Panther Crab (Parathelphusa pantherina)

Panther Crabs (Parathelphusa panthernia) are fully aquatic crabs that originates from Indonesia. This is one of the very few types of crab that can live fully immersed in water at all times, so they are able to be kept in any freshwater aquarium!

 

Like all predatory crabs and crayfish, they can try to eat fish and other inverts like snails and shrimp. Like all Sulawesi animals, it requires water with a much higher pH and temperature than many other freshwater animals. It is fairly hardy and undemanding as long as these conditions are met. Like nearly all crabs, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous scavenger that requires a varied diet of mostly meaty foods such as sinking pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms. The Panther Crab is a bit territorial and must be provided with multiple hiding places, especially when kept with others of its kind. It can be safely kept with some active fast moving fish species, but there is no guarantee that it will not attempt to prey on sluggish or sleeping fish. As far as we know, it has not yet been bred in captivity on a widespread basis.  

Though it is considered fully aquatic, the Panther Crab is not afraid to leave the water. It is quite an escape artist and it must be kept in an aquarium with a fail-safe cover. While it does not require a land portion in its habitat, it will certainly use such a feature.

Panther Crabs come in various shades of orange and are speckled with dark spots that appear large on the body and diminish in size on the legs. This crab is known for its attractive coloration and lively personality, so it's sure to provide hours of entertainment!

 

We ship these out as 1 to 3 inch juveniles, but they can grow up to 5 inches in diameter as adults, including their legs and claws (their bodies alone grow to about 3 inches in diameter). Panther Crabs are known for their lovely amber-orange coloration and markings, as well as their lively personalities. They are very active and do not spend all of their time under rocks as adults. It is normal for these crabs to be shy at first, but as they become more comfortable in their new home they tend to become more and more active. Crabs are not too commonly seen in aquariums, so this crab is sure to be a true showpiece in yours!

 

Panther Crabs are very easy to care for and very hardy. They can live with most kinds of fish and other aquatic life, but these crabs are opportunistic predators and they may go after dwarf shrimp or small snails (though this can be a good thing if the snails are unwanted!). Their claws stay fairly small, so only bottom-dwelling fish would run into trouble with them.