Mithrax yes or no

icemark · 07-09-2001, 01:35 PM

Have you had good experiances with a Mithrax crab or not.

I am in the process of re-doing my main display tank and was looking at adding/updating a new clean up crew.

The reef kit that FF Express sells includes several, but I have always been reluctant to include any crabs in with my better corals and fish.

scout · 07-09-2001, 02:45 PM

I've had no problems with my emerald. Seems to leave all corals alone and is way too slow to bother any fish. I got mine six months ago on advice from this board to do away with my bubble algae problem. It didn't work (maybe it did, my problem stabilized). He lives happily in a 30 gallon with a fairly large Sally Lightfoot.

HTH
Mike

GregD · 07-09-2001, 03:21 PM

Unfortunately my experiences with Mithrax crabs have not been as good as Scout's.

I belive "opportunistic feeders" sums them up best. When I first introduced 2 mithrax crabs to my reef they were fine and had some hair algae to eat. After the hair algae was consumed they started to pick at corals and even took a few swipes at fish here and there. I eventually had to remove them both.

IMO, if you have food sources other than fish or corals the crabs should be fine. If these alternate food sources are depleted BEWARE!

HTH,
Greg

Duncan · 07-09-2001, 09:59 PM

Mark,
IMHO I love them for MY reefs. I have had them for years and would in no way shy away from them for future systems. The food source issue is relevant here though, and the previous post is correct in stating that they are opportunistic feeders. Once the algae and or detritus is gone they will look for other foods. But hey when is a tank really detritus free.

The only trouble that i have had with them in the past is that when they get bigger they have the tendency to knock smaller corals over. So I just let them go, back in the ocean, and collect a few replacements. HTH.

Duncan.

frequentj · 07-10-2001, 12:02 AM

I'm not sure if you could say I had a good or bad experience with my emerald crab. When I first bought it, it was small and did a good job of getting rid of my bubble algae. After about the 3rd molt, I started noticing my shrimp disappearing. Not long afterwards, I noticed my pistol shrimp only had one claw. It lived for a few weeks longer, but eventually died. I think it got into a fight with the emerald crab and killed it, because the emerald disappeared right after the shrimp was missing the claw. My lone surviving peppermint shrimp was fine after that. So.... it could have been the crab, but I guess I can't convict him with circumstantial evidence!

07-09-2001, 01:35 PM	#1
icemark Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Rohnert Park, CA, USA Posts: 1,102	Mithrax yes or no Have you had good experiances with a Mithrax crab or not. I am in the process of re-doing my main display tank and was looking at adding/updating a new clean up crew. The reef kit that FF Express sells includes several, but I have always been reluctant to include any crabs in with my better corals and fish. __________________ Play well Mark www.mazdamark.com

07-09-2001, 09:59 PM	#4
Duncan Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla, U.S. Posts: 192	Mark, IMHO I love them for MY reefs. I have had them for years and would in no way shy away from them for future systems. The food source issue is relevant here though, and the previous post is correct in stating that they are opportunistic feeders. Once the algae and or detritus is gone they will look for other foods. But hey when is a tank really detritus free. The only trouble that i have had with them in the past is that when they get bigger they have the tendency to knock smaller corals over. So I just let them go, back in the ocean, and collect a few replacements. HTH. Duncan. __________________ Please tread lightly on the reefs of the world. Visit my world at http://duncansrealm.homestead.com

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07-09-2001, 02:45 PM	#2
scout Council Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Bear, DE, USA Posts: 292	I've had no problems with my emerald. Seems to leave all corals alone and is way too slow to bother any fish. I got mine six months ago on advice from this board to do away with my bubble algae problem. It didn't work (maybe it did, my problem stabilized). He lives happily in a 30 gallon with a fairly large Sally Lightfoot. HTH Mike

07-09-2001, 03:21 PM	#3
GregD Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Fairfax, VA...USA Posts: 134	Unfortunately my experiences with Mithrax crabs have not been as good as Scout's. I belive "opportunistic feeders" sums them up best. When I first introduced 2 mithrax crabs to my reef they were fine and had some hair algae to eat. After the hair algae was consumed they started to pick at corals and even took a few swipes at fish here and there. I eventually had to remove them both. IMO, if you have food sources other than fish or corals the crabs should be fine. If these alternate food sources are depleted BEWARE! HTH, Greg

07-10-2001, 12:02 AM	#5
frequentj Council Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: KY Posts: 295	I'm not sure if you could say I had a good or bad experience with my emerald crab. When I first bought it, it was small and did a good job of getting rid of my bubble algae. After about the 3rd molt, I started noticing my shrimp disappearing. Not long afterwards, I noticed my pistol shrimp only had one claw. It lived for a few weeks longer, but eventually died. I think it got into a fight with the emerald crab and killed it, because the emerald disappeared right after the shrimp was missing the claw. My lone surviving peppermint shrimp was fine after that. So.... it could have been the crab, but I guess I can't convict him with circumstantial evidence!

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