Meet the fascinating creature of the underwater world, the Porcelain Anemone Crab. Found primarily in the South Pacific, this captivating crab is most populous near coral reefs among various types of anemones. It is symbiotic with the Carpet Anemone, which is deemed unsafe for most marine life, except for the Anemone Crab and its companion, the clownfish.
The Anemone Crab in Action
Life under the sea isn’t always serene. The friendly Anemone Crab occasionally finds itself in territory tiffs with the Clown Fish. This tiny crab typically retreats to safety, often residing near the stalks of stalky anemones for refuge. Contrary to their wide distribution, they are not frequently seen in the wild due to their elusive nature.
Home Life in the Aquarium
If you take an Anemone Crab home, you’ll find them relatively undemanding. They can survive without anemones in the environment, although their chances of thriving are superior when these sea plants are present. The crab’s diet consists mainly of plankton and tiny morsels, analogous to many anemones.
- Physically, these crabs have three pairs of walking legs, differing from the typical four seen in other crab species.
- They use their basket-like mouth appendages through the waves to capture zooplankton and food.
On the Move: Travelling Anemones
While the Porcelain Anemone Crab tends to stay around a single anemone, the hermit crab has a different lifestyle. These traveling anemones hitch a ride on the hermit crab’s shell, enjoying a mobile existence.
The advantages this confers to the crab remain ambiguous, but there must be benefits given that they often transfer their anemone passengers to new shells.
The Challenge of Selecting Aquarium Residents
While the Anemone Crab is an excellent candidate for a saltwater aquarium, the hermit crab presents challenges. Some species of hermit crabs have been known to feast on anemones and small fish, making careful selection of aquarium inhabitants crucial.
Indeed, keeping an aquarium is not challenging, but therein lies the exhilaration. If you’re an enthusiast of obstacles and the mesmerizing marine world, consider making a space for the Anemone Crab in your saltwater aquarium.
Helpful Resources
- Peeler Crab
- Marine Anemone
- Emerald Crab
- Proper Hermit Crab Habitat
- Ritteri Anemone
- Rose Bubble Tip Anemone
“