Nano-Reef.com » Invertebrate Information » Emerald Crab
Emerald Crab
Scientific Name
Mithrax sculptus
Common Names
Emerald crab, Mithrax crab, Green crab
Class: Crustacea
Order: Decapoda
Family: Majidae
Origin
Caribbean, Tropical Western Atlantic
Emerald crabs are easily identified by their rich green color, flat shiny body, large flat tipped front claws, and hairy legs. They grow up to around 2.5" in an aquarium, and are very hardy, adapting well to different environments, but should only be placed in mature aquariums. They are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on micro-algae like bubble algae (their specialty), cyanobacteria, detritus, seaweed, prepared fish food pellets, and meaty pieces of seafood. If your nano reef does not contain a lot of algae you should suppliment their food supply with dried seaweed, pellets, or frozen foods. In their natural habitat emerald crabs are nocternal and will often hide under rocks, crevices, and in shady caves during the day, but are known to adapt to daytime activity in aquariums. While generally reef safe, fully grown emerald crabs may sometimes pick at corals or attack small fish, and should be monitored for problems.
Christopher Marks 12/31/2007
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