Emerald Mithrax Crab

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Semi-Aggressive   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Diet: Omnivore   • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks   • Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons
 • Reef Compatible: Yes   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: Calcium, Iodine, Trace elements   • Coloration: Green
• Origin: Caribbean, Western Atlantic • Family: Majidae   • Species: Crabs

Help Support AquariumDomain!      

• Your support keeps AquariumDomain advertisement free, lightning fast and fully optimized for both mobile and desktop browsing.

• Visit our Patreon page to learn about the exclusive benefits our Patrons receive!

The Emerald Mithrax Crab is a very hardy specimen, that is sought after for reef and fish only aquariums for its ability to eat many different types of marine algae including nuisance algae. The Emerald Mithrax Crab is also commonly referred to within the aquarium trade as the Emerald Crab or Emerald Mythrax Crab.

The Emerald Mithrax Crab is a bright green color with a flat body, evenly sized claws and hairy legs. This species is very popular for use in an aquarium cleaning crew because of its varied appetite for multiple marine algae and leftover foodstuffs, but also for its ease of care and peaceful demeanor towards other tank inhabitants.

The Emerald Mithrax Crab requires a established aquarium with plenty of live rock and reef work for hiding places and to scavenge for algae. The Emerald Mithrax Crab eats algae and various types of meaty items it can scavenge both on the rock work and on the aquarium bottom. It is not harmful to other aquarium inhabitants except for possibly very small fish, but unlike many other invertebrate species, it will eat bubble algae and is extremely useful for cleaning tanks of this potential problem.

Emerald Mithrax Crabs are opportunistic feeders, and sufficient food is not available to them, they may turn to supplementing their diet with corals or invertebrates; however, this can be prevented by simply supplementing their diet with dried seaweed or meaty preparations if adequate algae is not present.

The Emerald Mithrax Crab is an omnivore and will eat primarily marine algae and any leftover meaty foods that it may come across while scavenging. If there is insufficient algae, their diet should be supplemented with dried seaweed, chopped meaty items or a quality pellet food.