Crabs: To have or have not

[Sea Witch]

I've read all kinds of opinions from one end of the spectrum to the other:

"Crabs are terrorists--don't let any of them in your tank." to
"I love my crabs, they don't bother anything, and they help keep everything clean."

So tell me, do you have any crabs in your tank, what kind, how many, and do you like them or not? Do they do damage or not? And how big is your tank?

Thanks all,

[pirate]

I have 10-15 blue leg hermits, and a tiger pistol shrimp, so I'm not really sure how many are left. Its fun to watch them wander around, and I guess they help to clean my tank can't really tell. I keep buying them so I guess I like them.
they seem to leave everthing alone in my tank as far as I can tell, but I also don't have a lot of too expensive corals so if they eat one or two well thats nature.

[Maverick00]

Ive had an alright experience with hermit crabs. I havent had any issue with them eating the coral that i have in the tank but the little bastards will knock over frags if they arent glued or secured down. I did find they like to fight and kill eachother, ive lost over 50% of the ones i bought from day one. I personally enjoy seeing a few roam around while exploring the tank but i wouldnt go nuts with them, a couple is good enough for me, Ive found my snails do more work especially when it comes to cleaning the glass.

I bought an emerald crab a few months ago to try to clean up some bubble algae, didnt work. I havent had any issues with him either but he does seem to be always ****ed off. If you point at him he tries to pinch you!

[cathyg_99]

i have an emerald crab and no bother from him at all

[Leah]

I love my crabs. My favorite is Porcelain crabs. But I have had Emeralds, Decorator, Pink Hawaiian, Blue legged hermits and Scarlet hermits.And I have Pom poms too! All my tanks have crabs. I also have a sally light footed. Almost forgot she is in my 25 gal.

[fishytime]

Crabs is crabs......they are opportunistic and take what is available to them......Ive never had any issues with my crabs and coral, but all hermits are covert operatives in an underwater terrorist cell known to be responsible for countless snail-jackings....that being said I have several crabs in my tanks....Halloween, left-handed, scarlet, and blue-knuckled hermies in both tanks and pom poms and two different species of porcelain crabs in the small tank.......crabs are to interesting a critter not to have in a reef IMO.....

[fishoholic]

I find my blue and red leg hurmit crabs kill off all my snails. Personally I think the snails do a better job of cleaning and if I had it all to do over I would just stick to snails, although I do admit crabs are fun to watch.