killer crabs

elblond · #1 05/01/2007, 06:09 PM

My two emerald crabs kill and eat one of my peppermint shrimps, my banded shrimp and my serpent star. It's normal?

LittlePuff · #2 05/01/2007, 09:13 PM

No. What else do they have to eat?

bertoni · #3 05/01/2007, 10:04 PM

All crabs are predatory in nature, and variable in disposition. Still, that seems like a high death toll. Are you sure that they did the killing, or were they just cleaning up after a death?

dc_909 · #4 05/01/2007, 11:33 PM

I think you are jumping to conclusions. Just because they are eating them doesn't mean they killed them.

demonsp · #5 05/01/2007, 11:40 PM

Good point dc-909 . Also if they are both in that 20 gal then competition for food is greater , i would only have one. PLus the lower load means you can add something differant. Most emeralds are calm and keep to themselfs as does mine but i have heard some get aggresive.

elblond · #6 05/02/2007, 05:04 AM

There're no problem until they arrived. You have a point, I've just saw them eat them. They're classified as semi-aggressive.

Blown 346 · #7 05/02/2007, 05:32 AM

I had a similar experience when I had a Emerald. It started to attack my shrimp and lunge out at passing fish. IMO All crabs cant be trusted. If threy are hungry they will go where they can get a meal period, no matter what it is. If they can catch it, its dinner.

Village Idiot · #8 05/02/2007, 09:46 AM

Crabs are omnivorous and opportunistic. If they are hungry and something presents itself, they will eat it.

delsol650 · #9 05/02/2007, 10:21 AM

for Emeralds, to keep them well food if not enough to graze on... you could drop in some algae disks...