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View Full Version : The Mythrax crab, how reef friendly would you rate it?


Macca
08-08-2006, 06:31 PM
We are often asked at Reef Critters how reef friendly certain inverts are. I often spend long times on the phone discussing my subjective opinion. So I have opened up a poll to get a more objective view. If possible please discuss your opinions.

Many thanks

James
Macca
08-09-2006, 09:44 PM
Yep we have an objective view! there are low risk! :P

James
Macca
08-10-2006, 09:51 PM
can no one else vote? :waiting:
Paul P.
08-11-2006, 12:35 AM
I had one for 18 months in my tank with softies and lps and it didn`t touch either, in fact it liked to rest in a torch coral and clean the stems !
mine did a great job on valonia too
Macca
08-11-2006, 12:49 AM
Thanks for the reply Paul. I think in General they are a low risk reef crab. But like any crab they are opportunist feeders. If they is unsufficent plant matter then they will look at alternative food sources. I have witnessed a large emerald mythrax crab scrapping a leather coral (like removing bark from a tree). Not sure if he was actually eating the flesh or the algae that had grown upon it. This was upsetting and I removed him quickly from my setup. Please note this was the only time I have witnessed a mythrax attack a soft coral but would not be surprissed to hear similar stories.

James
Gillybaby
08-15-2006, 07:53 PM
I agree with the above although would add that I think size also has a bearing. Small ones are much more likely to go for algae and detritus, but when they get bigger so do their claws and appetites. I think so long as you are aware of what they can do and keep them properly fed, then they are pretty low risk.
oakwell
08-17-2006, 06:47 PM
i have never had any problems with them so safe from me.....until i have any other reason to queation them
Blue
08-17-2006, 09:24 PM
as above. I have sold hundereds of these, and not 1 has ever been reported back as being destructive.
regards chris :grin:
Buster
08-18-2006, 09:19 AM
:Thinking: yep I am also able to conclude with all of the above. :-D
Kev
10-13-2006, 09:29 PM
Safe. Great little guys, but I get cheesed off with them. Why?............You don't get to see that much of them.

Kev
fishface
12-15-2006, 08:55 PM
We are often asked at Reef Critters how reef friendly certain inverts are. I often spend long times on the phone discussing my subjective opinion. So I have opened up a poll to get a more objective view. If possible please discuss your opinions.

Many thanks

James
had mine 2 years no problem just eats the live rock alan fishface
course-its-reefsafe
12-15-2006, 08:57 PM
One of mine is eating a Montipora Digitata :(

I'm really struggling to catch it as well. No problems up untill now though.
course-its-reefsafe
12-16-2006, 11:05 AM
Caught the ****** :D

He was grazing on an acropora millipora early this morning, didn't see the tongs coming in, a brief struggle and................................sumped :D
Tangman
12-16-2006, 04:59 PM
Caught the ****** :D

He was grazing on an acropora millipora early this morning, didn't see the tongs coming in, a brief struggle and................................sumped :D

Your ruthless when aroused Chris, glad you got the little blighter. Eric
Blue
12-16-2006, 06:16 PM
I suppose they must be a bit like fish, they don't all behave the same. :)
Kev
12-16-2006, 06:20 PM
Never a problem when I have kept one in a softie tank. Biggest problem was I rarely ever saw it.
Blue
12-16-2006, 06:23 PM
Never a problem when I have kept one in a softie tank. Biggest problem was I rarely ever saw it.
sounds about right :D :D
course-its-reefsafe
12-16-2006, 09:33 PM
I suppose they must be a bit like fish, they don't all behave the same. :)


I'm sure you're right :)

This is one of 4, and seems to be the only rogue. I was advised that once they start eating corals(very rare) they develop a taste for them?

The others I will leave in there as they seem harmless. One problem I may have is that apart from the valonia, I have very little algae in my tank so it may have been hungry.


Your ruthless when aroused Chris dammn right, especially when one of my montis is concerned :D




glad you got the little blighter. Eric

So am I, thanks Eric :)
Timo
03-16-2009, 06:53 PM
Only one person voted high risk and that was me, a little surprised when i voted and to see only one vote for high risk. I have never had one but always been in the impression that they eat the polyps off milli's and monti's killing them :confused:
TheCoralGardenLtd
03-17-2009, 11:02 PM
As safe as anything else you are likely to put in your system, how "SAFE" are 90% of fish is more the question. If we only kept "REEF SAFE" inhabitants, then the tank would be fairly empty! LOL;)