Is an emerald crab suited for a beginner? I will soon start my first marine tank and would love to add a emerald crab after it is a bit more established. How hard are they to keep? What's the best thing to feed them? Are they a threat to other crabs? Can you keep more then one? How long should you wait before adding to a 36 gallon FOWLR with some inverts? And please post any experiences you've had, good or bad, with this crab, thanks!

I've only had my Emerald Crab for about a week, so not a lot of experience. He has knocked a few things over, so would suggest securing things down. From what I've read, they are general detritivores, but show a preference toward algae (including bubble algae) No special feeding is required.

Hope others with more experience can answer your questions more thourougly.

I think they are great to have as a clean up crew. I would wait before adding any though until the tank has matured for a while IMO

My tubastrea started to look really bad for awhile. It turns out our time consuming spot feeding was being taken care of by the emerald. He had ran out of algae to eat. So, if you don't have algae make sure a little food goes he way during feeding time or he will starve. We now hand him a sheet or nori when we feed the tubastrea and he is always sitting there waiting.

Thanks for all the help. Im a 36 gallon how many should be added?

I would only go with one in there.

i would only go with 1 too. they get pretty big.

Okay, only one, thanks.

Emeralds will farm bubble algae. Don't get rid of all your bubble algae(if you have any to begin with) and it will grow its own food along with whatever it will eat that you feed to the tank. Its actually pretty neat to watch them grow their own food. :)

Mine clips tails off of Cleaner Shrimp! I would LOVE to get rid of mine!!!!!