Crabs and clams

[Fast Eddie H]

Hi all.

Just wondering if hermits or emerald crabs would harm a clam.

[ZooZ]

good question....i would like to know the answer as well since i have 30+ in a 26G

[a4twenty]

it's probably going to depend on the type of hermit but the common reef friendly ones are ok, as well as the emeralds.

[skinz78]

I have blue leg hermits and emrald crabs in my tank and they don't bother my clams. Most snails, shrimp, and crabs only bother clams when the clam is dieing or dead.

[Charles Ward]

They can! I had a 5 inch tear-drop that started looking bad all of a sudden. All other clams looked great then I took a good look at the tear-drop only to find a emerald crab had climbed inside him. He had started to eat him from the inside out. The clam didnt make it but the crab got punished before returning to the tank.

[ZooZ]

Are you sure it was not dying BEFORE the crab was in there. They will only do that if it is dying from what I know

[Charles Ward]

no he was still alive b/c it had some movement when I waved my hand over the top of the tank. It had been in my tank for several months with no problems but yeah it may have been slowly dying for all I know.

[Questionmarc]

my crabs dont bother the clams

[bignick]

what about sally light foots?

[ouuduy]

i had some emerald crabs and they didn't bother my clams at all.

[Jester]

I have only had problems with crabs when a clam is almost dead... they can smell it I guess and jump in for thanksgiving dinner... not fun to watch... but any other time the hermits and emerald dont bother them at all..