Purple zebra porcelain crab
Petrolisthes bolivarensis
Also known as Caribbean Purple Zebra Porcelain Crab
SaltwaterCrab
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 0.8 in
- 2 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Filter feeder
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Porcellanidae
- Origin
- Southern Caribbean, off Colombia and Venezuela
Overview
The purple zebra porcelain crab is a Caribbean filter feeder for a reef tank. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
The purple zebra porcelain crab is not a true crab at all but a flattened relative of the squat lobsters. Porcelain crabs are named for how readily a limb snaps off when a predator grabs hold, and the crab simply regrows it.
Caring for the purple zebra porcelain crab
Give the purple zebra porcelain crab at least 11 gal (40 L), with a rubble pile or tight rockwork to hide in. It hides very well and has no real defense beyond staying out of sight. Unlike its better-known porcelain crab cousin, it does not need a host anemone.
Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It fans the water with feathery mouthpart baskets to catch suspended food rather than hunting anything. A clean modern reef rarely carries enough of that food on its own, so target feed tiny pellets, frozen foods or plankton.
The purple zebra porcelain crab is peaceful and safe with corals and other invertebrates. Keep it with calm tank mates.
Good to know
The purple zebra porcelain crab, Petrolisthes bolivarensis, belongs to the family Porcellanidae. It was described in 2003 from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, after long being lumped in with Petrolisthes galathinus. It wears purple zebra lines over the body, a pair of orange spots on each broad claw and bright blue mouthparts.
In the wild
The purple zebra porcelain crab comes from hard bottoms and coral rubble in the southern Caribbean, off Colombia and Venezuela. There it stays wedged deep in crevices.
Common questions
What size tank does a purple zebra porcelain crab need?
A purple zebra porcelain crab needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a purple zebra porcelain crab need?
A purple zebra porcelain crab is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a purple zebra porcelain crab eat?
A purple zebra porcelain crab is a filter feeder that fans the water with feathery mouthpart baskets. Target feed it tiny pellets, frozen foods or plankton, since a reef tank rarely carries enough suspended food.
How big does a purple zebra porcelain crab get?
An adult purple zebra porcelain crab reaches about 0.8 in (2 cm).
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