Encyclopaedia
Anemone Crab
Mithraculus cinctimanus
Anemone Crab: a small marine crab from the Mithracidae family, native to the Caribbean, living in association with sea anemones.
- Family
- Mithracidae
- Origin
- Mar dei Caraibi e Atlantico occidentale
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and CaribbeanEast Asia
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 27 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Mangiatore di detriti e simbionte di anemoni
Alta
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Caribbean Sea and tropical western Atlantic, often found residing within the tentacles of *Condylactis gigantea* anemones.
Taxonomy: Classified under the Mithracidae family. It features a rounded carapace, smooth claws, and hairy walking legs.
Social Behavior: Peaceful and symbiotic. It prefers to stay protected by the tentacles of its host anemone, rarely venturing far away.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Body is pale greenish-blue or white with distinct dark bands on its claws. Males have a narrow abdominal flap, females a wide one.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Tank Setup: A well-established reef tank of at least 15 gallons is recommended, ideally with a host anemone and plenty of live rock caves.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger. It eats algae, detritus, and leftover fish foods. Supplement with frozen foods like mysis and pellets.
Water Quality: Requires clean, stable marine water: pH 8.1-8.4, temperature 22-27°C, salinity 1.023-1.025, and zero copper medications.
Compatibility and Tankmates: Safe with corals. Do not mix with large predatory fish like wrasses or puffers. May fight with other crabs over territory.
Aquarium Breeding: Females carry egg clutches under their abdominal flap. Larvae hatch at night as zoea but rarely survive in home tanks.
Risks and Diseases: Highly sensitive to copper treatments. If starved, it may occasionally nip at soft corals or host anemone tentacles.
Invertebrate profile
- Type
- Granchio marino
- Diet
- Omnivoro/Detritivoro (spesso vive associato ad anemoni)
- Ecological role
- Mangiatore di detriti e simbionte di anemoni
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Copper
- Alta
- Shock sensitivity
- Media
- Calcium and minerals
- Richiede calcio e magnesio per rinforzare il carapace dopo la muta.
- Molting
- Muta periodicamente riparandosi sotto rocce o tra i tentacoli dell'anemone ospite.
- Reproduction
- La riproduzione in acquario non è realizzabile a causa dello stadio larvale fluttuante.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Generalmente pacifico, ma può pizzicare piccoli coralli o tentacoli dell'anemone se affamato.
Ecological Estimates & Biological Models
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
