The Porcelain Crab

November 28, 2008 · Print This Article

Crabs can be helpful or not in the aquarium. Some of the larger crabs are not required as they blunder about causing damage and disruption. Others¸ such as some of the hermit crabs, are colourful, interesting and at the same time perform a useful job scavenging which assists in keeping the system clean.

Another interesting crab is the porcelain. This term is often thought to refer to one crab but this is incorrect, they are multiple. Their size is not a problem as they achieve around ¾” to 1¼”. There’s another two good reasons besides their size which makes them particularly interesting to marine aquarists. First, they are very colourful. Second, they usually reside in the tentacles of an anemone, or more unlikely down underneath it. So they are similar in that respect to clownfish.

Porcelain crabs come under various common names depending on which one it is. To take one in particular the common name is ‘dotted anemone crab’, or sometimes the general ‘porcelain crab’. The proper name is a tongue twisting Neopetrolisthes ohshimai.

http://www.geodia.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=keyalbum.KeywordAlbum&g2_keyword=crab&g2_itemId=132

They are best kept in a reef system, obviously with an anemone. Anemones such as those inhabited by clownfish are appropriate. Though one or two of this type of crab are able to defend their home against clownfish, this one is likely to lose out and it is best if the aquarist makes the choice – clownfish or crab. They are both suitable for inclusion with an anemone. It is best that one crab is kept as two of the same sex will fight.* If it is known that two are a pair then fine.

In a high quality habitat they are hardy, but it would be best for the aquarist to gain experience and feel confident about aquarium general maintenance including seawater quality before proceeding. This is not so much for the sake of the crab – experience is required for the sake of the anemone as, at least in my opinion, though I note quite a few others of experience agree, an anemone is not the ideal starter for a beginner. If an anemone and crab are to be kept, it should be remembered that the anemone requires the proper lighting, though this is likely to be present in a coral reef aquarium.

Feeding the crab is not difficult. The crab is a filter feeder and to facilitate this method the crab is able to spread hair-like fan structures into the seawater. So to feed them the aquarist could target liquidized filter type foods over them. This needn’t worry aquarists however, as the crabs will also take small pieces of de-frosted food such as lance fish, shrimp etc. The crab will not require much food though feeding should be fairly regular, and any extra food the crab ignores will probably be caught by the anemone, which in turn requires feeding with the same kind of food in larger pieces but less often.

When considering livestock for an anemone, clownfish of various types are probably the choice of most aquarists. If a crab such as that described is chosen then the interest is just as high and the sight of the two life forms co-existing just as fascinating.

(*Ref: Marine Atlas. Helmut Debelius & Hans A Baensch)


Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • Reef Aquarium Pests As with most hobbies there are some things that are definitely undesirable. Keeping a saltwater reef aquarium or [tag-tec]saltwater fish only aquarium[/tag-tec] is a most...
  • Seawater In The Aquarium Seawater is very important in the marine aquarium - not a big surprise really! It needs to be of high quality and kept that way....
  • The Bubble Tip Anemone There are a few anemones that find favour with aquarists and this is one of them. As well as the name in the title they...
  • The Yellow Tang This fish is one recognized by all marine aquarists; it is very popular and commonly kept. If a splash of colour is required then this...
  • Food For Thought Food is required by all life for energy and general health. Lots of food of the wrong type may provide some energy but the contents...
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites

Comments

One Response to “The Porcelain Crab”

  1. Finding Nemo on December 29th, 2008 8:05 am

    [...] tank. The plethora of colors created a beautiful mix.When considering clownfish, John Cunningham of Aquarists Online fame told us to go for clownfish with your anemone or flowering plant that clownfish are known to [...]

Got something to say?





CommentLuv Enabled

order viagra onlines

cialis cheap fast

buy viagra search find free

viagra by mail order

buy viagra canada

buy viagra order viagra

buy viagra online 35008

buy viagra and overseas

buy viagra no prescription

buy cheap viagra in uk

buy cialis today

buy kamagra viagra india

buy viagra phentermine meridia adipex xenical

buy generic viagra buy

overnight delivery cheap cialis

buy generic cialis uk

viagra online order viagra

buy cialis re

gay men buy cialis

buy viagra professional

cheap viagra sales

buy cialis dreampharmaceuticalscom online

cialis cheap visa

cheap cialis generic

where to buy viagra in canada

viagra and cialis cheap

buy cialis online buy cialis online

easy buy viagra

find viagra cheap overnight mail

buy viagra online 35008 buy

dirt cheap viagra

order cialis online a href

cheap generic viagra no script

target google viagra order cheap

buy viagra online canadian

generic viagra buy online

canada viagra buy

buy viagra ups

buy online cialis

search results viagra buy online

buy viagra online alternative viagra

name cheap viagra

find search viagra buy free

buy viagra onli

cheap buy viagra

cheap viagra walmart

order viagra viagra

where can i order generic viagra

viagra buy online

buy viagra meds online

buy taladafil viagra

buy cialis online pharmacy online

buy viagra cialis

cheap cialis si

buy viagra pill online

order viagra online a href

cialis buy cheap online

buy viagra price drugs on

caverta cheap cialis generic viagra

viagra buy pharmacy iframe

buy cialis online 20mg

cheap impotence drug generic cialis delivery

buy cialis online dream pharmaceutical

buy cialis without prescription

generic viagra buy

russia buy viagra

buy viagra in canada

buy cialis inur order

warning buy viagra now

search results buy cialis generic online

cialis soft tabs cheap

generic cialis order softtabs online

buy cialis softtabs

buy viagra the best quality pills

viagra order onlinr

buy viagra in el paso texas

order cialis now

buy cialis overseas

itc exclusion order cialis

cheap viagra online

levitra buy levitra online viagra