View Full Version : how fast do emerald crabs grow?
ckovach333
06/10/2011, 10:49 AM
Just curious. Either I found a new crab or my guy has been shooting roids.
wetshirt
06/10/2011, 11:06 AM
The more they have to eat, the faster they grow. I have 2 that have molted twice in the last 3 months, Lots of hair alge. They useally leave their molted shell out in the open to distract predators while they hide for a couple days.
ckovach333
06/10/2011, 11:15 AM
I hope he doesn't start attacking my critters. My cucumbers would be easy pray.
charleneatkins
06/10/2011, 11:25 AM
I have had mine in both my 55 & 29 and they do not bother anything. Most times I have to wait at nite to see them. Both have stayed smaller than a penny.
pentrix2
06/10/2011, 11:33 AM
do you guys know how long they also live?
WaterKeeper
06/10/2011, 11:48 AM
Most store boughts are 0.5-1" and about a year to a year and a half old. They gain 0.5-0.75" per year and usually top out at about 2-2.5" in their 3-4 year life span. Some do get bigger and are reportly as large as 4". One caution is that they eat coralline so if you get a dozen in a smaller tank watch your LR lose it multicolored cloak. Usually not a good thing.
They are mainly nocturnal but do come out in the day if enticed.
ckovach333
06/10/2011, 12:13 PM
Hmm maybe it was just the angle I saw him at.
davocean
06/10/2011, 12:27 PM
My opinion is the benefit out weighs the possible negs, and if you get a troublemaker(which doesn't seem to happen very often) they are relatively easy to catch and pull.
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