Panther crab
Parathelphusa pantherina
FreshwaterCrab
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–86°F
- 24–30°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 4.3 in
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank
- 22 gal
- 85 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Egg carrier · Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Parathelphusidae
- Origin
- Sulawesi
Overview
The panther crab is one of the few crabs that lives underwater full time. It is a step up from the easiest invertebrates.
Did you know
No two panther crabs share the same spot pattern, much like the big cats they are named after.
Caring for the panther crab
A pair of panther crabs needs at least 22 gal (85 L). Keep the water level a little below the rim. Add rocks or wood that reach above the surface, so the crab can haul out and climb when it wants to. Provide sand, smooth stones and many caves for shelter, and close the tank with a firmly fitted lid.
It needs warm, hard, alkaline water with a good mineral load. Hold the water at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, and keep copper out entirely. Feed sinking pellets, algae wafers and the odd meaty food.
Crabs grow by molting, and a crab is soft and helpless for a day or two after each molt. Hiding places are vital then. Clean, stable, well-oxygenated water keeps molts safe and successful.
It is territorial and will catch shrimp, snails and small or slow fish, so choose tank mates with caution. Keep it alone or as a single pair, with only one male per tank.
Females brood their eggs under a broad abdominal flap. This species breeds by direct development, and the eggs hatch into fully formed crablets ready for fresh water from birth. Raising them is difficult and success is uncommon, so breeding is rated hard.
Good to know
The panther crab, Parathelphusa pantherina, is a Sulawesi freshwater crab in the family Parathelphusidae. It is cream, spotted with dark leopard markings.
In the wild
Panther crabs come from the warm, hard and alkaline lakes of Sulawesi, which they share with the island's snails and shrimp.
Common questions
What size tank does a panther crab need?
A panther crab needs at least 22 gal (85 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a panther crab need?
A panther crab is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a panther crab eat?
A panther crab eats sinking pellets, algae wafers and the odd meaty food. It will also catch shrimp, snails and small or slow fish.
How big does a panther crab get?
An adult panther crab reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).
How does a panther crab breed?
Female panther crabs brood their eggs under a broad abdominal flap, and the eggs hatch into fully formed crablets ready for fresh water. Raising them is difficult and success is uncommon.
Related species
3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)White claw Towuti crab
Syntripsa flavichela
3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)22 gal (85 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)Matano crab
Syntripsa matannensis
4.3 in (11 cm) · 22 gal (85 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Tanganyika crab
Platythelphusa sp.
3.9 in (10 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)