Top 8 freshwater crabs: species, keeping in an aquarium with fish, how to care for them

When we hear the word “crab,” most of us immediately imagine the seabed or a plate at a restaurant. But it turns out there is a whole world of amazing freshwater crabs. These miniature, often brightly colored creatures can be unusual and very interesting inhabitants of a home aquarium.

In this article, we will look at eight popular species that can be kept in captivity. You will learn what they look like, what their character is like, and what difficulties an aquarist may encounter. We will also discuss important points of care and whether it is possible to add these funny crustaceans to fish.

If you are looking for an interesting pet to observe and are ready to create special conditions for it, this selection is for you. Let's open the door to the exciting world of freshwater crabs!

Freshwater crabs are unusual and active aquarium inhabitants that can become a real decoration for your home pond. This article features a selection of 8 popular species, from compact to larger ones, with photos and simple care tips. We will tell you how to keep them, how to arrange the right substrate and shelters, whether they can be kept with fish, and what is important to pay attention to so that the crabs feel good. The main thing is to provide them with access to land, clean water, and a suitable diet, and then they will delight you with their behavior and appearance for a long time.

Freshwater crab – description and habitat

A separate group is represented by crabs that live in freshwater reservoirs. They are called potamon ibericum. Most often, their appearance is more modest than that of their counterparts, which are accustomed to the salty water of the sea. This is because freshwater crabs live in a closed artificial ecosystem and fit harmoniously into their environment. There are individuals of brown, tan, and terracotta shades.

Crabs live in freshwater bodies such as streams and rivers, but not everywhere. They are more commonly found in Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Crimea, and Central Asia. Aquarium crabs are small, with a body length usually not exceeding 5 cm. They spend only part of their time underwater.

Animals of this species can also be found on land, under rocks. This is where crabs seek shelter when it is hot.

Pros and cons of the pet

These aquarium inhabitants have become popular relatively recently. At one time, they were not sold for home breeding at all. But today, the choice of species for independent breeding has expanded significantly. Aquarium crabs have been available for purchase for a long time, but caring for them is not always easy. The main requirement when organizing the conditions for keeping such a pet is to maintain the properties of mineralized hard water with the addition of salt.

Advantages that become apparent when breeding aquarium crabs:

• long life span – up to 6 years, but different species have their own characteristics;
• interesting behavior, because you can watch such pets for a long time;
• aquarium crabs are attractive in appearance and small in size, which makes them pleasant to look at.

Aquarium crabs are attractive in appearance

However, many people reject the idea of keeping aquarium crabs at home because there are a number of difficulties involved in caring for them. Disadvantages of such pets:

• they are unfriendly;
• they are agile and can escape from the aquarium, so the tank must be covered with a glass lid.
• they pose a threat to vegetation: they dig up algae, and if that doesn't work, they cut it off with their claws.

Types

Among the creatures that inhabit freshwater, there are more colorful individuals that are considered exotic. Others are less striking, but may be of interest due to their interesting behavior. Moreover, the rules for keeping crabs differ. This is due to the fact that representatives of different species have their own preferences when choosing a habitat and food.

Red mangrove

The red crab likes to live in water bodies. It spends most of its time underwater. But it can also be found on land. These creatures usually live in brackish water, so they cannot be called completely freshwater. But they can still be easily kept as pets at home.

This type of aquarium crab has interesting behavior—it likes to sit on high ground for long periods of time, observing the world around it and watching what is happening. It cannot be said that this is a slow-moving creature—when a threat appears, it quickly hides underwater, where it remains until it is safe.

The red mangrove crab spends most of its time underwater.

The appearance of the mangrove red pet does not stand out from its counterparts. It has a round body and a hard shell. It has 5 pairs of limbs and 1 pair of eyes, which are located on stalks. The body length is 3-5 cm, females are smaller. Males are also distinguished by their color – they are darker.

The mangrove crab is not a friendly pet, as it bites hard. You need to follow the rules for handling it.

Dutch crab

Despite its name, it is found not only in Holland, but also in Germany and the waters of the Azov and Caspian Seas. During molting, these crabs look for a secluded place where they can wait for their new shell to grow. They prefer to live in water with an acidity of no more than 7.0. Coarse-grained sand is prepared for setting up the aquarium. You will need a layer up to 4 cm thick, as well as driftwood and other shelters, as without them the Dutch crab will behave restlessly.

The crab is omnivorous, so there will be no problems with feeding. Its body size is no more than 3 cm. Its dark brown color makes it inconspicuous when it hides. The Dutch crab can live with different pets, but it should not be placed together with cichlids. Plants can be placed at the bottom of the tank. They will also help create secluded places where the Dutch crab can hide.

Its dark brown color makes it inconspicuous when it hides.

Royal leopard

This species is considered one of the most attractive. It can become a decoration for an aquarium. It was first discovered in Indonesia, where it lived in freshwater lakes. This crab not only surpasses its counterparts in beauty, but also differs significantly in behavior.

The body size, including the claws, does not exceed 10 cm. The color is pastel beige with dark brown spots, which resemble leopard spots in shape and arrangement. This aquarium pet does not need dry land. It can remain underwater for several months.

The body size, including the claws, does not exceed 10 cm.

This pet prefers a warm climate, so it is recommended to maintain a temperature of +25°…+28°C, and the water should be slightly acidic or neutral. You should also add plants to the aquarium, as the crab prefers to eat not only special food, but also plants.

Malawi

Its native habitat is Lake Malawi in Africa. The crab has an interesting coloration. It has a purple back, a burgundy to brown abdomen, and red limbs. The body size of males and females is 10-12 cm, depending on sex. The limbs are also large – up to 10 cm, and the claws reach 7 cm.

The Malawi aquarium crab is considered aggressive, as in tanks where such pets are kept, clashes between males and even females are often observed. To prevent such situations, more shelters should be installed. It is also acceptable to keep Malawian aquarium crabs individually. Medium-sized fish should be added to the tank, as the crab will hunt smaller fish.

The Malawi aquarium crab is considered aggressive

Rainbow crab

It has its own characteristics that make it difficult to keep in artificial conditions. Individuals caught in the wild are available for sale, as it is difficult to breed them in artificial conditions. Representatives of this species prefer to live on land, which should be taken into account when setting up an aquaterrarium. Molting, like breeding, does not require the crab to move from one environment to another.

In natural conditions, they can search for food over long distances deep into mangrove forests. But the crab always returns home, which is why it is called a patriot. Their body length is 16 cm, but in artificial conditions, these pets are smaller. Their backs are colored in different shades: from blue to purple. Their legs are a different color: orange or red. Their claws are light, almost white, like their abdomen, but the lower part of their body can also be blue.

The body length is 16 cm, but in artificial conditions such pets are smaller.

Dwarf

Representatives of this species are rightly called the smallest aquarium crabs. Dwarf individuals are considered not only the smallest among aquarium crabs. They are smaller than all their freshwater counterparts. In nature, these crabs live in stagnant water, but they are also suitable for ponds with a weak current.

Its coloration is pale: light gray, gray-green. A distinctive feature is the presence of a large number of hairs on its limbs. Their function is filtration: water passes through the hairs, which help to trap food particles. Body length (excluding limbs) is 1.5 cm.

The aquarium crab lives in water, where it also reproduces, but it is difficult to observe it because it only comes out in the evening.

The body length of the dwarf crab (excluding limbs) is 1.5 cm.

Red devil crab

The name creates a false impression. It seems that the red devil is a highly aggressive creature, but this is a misconception. The aquarium crab is small, up to 2 cm in size, and very peaceful. It got its name solely because of its coloration – its limbs and main body are dark brown, while its shell and claws are red.

This pet cannot be kept in water. It must live exclusively on land. Its homeland is considered to be the island of Java (Indonesia). Despite their preference for living on land, crabs still settle closer to water – in swampy areas, near rivers. For this reason, the aquaterrarium must have a dry part and water. The container is filled with a moist substrate and marsh plants are planted.

The red devil must live exclusively on land.

Vampire crab

Another representative of the decapod family has been given a name that makes it appear to be a vicious aggressor in the eyes of those around it. In reality, it is harmless. There are large vampires and dwarfs. This is the name given to freshwater tropical crabs. The name comes from the contrast created by the yellow eyes and purple hue of the main part of the body.

The size does not exceed 3 cm. A distinctive feature of these crabs is their ability to recognize their owner and take food from their hands. Moreover, a spot resembling a bat can be seen on their shell. This gives reason to believe that this is why the crab got its name.

A distinctive feature of these crabs is their ability to recognize their owner and take food from their hands.

How to choose a crab for your home aquarium

It is not worth trying to find a female and male for breeding, as crabs rarely reproduce in artificial conditions. When choosing, consider the following:

• appearance: Representatives of different groups differ not only in their habits and lifestyle characteristics, but also in their lifespan and level of aggression.
• temperament: Aquarium crabs often fight when kept with other members of their species, so it is better to purchase a single specimen or consider the most peaceful aquarium pets.
• complexity of care: many crabs are tropical, and some are not very common among aquarists, so before buying, you should find out how easy/difficult it is to keep the pet and whether there is enough information about it.

Features of keeping crabs in an aquarium

Despite the fact that most species are small in size, special attention should be paid to the parameters of the tank. The minimum recommended volume is 50 liters. If you plan to keep several aquarium specimens, you need to choose a tank of a certain size—1×1 m.

The minimum recommended aquarium volume for crabs is 50 liters.

The crab aquarium should have a dry area, even if the crab rarely crawls out of the water. Similarly, crabs that almost never immerse themselves in water need it periodically (to moisten their gills during molting).

What to feed

In artificial conditions, it is not always possible to provide aquarium crabs with the food they ate in their native habitat. Most often, other foods are used—special foods for fish. Other suitable foods include:

• frozen food;
• mealworms;
• snails;
• bloodworms;
• plant food: fruits, berries, greens (mandarins, peppers, pumpkin, pears, bananas, etc.)

For more information on what crabs eat, read the separate article

Special crab food is most often used

Water requirements

At the initial stage, even before purchasing, you need to understand how to care for aquarium crabs. This will help you decide whether it is worth taking such pets into your home. For example, water requirements:

Aquarium equipment

The main types of equipment that should be used when breeding aquarium crabs:

• thermometer;
• filter;
• compressor.

This makes it possible to maintain the desired temperature, avoid excessive water pollution, and ensure oxygen supply.

Soil, plants, and other decorations

Select a substrate consisting of large fractions – up to 4-5 mm. This can be zeolite with coral or gravel, tuff granules. The substrate helps maintain a certain balance in the aquaterrarium ecosystem.

Select a substrate consisting of large fractions – up to 4-5 mm, for example, zeolite.

Plants are a source of food. Select certain varieties for aquarium inhabitants: duckweed, bladderwort, Java moss, Vallisneria, and Riccia floata. Additionally, install objects that form shelters for the pets.

Compatibility with fish

Aquarium crabs are a species of animal that gets along better with smaller neighbors than with their own kind. Types of fish that can be kept with such pets:

Reproduction

The total number of eggs reaches several thousand. At first, they are located on the abdominal limbs. Fertilization of the eggs occurs with the participation of the male. The development of the offspring in the shell takes several months. The larvae that emerge from the eggs attach themselves to plant stems. They remain there until they resemble small crabs. As they grow, their appearance changes, which is facilitated by the loss of their hard outer shells.

For more information on how crabs are born, read a separate article

The number of eggs reaches several thousand, and at first they are located on the abdominal limbs.

Freshwater crabs are amazing and unusual aquarium inhabitants that can become its main decoration. They attract not only with their bright appearance and interesting behavior, but also with their unpretentiousness, which makes them accessible even to beginners.

However, it is important to remember that most crabs are natural explorers and escape artists. A secure lid on the aquarium is a must. They also need a special aquaterrarium with a dry area where they can rest and bask.

Be careful when choosing neighbors. The ideal option is to keep them in a species-specific aquarium. If you want to add other fish, choose fast ones that live in the upper layers of the water. Then your underwater domain will be a harmonious world where everyone has their place.