Valonia and Emerald Crabs

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by Andy

I've had several episodes of bubble algae in my tanks over the years and have always purchased Mithrax (Emerald) crabs to get rid of them. They seem to go after the smaller bubbles, however. I've actually watched them attack a patch of bubble algae and have it completely consumed in hours. Once the bubble algae is completely gone from the tank, you don't see the crabs any more. I am assuming they either hide in the rock work or die of starvation. I give the Emeralds a two thumbs up.

Hi Andy,

I have what I believe is a brown bodied, red eyed mithrax in the tank already. He doesn't look at all, in colour anyway, like an emerald crab. This mithrax hasn't touched the valonia, either.

Here are photos of a similar mithrax that I pulled from our 42 hex with the valonia problem:

http://www.lostmymarblz.com/42gal-mithraxcrab.htm