How many mithrax crabs

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Quote: Originally Posted by organism They can eat corals when they get bigger, so Find More Posts by coralnut Find More Posts by dagon Find More Posts by Bluetangclan. Find More Posts by noahm. They are a pretty emerald color and stay on the small side, only reaching about 2 inches 5 cm when fully grown.

Stocking wise, it is recommended to keep only 1 crab per 20 or 25 gallons. Some have reported that keeping them in higher concentrations could lead to aggression amongst themselves. They may also attack smaller snails so if you like your snails, you'll need to keep an eye on your crabs. They may do just fine with snails, but you never know. Another part of their diet may consist of coralline algae. Yes, the pretty purple and red algae that encrusts the tank glass and live rock.

If your tank has several emeralds you may have some issues with this habit. While they are quite hardy, you will still want to take your time and acclimate your crab slowly into your aquarium.

Take an hour and do a slow drip acclimation to help get them adjusted to your water parameters. Jeremy Gay explains how to keep it.

Requirements: Mithrax crabs require algae on which to graze, a mature reef tank and lots of places to hide.

Notes: The Emerald crab is one of those popular inverts that is bought solely to do a job for the reef keeper, and that is to control Valonia and Ventricaria bubble algae. In the wild, they are frequently seen clinging to the branches of corals, like the finger coral, feasting upon the polyps. While feeding, they use their two claws alternately, collecting a scrap of the polyp with one, and supplying with the other.

These saltwater invertebrates are voracious eaters and would gather and eat up to ten polyps in one minute. Like most other species, these crabs are seen molting from time to time, which is a delicate process. When attacked or touched, they usually take refuge under the tentacles of sun anemones. Emerald crabs engage in mating like other crab species with the male climbing on top of the female. The female does not lay eggs, but carry these in a pouch located under the belly.

When the time for releasing the baby crabs sets in, it climbs up to a high point and opens the pouch to release the babies.

The newborn crabs feed on tiny microbes and various other algae. The female usually stays close to the young ones until they grow enough to scavenge for themselves.