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
- 20 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Hymenosomatidae
- Origin
- Thailand
Overview
Keep it peaceful and in a group, since it is shy and does better with company, in a planted nano tank of around 20 liters or more. It stays on the bottom and among plants, almost never out in the open. Water should be soft to neutral, pH 6.5 to 7.5, at 22 to 28 C, and it needs stable, mature water with no copper. Feed fine powdered foods, crushed flakes, and biofilm. Only keep it with very small, calm tankmates, as most fish will harass or eat it.
In the wild
The Thai micro crab comes from one river system in Thailand, where it clings to submerged roots, plants, and floating vegetation in slow, slightly acidic to neutral water. It is tiny and stays hidden among fine plant matter rather than walking open ground. To keep it, set up a small, mature, heavily planted tank with mosses, fine-leaved plants, and lots of clutter for it to grip. Hold the water in the low to high 20s C.
Good to know
This is one of the smallest freshwater crabs, in the family Hymenosomatidae, with a body only about 2.5 cm across including its legs and a much smaller carapace. It is fully aquatic and stays in fresh water its whole life, unlike many crabs that need brackish conditions to breed. Its legs are covered in fine hairs that help it gather food, and wild populations are vulnerable to habitat loss.
Did you know
It 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 brings them to its mouth. Because it is so small and slow, it's easy to lose track of in a busy tank, which is why a quiet nano setup suits it best.
Common questions
What size tank does a Thai micro crab need?
A Thai micro crab needs at least 5 gal (20 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.
How big does a Thai micro crab get?
An adult Thai micro crab reaches about 1 in (2.5 cm).
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