Thai micro crab
Limnopilos naiyanetri
FreshwaterCrab
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 1 in
- 2.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 5 gal
- 19 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Hymenosomatidae
- Origin
- Thailand
Overview
The Thai micro crab is a tiny, shy crab for a planted freshwater nano tank. It is a step up from the easiest invertebrates.
Did you know
The Thai micro crab is partly a filter feeder. It holds the hairy parts of its front legs out into gentle current and combs tiny particles from the water. Then it brings them to its mouth.
Caring for the Thai micro crab
Keep the Thai micro crab in a small, mature, heavily planted tank of at least 5 gal (19 L). Fill it with mosses, fine-leaved plants and lots of clutter for it to grip. It stays on the bottom and among the plants, almost never out in the open. A quiet nano setup suits it best, because a crab this small and slow is easy to lose in a busy tank.
Give it soft water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. It needs stable, mature water and no copper. Feed fine powdered foods, crushed flakes and biofilm.
The Thai micro crab is peaceful and does fine alone, but this shy crab does better with company, so keep a group. Only keep it with very small, calm tank mates, since most fish will harass or eat it.
It is fully aquatic and stays in fresh water its whole life, unlike many crabs that need brackish conditions to breed. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The Thai micro crab is one of the smallest freshwater crabs, in the family Hymenosomatidae. Its carapace is much smaller than its span across the legs. Its legs are covered in fine hairs. Wild populations are vulnerable to habitat loss.
In the wild
The Thai micro crab comes from one river system in Thailand. There it clings to submerged roots, plants and floating vegetation in slow, slightly acidic to neutral water.
Common questions
What size tank does a Thai micro crab need?
A Thai micro crab needs at least 5 gal (19 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Thai micro crab need?
A Thai micro crab is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a Thai micro crab eat?
A Thai micro crab eats fine powdered foods, crushed flakes and biofilm.
How big does a Thai micro crab get?
An adult Thai micro crab reaches about 1 in (2.5 cm).
How does a Thai micro crab breed?
A Thai micro crab stays in fresh water its whole life, unlike many crabs that need brackish conditions to breed. Breeding it is hard.
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