Arrow Crab?

[Zippeay]

Ok so today I finally after 5 weeks went out and bought a clown fish "He's awesome and he ate right after I put him in the tank". I also bought an Arrow crab because the guy at LFS suggested that it would take care of my Fireworm problem possibly. He keeps poking at my clown though . He won't hurt him will he? Also is a 35 gallon too small for an arrow crab? I don't want him to take my tank, I want to buy a CBS but the LFS guy told me these are better for fireworms. Thanks guys

 

[fish_keeper2]

itll be fine. my arrow crab used to go at my fish to but once they settle and are used to each other they ll leave each other alone. i keep my arrow crab in a 10 gal so a 35 should be more than enough. trying feeding frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp or mysis shrimp the arrow crab. mine went at my fish the most when it was hungry.

 

[Zippeay]

Whew, cool TY. He doesn't really grab him or anything, its more of a poke everytime the clown swims near him . When I fed the clown earlier the crab ate some of the left of brine shimp. Thanks again

 

[steelhealr]

Thumbs down on arrow crabs from my point of view. Two inverst I would never put in my tanks: CBS's and arrow crabs. SH

 

[Jeff20147]

Thumbs down on arrow crabs from my point of view. Two inverst I would never put in my tanks: CBS's and arrow crabs. SH

What didn't you like about the arrow crabs?

 

[fish_keeper2]

ya please tell us why you wouldnt want an arrow crab in a tank. i havent seen any thing that would be bad from the arrow crab(except killing a hermit every now and then). they have an interesting behavior.

 

[steelhealr]

Numerous horror stories of eaten shrimp, stabbed at and eaten fish, nibbling at corals. These small crabs and the CBS are opportunistic. They can and WILL eat fish and shrimp in your tank and can do so easily if they want to. SH

 

[Jeff20147]

Numerous horror stories of eaten shrimp, stabbed at and eaten fish, nibbling at corals. These small crabs and the CBS are opportunistic. They can and WILL eat fish and shrimp in your tank and can do so easily if they want to. SH

My arrow crab has always been laid back, I've never heard of the horror stories. But I do believe you, I guess anything can turn and start eating fish and corals.

 

[Zippeay]

He doesn't seem to bother my clown, just when the clown gets kind of close he reaches out and pokes him but nothing more that I've notice. But the coolest thing about the Arrow is I just saw him with a Fire worm in his claws . Man I wish I had my camera, I just hope he doesn't get agresive towards my clown. He's really neat I like him, if he doesn't bother my fish I think I'll keep him. Thanks guys

 

[jen20147]

Numerous horror stories of eaten shrimp, stabbed at and eaten fish, nibbling at corals. These small crabs and the CBS are opportunistic. They can and WILL eat fish and shrimp in your tank and can do so easily if they want to. SH

Ive read that pretty much any crab can turn into a predator in your tank, if they are capable in size and or strength. Our Sally Lightfoots have decimated our small snails in our tank. Arrow Crab just keeps to himself. Its just hit or miss from my experience who you have problems with.

 

[steelhealr]

It will always come down to ONE choice when stocking your tank, whether it be a crab, fish or invert:

Do you want to roll the dice?

What is it worth to you, to stock it, if it can nuke your tank, eat your fish, or destroy an expensive beautiful coral?

If you don't mind coming home and finding a beautiful clownfish dead, or your tank clouded over and nuked, then the choice will always be easy......

SH

 

[jen20147]

It will always come down to ONE choice when stocking your tank, whether it be a crab, fish or invert:

Do you want to roll the dice?

What is it worth to you, to stock it, if it can nuke your tank, eat your fish, or destroy an expensive beautiful coral?

If you don't mind coming home and finding a beautiful clownfish dead, or your tank clouded over and nuked, then the choice will always be easy......

SH

Weve come home with fish dead and partly eaten, due to when we had Ich problems...but no nuked tank. I guess having a 150g really helps with that. Id rather have crabs and take the chance. I enjoy them just as much as the fish if not more sometimes. Interesting and fun to watch. Our Arrow Crab is a small guy, and like I said our only predatory crab so far is a Sally Lightfoot. Whatever happens happens, it is after all the goal to create as natural an ecosystem as possible. Things eat things. We try to avoid it whenever possible...like taking out the Lunar Wrasse when he started tearing up our snails and hermit crabs. And so far nothing has become a thread to our fish, so we enjoy.

My only point before though, was that any crab can do what your arrow crab did. I dont think it should deter people from having them. They are great additions to the tank but if you have small fish dont buy a huge crab. Easy.

 

[crazyelece]

I agree with SH. An arrow crab is very opportunistic and even more so in small environments. All he is trying to tell you is to be aware that your fish is at risk. It may not have killed the clown yet but its not like you can bring the clown back from the dead if and when it happens. Some people enjoy the inverts more than fish or corals, that's a personal preference and is ultimately your choice. I'm not telling you to get rid of the arrow crab and I don't think SH is either. We are just trying to point out some extra info we didn't think you had so you could make a choice that best suits your needs. For a tank that size I think I would not have added the arrow, but for a larger tank it would be a possability if it had a use like you say it does. In the end you just have to ask yourself "Do you feel lucky, Punk? Do You?" 8)