Porcelain Anemone Crab

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, living in obligate symbiosis with large sea anemones on shallow coral reefs.

Taxonomy: Classified within the Porcellanidae family. It features large flattened claws and specialized fan-like structures (maxillipeds) for filter-feeding.

Social Behavior: Peaceful and territorial only towards other crabs of the same sex on the same anemone. It spends its life clinging to the host anemone.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Porcelain-white body covered in numerous small red or reddish-brown spots. Males have slightly larger claws than females.

Tank Setup: A reef aquarium of at least 10 gallons with a healthy host anemone (like *Entacmaea quadricolor* or carpets) is required.

Diet and Feeding: Filter feeder. It sweeps the water with its fans. Supplement with live or preserved phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fine powder foods.

Water Quality: Requires standard marine water conditions: pH 8.1-8.4, temperature 22-28°C, salinity 1.023-1.025, and zero copper content.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Safe with corals. Do not house with crab-eating fish like wrasses, hawkfish, or puffers, nor with highly aggressive crabs.

Aquarium Breeding: Females carry orange eggs under their abdominal flap. Planktonic larvae are released but rarely survive in standard reef tanks.

Risks and Diseases: Autotomy (dropping limbs) when threatened or stressed. Highly sensitive to rapid salinity shifts during water changes.