Care
The Red-clawed Crab is a small, colourful, semi-aquatic brackish species that is known from estuarine mangrove habitats across Asia. Its natural habitats are relatively shallow and warm with a sandy substrate, and there are plenty of roots and other structures for the crabs to climb up on to forage out of the water. Red-clawed Crabs require a paludarium or an aquarium that has a dropped water level with decor extending above the water line. These crabs are not fully aquatic, and absolutely MUST have an area where they can climb free of the water. The land area should be sandy with plenty of roots and rocky caves (which make excellent hiding places when the crabs are moulting), and the water area should be heated and filtered as normal. A tight fitting lid is essential and be sure to block all holes where equipment feeds into the tank, as these crabs are great escape artists. Regular partial water changes should be carried out on the water area as you would do in an aquarium. Best kept in a species-tank environment, although some aquarists have success keeping them alongside small, fast-swimming, brackish-water fish if their accommodation provides sufficient water volume without depriving the crabs of land area. Bear in mind, though, that Red-clawed Crabs will hunt small fish, so avoid any bottom-dwellers. Keep only one male with several females in smaller tanks, as males are very territorial. This species is fascinating to keep and observe, but they do require an environment carefully designed around their needs which duplicates the mangrove swamp beaches where they thrive. May also be labelled as Red crab or Mangrove crab.
Feeding
Omnivorous detritivores. Will take many dry fish foods such as pellets and algae wafers as a staple. A number of specialist dried foods for crabs are also available. Offer a selection of meaty foods such as bloodworm, Mysis shrimp, and chopped krill/prawns, along with some vegetable matter including dead leaves such as Catappa.
Breeding
This species is unlikely to breed in the home paludarium. Females have often been seen carrying eggs, but it is extremely difficult to raise the resultant larvae to adulthood due to a rather complex life cycle.
