11-Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: No
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 2'
Color Form: Tan
Diet: Carnivore
Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Atlantic Ocean
Family: Limulidae
The Horseshoe Crab is greenish brown to light tan in color. The dorsal part of the body is rounded, and it has a long spike for a tail. The Horseshoe Crab is really not a crab, but more closely related to spiders and mites, belonging to a group of animals called chelicerates. Horseshoe Crabs can grow quite large. The female horseshoe crabs usually grow larger than the males, with their body reaching a maximum size of 12 inches in diameter. When small, they are very efficient scavengers and are great for aerating and maintaining sand beds.
The Horseshoe Crabs dig through sand and gravel in search of worms and any organic debris. It will move the substrate around almost nonstop in its search for food. They are reef safe, but when they attain a large size, can be harmful to fish and invertebrates, especially worms and clams.
Although it may find some food scavenging, its diet should be supplemented with meaty items such as pieces of squid and shrimp.
Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3"; Large: 3" to 4"
12-Pom Pom Crab
Lybia sp.
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 1"
Color Form: Tan, White
Diet: Omnivore
Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Hawaii, Indonesia
Family: Xanthidae
The Pom Pom Crab is white to tan in coloration and has darker markings covering the body which serve as camouflage for the crab. This crab carries an anemone in each claw which it uses for defense. Besides defense, the crab will also use the anemones to mop up food off of the rocks and substrate.
The Pom Pom Crab is an interesting addition to an aquarium with its anemones in each hand. It raises these anemones at would be predators and aids in cleaning the aquarium of any left over food and detritus. Caution should be used when adding this crab to a reef aquarium as the anemones could sting sessile invertebrates and corals. The damage that could potentially be caused by these tiny anemones that come on each claw would be minimal due to their very tiny size.
The diet of the Pom Pom Crab should include meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, chopped fish and clams.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 1"
13-Porcelain Anemone Crab
Neopetrolisthes ohshimai
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 1"
Color Form: White
Diet: Carnivore, Filter Feeder
Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Indonesia
Family: Porcellanidae
The Porcelain Anemone Crab is white with red spots and/or blotches of red or brown. They have very large front claws which they use to fend off potential predators. They are peaceful, and make a wonderful addition to any reef or invertebrate aquarium.
Porcelain Anemone Crabs live together in pairs under the protection of an anemone. It may attempt to defend its territory from clownfish that try to establish themselves among the anemone, although the clownfish generally prevails. It is aggressive toward conspecifics, and should not be kept with larger, aggressive crabs which may attack it.
It eats planktonic food and mucus from the anemone. It may be supplemented with tablet food placed next to the anemone.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 1"
14-Porcelain Crab
Petrolisthes galathinus
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 1"
Color Form: Blue, Orange, Tan
Diet: Carnivore, Filter Feeder
Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Caribbean
Family: Porcellanidae
The Porcelain Crab is common throughout the tropical oceans of the world, and has a flat, round body with two large front claws. They are brown and orange in coloration with bright blue spots. These crabs have a pair of front arms called maxillipeds, which have ends that are feather-like in appearance. They use these appendages to filter the water for any passing food. They are peaceful and interesting invertebrates for the marine aquarium.
Porcelain Crabs live together in pairs typically found within or under rocks in nature. The ideal aquarium will contain plenty of live rock for both hiding and feeding, and will not contain any fish or invertebrates that may bring harm to these peaceful invertebrates. They are reef safe, and will not harm other invertebrates or corals.
The Porcelain Crab constantly filters the water for planktonic food, but will also scavenge for larger meaty portions. Offer the crab small bits of fish, shrimp or meaty food, as well as foods designed for filter feeders.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 3/4"
15-Sally Lightfoot Crab
Percnon gibbesi
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 3"
Color Form: Orange, Tan, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Indo-Pacific
Family: Grapsidae
The Sally Lightfoot Crab is also known as the Nimble Spray, Short, or Urchin Crab. It has a brown body, with orange to yellow rings on the legs. It actually belongs to a family of shore crabs, however, it is less likely than the other genera to go on land. Its carapace is very flat. which allows it to hide in small crevices within rock work.
It prefers a strong current and will require a large aquarium with large amounts of rock work where it can hide and scavenge for detritus. It will also eat algae. When large, it can become aggressive and catch and eat small invertebrates and fish.
If insufficient algae is present, its diet may need to be supplemented with dried seaweed. Meaty items should also be offered.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1 " to 2 1/2"
16-Spider Decorator Crab
Camposcia retusa
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 4"
Color Form: Tan
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Majidae
The Spider Decorator Crab, also known as Camposcia Decorator Crab or Decorator Crab, is a member of the Majidae family of spider and decorator crabs. It decorates its brown body with sponges, shells, rocks, and other items as a method of camouflage.
It is nocturnal, hunting at night. In the reef aquarium, it harvests algae, soft corals, and invertebrates to adorn its shell. This activity may cause harm to some soft corals, but in the large reef aquarium, this activity actually helps spread and propagate these same corals throughout the aquarium.
The diet of the Spider Decorator Crab should include meaty foods such as chopped fish and clams.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1-1/2" to 3"
17-Trapezia Pocillopora/Acropora Crab
(Trapezia sp.)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, 72-82° F
Max. Size: 1"
Diet: Carnivore
Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Compatibility: View Chart
Family: Crustacea
The Trapezia Pocillopora/Acropora Crab, or Acro Crab for short, is a small commensal crustacean which lives its whole life within the branches of Pocillopora corals and Acropora Corals if no Pocilloporid corals are available, aiding in the proper water flow between the branches to keep these areas clean. In a symbiotic relationship with its host coral, the Trapezia Pocillopora/Acropora Crab is thought to feed on particulates trapped by the coral polyps, fallen detritus, and the coral's secreted mucus. In turn, the crabs guard the coral from invaders and fend off predators.
The importance of the Trapezia Pocillopora/Acropora Crab's role within a larger reef ecosystem is just now being recognized. Previously considered by hobbyists to be a coral "pest," the Trapezia Pocillopora/Acropora Crab may actually improve your success with SPS husbandry. Since the crabs constantly clean and defend their hosts, corals hosting Trapezia sp. have higher survival rates and stronger growth.
In the home aquarium, they may eat excess meaty food particles that lands on the coral, but won't need to be provided a staple diet. As an obligatory commensal coral crab, though, they will require a host SPS coral for survival.
Like other invertebrates, the Trapezia Pocillopora/Acropora Crab cannot tolerate high nitrate levels or copper-based medications. The drip-acclimation method is recommended to minimize exposure to fluctuating water parameters.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 1"
