I have 2 "porcelain crabs" in my tank now.
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I put that in quotes because they are actually Shame Faced crabs, and are sand dwellers, not comensurate with 'nems. They prefer whatever is the lowest overhang to the bottom, preferably against the sand, from which they can hang upsidedown and filter feed.
Note the long antenna. I've never seen that in a crab, though I guess these guys are actually "stub lobsters", not true crabs (they can use their curved under tail to swim).
Note the large claws. Yep, they use those. I'd say that these guys are not safe around inverts. I watched one turn a Lettuce Sea Slug into confetti, couldn't reach him... 9no big loss, as he'd burt himself in my vortec earlier) I've also seen one tossing a small hermit crab around between claws like it was playing with him.
Still, so far I like them, and watching them filter feed is mesmerizing...
This is my first emerald crab with hairy legs:
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He's also the angriest crab I've ever kept. He pinched me through the bag while acclimating him. He came after me twice over teh last few days as I've been moving things around. And, I swear he's stood on the top of the highest rock, in high flow, and in broad daylight given me the finger.
...he's also went to town on the bubble algea that has been appearing as soon as he was put in the tank. He also ate the one Aptasia that my pepermints missed! I kid you not, he ripped it off the rock, gobbledit up, and cleaned up what ligght was left on the rock! I guess it's kind of like "what doesn't kill you makes you angrier", or something!
And a final note: orange claw hermits are great cleaners, but WILL go after any fish they can find wedged into a rock at night. I've caught them chewing on a Royal Gramma that was trying to sleep. I sure wish those stupide fish would move when this happens... So, beware. Or not. YMMV...
I put that in quotes because they are actually Shame Faced crabs, and are sand dwellers, not comensurate with 'nems. They prefer whatever is the lowest overhang to the bottom, preferably against the sand, from which they can hang upsidedown and filter feed.
Note the long antenna. I've never seen that in a crab, though I guess these guys are actually "stub lobsters", not true crabs (they can use their curved under tail to swim).
Note the large claws. Yep, they use those. I'd say that these guys are not safe around inverts. I watched one turn a Lettuce Sea Slug into confetti, couldn't reach him... 9no big loss, as he'd burt himself in my vortec earlier) I've also seen one tossing a small hermit crab around between claws like it was playing with him.
Still, so far I like them, and watching them filter feed is mesmerizing...
This is my first emerald crab with hairy legs:
He's also the angriest crab I've ever kept. He pinched me through the bag while acclimating him. He came after me twice over teh last few days as I've been moving things around. And, I swear he's stood on the top of the highest rock, in high flow, and in broad daylight given me the finger.
...he's also went to town on the bubble algea that has been appearing as soon as he was put in the tank. He also ate the one Aptasia that my pepermints missed! I kid you not, he ripped it off the rock, gobbledit up, and cleaned up what ligght was left on the rock! I guess it's kind of like "what doesn't kill you makes you angrier", or something!
And a final note: orange claw hermits are great cleaners, but WILL go after any fish they can find wedged into a rock at night. I've caught them chewing on a Royal Gramma that was trying to sleep. I sure wish those stupide fish would move when this happens... So, beware. Or not. YMMV...