Emerald Crab -yay or nay?

[Europhyllia]

Okay. Too wet and cold for me to venture out tonight but I'll call around and pick some up tomorrow. If it doesn't work out there's always the refugium... ;)

[allan]

I have one in my tank, only see him/her at night when I feed the acans. At one time I saw it under the acan rock bench pressing the rock up and down. Later that day the acan rock was on the sand bed upside down. Aside from that I've never had problems with them. Like Rob though I'm seriously thinking to get rid of my hermits as I've never seen so many empty snails shells in my tank.

Just a little off topic, but is the salifeet crab any better/worse than the emerald?

[Europhyllia]

Just a little off topic, but is the salifeet crab any better/worse than the emerald?

Is that short for Sally Lightfoot Crab? I've heard they can be very bad for other livestock.

[corruption]

I personally keep a couple TINY blue-leg hermits... And thats it for crabs. They're just too opportunistc and predatory for my tastes, with commensal crabs (such as acro crabs, etc) being one of the few exceptions i'd make.. Just my personal feelings on them, of course -- plenty of success stories include them in the mix

-Justin

[Third Coast Tropical]

In general, crabs can be sexed by looking at the bottom of their carapace (underside)...if the segemented part comes to a triangular point, then it is a male,...if the segmented part is more rounded, then it is a female.....wish I could draw a picture for you......

Now my disclaimer, this is true for most crabs, never sexed an emerald, but guessing it is similar

[Europhyllia]

Okay Third Coast, you wanna turn over some crabs with me tomorrow?

[Third Coast Tropical]

lol....can't tomorrow

the trick is...be faster than the crab

lol..no, there is a way to hold them and not get pinched, again, wish I could draw you a picture

good luck, I would think a store owner has experience handling them, and possibly even sexing them....

[Europhyllia]

Okay I got my crab sexing sheet printed out
http://www.reefstewardshipfoundation...ead.php?t=1278

Now I just need to get up the nerve to ask the LFS guys to let me see the underside of their crabs.

After reading around RC I am convinced I want a female.

[Mr Cob]

Kevin will do it at Reefs2u...LOL! I kind of want to see him do it... LOL!

[kkiel02]

lol ^ I wanna be there too.