Reef safe crabs

[bogd19]

Is it possible crabs would eat ricordia? I need some cuc crew to add to a 30 gallon fish and reef tank. I had crabs in it but they seem to eat the ricordia. Any suggestions?

[Sport507]

You might qualify the post by sharing what kink of crabs you had? That will help us all.

[bogd19]

I wish I knew. I was new when I bought some at the lfs. I don't want to make the mistake again. How many snails should I put in a thirty gallon tank if I don't want to use crabs?

[MedRed]

Pom Pom Crabs
Anemone Crabs
Porcelain Anemone Crabs
Acropora Crabs

All reef safe

[Lynnmw1208]

did you try any small hermits? I find the red legs to be really nice

[cside]

I find the red legs to be really nice

me too. i have blue legs, but they killed off all of my clove polyps! leave stonies alone though. the crabs med red listed are reef safe but not the best cleaners.

[MedRed]

I didn't pay attention to the fact he was looking for cuc crabs. disregard my post.

[crvz]

what do you hope to accomplish with the crabs. I have not used hermits as part of a clean up crew for years. They're too opportunistic, and as you've experienced, will turn on corals or other critters if possible. I like medred's suggestion if your headset on keeping crabs in the tank.

[snorvich]

what do you hope to accomplish with the crabs. I have not used hermits as part of a clean up crew for years. They're too opportunistic, and as you've experienced, will turn on corals or other critters if possible. I like medred's suggestion if your headset on keeping crabs in the tank.

I totally agree. medred's list is a good one. I hate hermit crabs.

[Lynnmw1208]

I guess if you don't want crabs at all you could go with a mix of snails. Some astrea, cerith, nassarius, margarita, nerite etc. I like my crabs because they clean up the food that falls down.

[TaNuki]

I have read Emerald Crabs are good for CUC and reef safe. Yes no?

[JoeRonda]

No, they are good scavangers but highly predatory. They will hunt and kill your other crabs, snails, inverts, what-have-you. Also they may bother some corals and pick at them.

[snorvich]

No, they are good scavangers but highly predatory. They will hunt and kill your other crabs, snails, inverts, what-have-you. Also they may bother some corals and pick at them.

I agree. Not in my tanks will they reside.

[MedRed]

I keep a crabless cuc.

[JoeRonda]

I like crabs but they are little @$$h0!e$. I've caught them starting to eat turbos that have landed on their backs. I've even caught them tag teaming a poor nassarius who could'nt get away. They are ruthless little b@$t@rd$.

[tmz]

I'm pretty crabby but don't keep any in my reef tanks . I do leave those that are hosted in acros that come in with them alone though.

[postie1686]

the 36 gallon i have setup has 3 emeralde crabs in it. i have never had a problem with them picking on in the anything else in the tank. i have heard they will if there isnt enough for them to eat in the tank. there are a few hermit crabs in the tank that steal food from the corals when i feed them. they have been move of a problem for me then the others

[snorvich]

I'm pretty crabby but don't keep any in my reef tanks . I do leave those that are hosted in acros that come in with them alone though.

As long as they don't have blue eyes, I agree.

[snorvich]

the 36 gallon i have setup has 3 emeralde crabs in it. i have never had a problem with them picking on in the anything else in the tank. i have heard they will if there isnt enough for them to eat in the tank. there are a few hermit crabs in the tank that steal food from the corals when i feed them. they have been move of a problem for me then the others

You may change your opinion as time goes on . . . :headwally:

[MedRed]

the 36 gallon i have setup has 3 emeralde crabs in it. i have never had a problem with them picking on in the anything else in the tank. i have heard they will if there isnt enough for them to eat in the tank. there are a few hermit crabs in the tank that steal food from the corals when i feed them. they have been move of a problem for me then the others

I tried giving an emerald a go in my last tank. Every night it would perch on my closed goinopora. I finally realized that it was EATING it. Ever since then, I've had zero CUC crabs in my tanks. It's just not worth the risk for me.

http://i30.*******.com/15quryx.jpg

[bogd19]

Tif I'm looking for a good cuc then just go with snails to be reef safe. I was told crabs won't harm my reef tank from the lfs but they tore up my ricordia. How many snails should I keep going in the tank then for a 29 gallon. Thanks for all the help.

[TellyFish]

Crabs I am willing to keep in my tank -

Porcelain Crabs (love these little guys)
Scarlet Hermits (they do kill each other sometimes)
Pom-Poms (though I rarely see it, could be dead for all i know)
Acro-crabs (also fun)

I agree, it is a short list. Everything else has ended up in the sump or traded for frags.

[C0rp]

I have an emerald in my 75 and he is a model citizen. The only crab I have. He is pretty much scared of everything, lol.

[thebkramer]

the 36 gallon i have setup has 3 emeralde crabs in it. i have never had a problem with them picking on in the anything else in the tank. i have heard they will if there isnt enough for them to eat in the tank. there are a few hermit crabs in the tank that steal food from the corals when i feed them. they have been move of a problem for me then the others

You may change your opinion as time goes on . . . :headwally:

I HAVE TO agree with snorvich!!!
I have MANY horror stories :sad2: just recently gave one to LFS for constantly harassing my porcelain crab :furious: and thats just the most recent after 5yrs. I have learned my lesson!! Don't know why I continued with.. "well, this one may be better than the last!" :headwallblue::headwally:
Just keep a VERY close eye on them :twitch:

[Angel*Fish]

If you don't have crabs, you don't have to worry about what they might do. And you do not need crabs for anything.

[thebkramer]

If you don't have crabs, you don't have to worry about what they might do. And you do not need crabs for anything.

:lol:
I see this quote going to the Lounge!! :lol2:

[snorvich]

If you don't have crabs, you don't have to worry about what they might do. And you do not need crabs for anything.

Neither I nor my tank needs crabs. And I hope to keep it that way! :lmao:

[postie1686]

Neither I nor my tank needs crabs. And I hope to keep it that way! :lmao:

Wait... your telling me crabs arnt the cool thing to have?

[Angel*Fish]

:lmao:

[curlykid]

:D oh lord. crabs aren't very cool at all really. they're a turn off IMO.

[OodleyBoodely]

How many snails should I keep going in the tank then for a 29 gallon. Thanks for all the help.

Figure about 1 to 2 snails per gallon as a starting point. You can add more if needed, but, it is best not to over do it as you may end up just starving a lot of snails. Go with a good mix of species, too. For algae, try astrea, nerite, trochus, ceriths (larger type 'stocky cerith') and perhaps one or two turbos (optional for hair algae but they are bulldozers) I don't recommend margaritas as they don't survive long at reef temps.

For sandbeds 6-10 nassarius vibex and one or two fighting conches. Also, one sand sifting cucumber (Holothuria sp.) will really keep the sand cleaned without damageing the sandbed fauna

Hope this helps some. :rollface:

[Crkbaby]

hermits from what I am seen and told do not eat healthy corals but once the coral is dieing they will eat the dead tissue causing it to be even more likely for the coral to never recover I have all types of corals and hermits and can verify that to be true in my experiences. Also if you need a recomendation on snails get trochus and nassarius, trochus snails are likely to reproduce and can turn themselves back over if knocked on there backs while most can not. nassarius are great for stirring sandbeds

[snorvich]

hermits from what I am seen and told do not eat healthy corals but once the coral is dieing they will eat the dead tissue causing it to be even more likely for the coral to never recover I have all types of corals and hermits and can verify that to be true in my experiences. Also if you need a recomendation on snails get trochus and nassarius, trochus snails are likely to reproduce and can turn themselves back over if knocked on there backs while most can not. nassarius are great for stirring sandbeds

I don't want snails that reproduce and I sure do not want hermit crabs.

[tmz]

Trochus are and one of my favorites. They don't reproduce in my system but don't have much to eat either. I like nasaurius in a sand bed and ceriths too .
Trochus are bit hardier than the astrea,ime , and not the bulldozer tubos can be.

I don't keep any crabs on purpose.

[Angel*Fish]

You would have to have be planning a serious algae/detritis problem to put 60 snails, 2 turbos and 2 fighting conchs and 6 nassarius in a 30g. And don't buy a cucumber without researching the species independently from the person that has it for sale.

Baby snails aren't big enough, but it's how some cuc companies justify telling you to buy a ton of them with no regard for their long term survival (if you can feed them) or how silly your tank will look with that many snails.