When Emeralds ATTACK!

About 7 months ago I ordered a few peppermint shrimp from an online source and in the bag with the shrimp came a little emerald crab freebie. So not having any algae issues at the time I decided to throw the little guy into my refugium because I heard some stories that if hungry can take out some corals and small fish.

Since then every once in a while when peeking into the fuge I would see the remains of a molt floating and just assume it's doing fine since I never see it. Well about a month ago I'm under the tank servicing my phos reactor and I happen to see it next to a piece of rock. I decided I was gonna coax him out with a small silverside because I wanted to see how big it got and within 2 seconds of putting the fish close to where it was hiding, it came over and grabbed the fish right from my hands. While this was going on I was able to get a good view of his size and I would guess it's close to 3" in width!!! Since then I give it a little silverside every 10 days or so just for entertainment purposes and to keep it well fed.

So last night I'm in the fuge pruning some of my macro after giving it a silverside over the weekend and not thinking my hand is kind of close to where it hides out. After a few seconds I feel a pinch on the top of my hand by my knuckle and when I look, this little bast**d is trying to eat me!!!!

I pulled my hand away and began to laugh at how tough this little guy is so I decided to see if it would attack again (nobody said I was smart ;D) if I put my hand back in. Well within 2 seconds it was on the attack again and I couldn't stop laughing. I had to show my wife of course too and now she is afraid to walk barefoot in the same room as the tank in fear of it escaping (oh boy!!)

So for all you emerald crab owners out there be aware because you will never know...



























WHEN EMERALDS ATTACK!!!





(cheesy, I know)

 

lol, nice story.. Get a pic of this little guy attacking you

 

hey - it's not easy being cheesy!

Actually this was the first thread i read this morn since my emerald Mr. Pinchy gets a bit bossy in the tank sometimes and i was curious about your crab.

Pinchy does the feeding time dance quite often in the evenings when the gang knows its near feeding time - this consists of rearing up against the front glass with both claws outstretched - he will walk the length of the front glass this way - back and forth - several times until food is added to the tank. He starts this around the same time in the evening and well before i approach the tank.

Yours sounds like a real scrappy lil critter That would be a funny pic or vid if you were able to get one - sounds like the wife wont be willing to be the camera crew now though. lol...

I had NO idea inverts and CUC's could be just as fun and entertaining as the fish are

+K for a good morning laugh. thanks!

 

For me, the inverts are the best part of the tank! They do more than just swim.

 

Yea I should try and get a video - problem is the wife will freak and not hold the camera

Wait now that I think of it a video of that could even be better! 8)

Let me see what I can do

 

That's too funny. Emeralds are one of my favorite. I had one named Goliath. He grew extremely fast as well. Would love to see some video of your little finger nipper.

 

Yeah.... video please!!!! That's just too funny ;D

 

OK so I convinced the wife to take a video of me feeding it last night. Now after seeing how close it comes to the water level, I think she will never set foot in the room again Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCqyE71dOZo

 

haha, awesome. thanks for the vid

 

Wow he his big!