Crab and Snail

[KayleeAnn24]

My boyfriend just got a blue leg crab for our fish tank to eat the algea in the tank. One of my snails had algea growing on him. The crab currently is on the snails back pulling off the algea. The snail is trying to shake him off and quickly moving to the top of the tank. Is the snail in pain? should I try to prevent this from happening? Also I thought I had read online somewhere that blue leg crabs eat snails out of their shells, my boyfriend said the lady at the LFS said that that won't happen. Does anyone have experience with this. I can't bear the thought of mr. snail being in distress or being scared. :confused:

[gone fishin]

Crabs will often shell jack a snail,that is just the way it is. Either replace the snails as needed or pick one or the other. Good luck.

[KayleeAnn24]

Oh noooooo! So does that mean that the crab is harming the snail?

[gone fishin]

I don't know. It could be eating the algae or it could be evicting the snail.

[KayleeAnn24]

Well i know for certain he was just eating the algae, and I just asked and it's not a blue leg like i thought its an emerald crab does that make a difference? And thanks for your feedback I do appreciate it.

[Heatherabel3]

My crabs clean the algae off my snails all the time and the snails react that way. I don't know if it's hurting them or if they just don't like having the crab on them. The crabs have never eaten a snail though, but they are all algae free.

[KayleeAnn24]

Thanks! Also do emerald crabs need new shells I'm looking it up and it I can't find a clear answer either way. All of the things I've read are comparing them to hermit crabs and give more info about the hermit than the emerald.

[gone fishin]

An emerald will not shell jack a snail. That being said all crabs are opportunistic and will grab a meal when they can.

No emeralds do not need a shell added like hermits. They will take care of their shell themselves.

[KayleeAnn24]

Ok Awesome! There's so much algae in my tank that I don't think he'll be turning to that for a long time. Thanks guys, I feel way better now. I always go to the extreme end of concern and panic if I think one of my critters is in danger.

[snorvich]

Crabs will often shell jack a snail,that is just the way it is. Either replace the snails as needed or pick one or the other. Good luck.

Exactly.