TankBud

White claw Towuti crab

Syntripsa flavichela

Also known as Yellow claw crab, Sulawesi white claw crab

FreshwaterCrab

White claw Towuti crab (Syntripsa flavichela)

Care at a glance

Temperature
79–86°F
26–30°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Parathelphusidae
Origin
Lake Towuti, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Overview

The white claw Towuti crab is a fully aquatic crab from Sulawesi for a tank of its own. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Most freshwater crabs have to leave the water to breathe and breed. The crabs of Sulawesi's Malili lakes gave that up and stay submerged for life. The white claw Towuti crab never needs to come ashore.

Caring for the white claw Towuti crab

Give one white claw Towuti crab at least 20 gal (75 L). It appreciates a perch near the surface. Provide sand or gravel with caves and rockwork for hiding, and fit a tightly sealed lid, since even an aquatic crab will test it.

Keep it hot, at 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C), with a high pH of 7.5 to 8.5 and hard, mineral-rich water. Those conditions are not optional, and the tank needs to stay stable and clean. Feed sinking pellets, vegetables and protein such as bloodworm.

It is territorial and can be rough with its own kind, especially at molting time. Keep it singly, or give a lot of cover and space if you try more than one. It is a slow-moving hunter that will catch and eat sluggish fish, shrimp and snails, so treat tank mates with caution.

Breeding is hard. Like other Sulawesi crabs, it produces few young, and they are slow to raise. That makes captive breeding well worth attempting.

Good to know

The white claw Towuti crab, Syntripsa flavichela, belongs to Parathelphusidae, the Asian freshwater crabs. It is deep purple in the body, with pale, cream-colored claws.

In the wild

The white claw Towuti crab comes from Lake Towuti and its neighbors in the ancient Malili lake system on Sulawesi, Indonesia. The water there is warm, hard and alkaline.

Common questions

What size tank does a white claw Towuti crab need?

A white claw Towuti crab needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a white claw Towuti crab need?

A white claw Towuti crab is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a white claw Towuti crab eat?

A white claw Towuti crab eats sinking pellets, vegetables and protein such as bloodworm. It is a slow-moving hunter and will also catch sluggish fish, shrimp and snails.

How big does a white claw Towuti crab get?

An adult white claw Towuti crab reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How does a white claw Towuti crab breed?

White claw Towuti crabs are hard to breed. Like other Sulawesi crabs, they produce few young, and the young are slow to raise.

Related species