The topic is green, so today we’re talking:
EMERALD CRABS.
I’ve always had a thing for crabs. Perhaps it’s my birthday (July, in the sign of ‘Cancer – the crab’), or possibly the fact that I share the crustacean’s crotchety temper and its tendency to eat everything in reach.
More likely, it’s just that I find them awfully cute.
Emerald crabs, in particular, are favorites of mine. They’re reef safe (they don’t molest the fish or corals) and they munch unwanted algae like little hyper-caffeinated mowers. I currently have between three and five on the reef (The First Rule of Reefkeeping says you don’t ever actually KNOW what’s in there beyond a reasonable doubt).
The newest ones are named Mister and Bandit.
Bandit got his name when he snagged a piece of algae out of the claws of a little hermit and dashed off into the rocks with his captured prize.
As for Mister ….. well, what else are you going to call those claws?
(And yes, there’s a Spongebob Squarepants joke lurking somewhere in there too.)
The emeralds spend most of their time hiding out in the rocks and in between the polyps on the reef. In the ocean (and many aquariums too) their tiny size makes emerald crabs a tasty snack food of the deep. My tank holds no dangers, but the little guys have yet to figure that out – so they tend to try and blend in whenever they can.
Sometimes that works out better for them than others.
What do you like best about the green? Does it make you a little crabby too?
Awww. Cute little crabby wabbys. I’ve honestly never seen a green crab before.
I don’t know that I had either before I started reefkeeping. They blend in really well (the reason I’m not completely sure how many I have – I did get one that seemed more territorial than the others, and he may have taken out some of the competition, though they usually don’t fight to the death).
Susan, how I LOVE your reef friends! And I’m with you on the crab love–they really are so dern cute! I remember finding the itty bitty ones growing up in Maine in those tidal pools.
Thanks Erika! I used to chase crabs in the tide pools in California when I was little, too! They’re so cute – and FAST. I have to admit, it’s a lot nicer to have them now, because I know I can keep them alive!
Susan,
Thought I’d say “hi.” Just saw you over on the MWA Facebook page. You are so write about the blogging–just be myself. Let it all hang out. In fact, I finished a draft post (won’t appear until the 20th)…
The thing about the green is that it always gets me thinking about envy and moments when I’ve felt envious. That makes me crabby! BTW, I love your emerald crabs. Now “emerald” — that’s a nice kind of green that gets me thinking about Ireland and my fiction (since my mysteries are set in Ireland).
Cheers, Lisa
Hi Lisa! Great to see you here as well as on FB! I hope you enjoy the group blogging. Definitely be yourself – and let that Irish connection slip in as well. People love hearing about what makes you happy – and I’d love to hear more about your novels set in Ireland. I love Ireland! (Much better than being crabby too!)
Good idea to let the Irish connection slip in too–there’s much I could blog about around that themee! And I’d love to tell you–and everyone in the world, frankly–about the novels. 🙂
(Ugh, I’m typo queen.)