different things. I actually just bought a firefish (goby) today hes acclimating as i type. I prefabed a lid so if he tries to jump he'll get headbutted back. Im thinking one more small fish. Not sure yet what i want. Perhaps another clown...or cardinal i really kind of want a free swimmer my goby and clown kind of stick to their areas and i read firefish dont swim alot either. ill have to do some more research. although any suggestions would be great as well :) After my last fish and i get my new lights its coral time.
 
Thanks all. I do reasearch but from what i read online and from what i hear they are two different things. I actually just bought a firefish (goby) today hes acclimating as i type. I prefabed a lid so if he tries to jump he'll get headbutted back. Im thinking one more small fish. Not sure yet what i want. Perhaps another clown...or cardinal i really kind of want a free swimmer my goby and clown kind of stick to their areas and i read firefish dont swim alot either. ill have to do some more research. although any suggestions would be great as well :) After my last fish and i get my new lights its coral time.

I just want to say unless your top is not exposed at all you will be surprised at the size of an opening they can jump through. Just like there cousins the Dartfish if there is a crack or opening they some how find a way. I love them though great additions to most tanks IMO....
 
Thanks Zyber i made the top myself and everything is pretty snug. Unless it can thin itself out to like 1mm and jump at extreme accuracy :P i should be fine. I have heard horror stories about them though. thanks for the heads up! :)
 
Not at all i appreciate the advice i really do. Actually the biggest gap i have is around 1-2mm But after reading your posts i covered them up with tinfoil and tape for a few days until he is settled.
 
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