help with emarald crabs

[sleazebrother]

ok so my fiancee got an emerald crab we later found out it was full of eggs. evidently they hatched or what have u and must have been eaten or picked up by the filtration. since then its gone on a tear. so are they reef safe or not?i get mixed reviews. since the eggs have been released shes been picking at the leather coral and some of the live rock. crabs are crabs. so what the deal with these things?

[Doodaa]

The deal is, that crabs are opportunistic feeders, they will eat whatever they fancy and is easy to find and what tastes good to them. You'll get people that hate crabs cause they eat or pick at their corals and you'll get people that have never had a problem with them...that's why you get your mixed reviews.

[Steve McKay]

+1.My opinion is that crabs are no good period!

[Bloodydecks]

I'm one of the few on this site that use crabs in my systems. Including Emerald Crabs. I have had a few issues with some crabs, but for me, the pros have out weighed the cons. It all depends on what your using them for. Algae, working the sand, cleaning and scavenging for any missed food...but as stated, they are opportunistic feeders, and can do some damage...