Rainbow land crab

Care at a glance

Overview

The rainbow land crab is a solitary, semi-terrestrial crab from West Africa that needs a brackish paludarium. It is best with a little experience.

Caring for the rainbow land crab

Set the rainbow land crab up in a paludarium of roughly half land and half water, not a fish tank. Give it at least 24 gal (90 L) of floor space and a deep, moist sand bed to burrow into. Fit a tight, heavy lid, because it is a strong escape artist that will climb out of any gap.

Keep the water side slightly brackish, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. The crab lives on the bottom and along the land, burrowing into the moist sand and coming out to forage. Feed a mixed diet of vegetables, fruit and protein such as fish or shrimp.

Keep one crab on its own, since it is solitary and aggressive. Two adults will fight to the death in the same enclosure. Choose any tank mates with caution, because it will catch and eat small fish. It cannot be bred at home, because the larvae need full saltwater to develop.

Good to know

The rainbow land crab is a true land crab in the family Gecarcinidae. It is also known as the patriot crab, the moon crab and the Nigerian moon crab. Its bright orange, purple and cream colors fade and brighten with its molt cycle and condition. A freshly molted crab looks its boldest. It can live several years when kept well. Nearly all rainbow land crabs in the trade are wild caught, with no captive-bred line to choose from.

In the wild

Rainbow land crabs come from brackish river deltas along the west coast of Africa. They spend most of their time on land near the water, rather than fully submerged.

Common questions

Related species

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  African mangrove crab

  Goniopsis pelii

  2.4 in (6 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)

  2.4 in (6 cm)24 gal (90 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)