Aquarium crabs: photos, types, content and nutrition

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Fans of aquarium inhabitants sooner or later begin to think about purchasing an aquarium crab, very cute, but having its own characteristics in care. Questions immediately arise about how crabs get along with fish already in the aquarium, and whether they will be aggressive towards peacefully neighboring snails or jellyfish. The second important issue is the choice of species - before, only freshwater crab was on sale, but now there is a huge variety of them. Consider the different types of crabs and how to care for them.

Aquarium freshwater crab

The habitat of these babies is the coastal strip of small streams or fairly large rivers. Their main feature: they love fresh water, and it is important that the acidity is as close as possible to pH 7 (neutral environment), not higher. This species is distinguished by its azure coloration, which often does not look as impressive as the more varied colors of its relatives of other species. Both sexes are endowed with sky blue, and although malesbrighter and have more impressive claws, this does not underestimate the merits of females.

If you follow all the rules of keeping, then freshwater crabs can live in an aquarium for up to 4 years. These crabs need an aquaterrarium where they can spend time on land, and when the need arises, dive into cool water. Crabs spend most of the day on land, the role of which can be played by a stone protruding above the surface of the water. When it starts to get dark, the crab has a need to find a cave to sleep in.

Royal leopard crab

This species also prefers fresh water, the pH of which does not exceed 8, although it is better that the water is slightly alkaline during molting. Royal aquarium crabs, whose photos are always colorful and unusual, have an amazing orange color. Black dots are scattered throughout the shell, which makes them look like leopards. However, such a "sea leopard" has a relatively small size - 12 cm or even less.

Aquaterrarium can not be bought, because the king crab does not need to be on land. However, there is one feature: if you do not cover the reservoir with a lid or a net, then the crab will crawl out along the wall and go to seek shelter throughout the apartment. When his gills dry up, the fugitive will die, so you need to watch this.

Dutch Black Sea Crab

This handsome man lives in s alt water. Adults can also exist in fresh water, but for juveniles, water witha small amount of s alt (0.3%). Being very tiny, about 3 cm, the Dutch crab has a rather dark color: terracotta, brown, and occasionally blue-black. Falling under the rays of the sun, the shell shimmers with a beautiful color. Males are much larger than females and angular, but females have a smoother abdomen.

These aquarium crabs can breed in captivity and only need brackish water to do so. The eggs develop into larvae that have spines, an elongated abdomen, and legs still attached to the jaws. Later they become more like crabs.

Red mangrove crab

In nature, this crab can be found even in the forest. He can go without water for a long time, but he needs it as a refuge in case of danger. Aquaterrarium for mangrove crab should consist of stones that protrude above the water - there he can rest and eat. There should also be stones or driftwood in the water, which form crevices for shelter. It is important that the water level is about 15 cm, but the humidity is not less than 80%.

Pets themselves have a bright red shell, and claws can be bluish, orange or lemon. The size of such a crab usually does not exceed 5 cm.

If the previous species can only be called fighters, then the mangrove crab is a real warrior. He is able to wait for his opponent to weaken and attack. Especially often a stronger female or male can attack a neighbor when he has a molt or the first days after it. Cannibalism is common. It costsconsider if there are already other crabs in the aquarium.

Malawian crab

Bright blue with a purple tint shell and red legs are the hallmarks of the Malawian aquarium crab. The content of such a small but active pet is not difficult. Despite its small size, the Malawian crab often drags rocks around its own size to rearrange its habitat. Therefore, it is worth taking care that there are a lot of stones in the aquarium.

Also, these ingenious creatures stack stones on top of each other to build a wall all the way to the top of the aquarium. Then they run away. Therefore, it is important to cover the aquaterrarium with a lid or at least a net. The water in it should be moderately hard and at the same time enriched with oxygen. To do this, they use an aeration system, which, by the way, crabs can also use to escape. Both males and females are prone to such an active lifestyle.

Rainbow crab

Rainbow aquarium crab has a three-color color: the shell is painted in blue or purple, the legs are bright red, and the abdomen and claws are pale pink. When they grow up, they can reach 20 cm in diameter. Such a large aquarium resident needs approximately 50-60 cm of personal space, which will not have other crabs. A feature of this species is living on land, but there should still be fresh water in the tank, which needs to be slightly s alted by the molting period.

The crab is land-based, and thereforespends most of the time on snags and stones, the presence of which must be taken care of. They behave unusually with neighbors: the crab does not rush at him, but provokes him. He may not allow passage to the shelter, blocking the entrance with his body, or he may stand in front of the prey. When the opponent gets angry, then the fight will begin.

How they get along with the fish

Depending on what types of aquarium crabs are present in the aquarium, we can talk about adding fish to them. Freshwater crabs are quite aggressive. A separate aquaterrarium would be ideal for them, in another case, being next to the male of several females will not be too catastrophic. The royal aquarium crab also does not favor strangers on its territory, and if you already keep a second male next to him, then you need each to have a territory of about 30 cm.

Dutch aquarium crabs and fish get along much better. They are generally known as a peaceful species. But an aggressive mangrove crab can consider the fish as dangerous neighbors, so you should not add them to it. Malawian crabs may consider small fish as a delicacy, but large ones will not be touched. But rainbow crabs with fish may not meet at all, as they spend all their time on land.

Feeding Features

If you wonder what the aquarium crab eats, the answer is simple: it all depends on the species. If the Malawian crab eats peas, cucumbers, carrots or tomatoes along with chicken pieces, then mangrove crabs prefer algae, counting meat onlya delicacy, while rainbows will be happy with oranges, bananas, apples, nettles as well as animal food (crickets, mealworms or pieces of beef liver).

Freshwater aquarium crabs do not eat in the water, and therefore they are laid out food on land. When there is a period of molting, then until the moment of complete hardening of the shell, they do not leave the cave, and then they become very hungry. It is worth taking care that there is enough food. They can serve as oligochaetes (small worms), mollusks, insects, or even pieces of fish, meat, squid. The frequency of feeding is once every two days. The king crab should receive not only meat or fish, but also plant foods. Aquarium plants are suitable for this.

Caring for aquarium crabs is not so difficult, and watching their behavior can be more exciting than watching any TV series. Therefore, joining the ranks of the owners of aquaterrariums is a worthwhile decision if the future owner of crabs is attracted by their beauty and character. It is only important to familiarize yourself with the behavior of the selected type of crab before buying.