Page 292 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

290 MARINE INVERTEBRATES DIRECTORY

CRUSTACEANS

Crustaceans are justifiably popular in reef aquariums
because they provide both color and movement.
However, they must be chosen carefully because they
can be aggressive and predatory. These invertebrates
have a hard body casing called an exoskeleton. They
also possess jointed limbs, with the front pair often
modified into claws for digging, grasping, and cutting.
Crustaceans grow by a series of molts, inflating
themselves with hemolymph so that their exoskeleton
splits open. The new exoskeleton hardens soon after
the crustacean has emerged from the old one. Any lost
limbs may be regenerated during the molting process.
Some remarkable relationships involving crustaceans have formed
on the reef. The Swimming Crabs (Lissocarcinus species) shown here do
not burrow into the sand for protection but retreat into the stinging
tentacles of tube anemones to escape from danger.

Calappa flammea Neopetrolisthes ohshimai Enoplometopus occidentalis
Shame-Faced Crab Porcelain Crab Red Lobster

ORIGINS Widely distributed through the entire ORIGINS The Indo-Pacific region, from the Asian coast ORIGINS Found throughout the Indo-Pacific region,
Caribbean region. south to Australia and east to the central Pacific. ranging as far east as the Hawaiian islands.
SIZE Body is 8 in (20 cm) across. SIZE Body is 1 in (2.5 cm) across. SIZE Body is 5 in (12.5 cm) long.
DIET Live foods. Will scavenge for pieces of fish and DIET Will take freeze-dried and tablet foods. Try to direct DIET Shrimp, fish, and food tablets. Try to ensure that
shellfish, but be careful not to overfeed. food to the vicinity of the crab. the food is placed within the lobster’s reach.
WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline
(pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.020–1.024. (pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.020–1.024. (pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.020–1.024.
These tiny crabs seek sanctuary from would-be
predators by hiding among the stinging tentacles
of sea anemones, to which they appear to be
immune. Note that Porcelain Crabs will attack
any clownfish introduced into the tank. They feed
by trapping tiny particles of food with feathery
projections on their jaws. Unfortunately, there
is no way of sexing these crabs visually.

Variable red-and-
white patterning
Shame-Faced Crabs are so called because of the These strikingly colored lobsters are less
way in which they seem to hide their eyes behind conspicuous in the aquarium than their color
their greatly enlarged claws. Although they often would suggest. This is because they are nocturnal
lie concealed under the substrate, these crabs can and usually hide during the daytime. Red Lobsters
be rather disruptive in a typical reef tank, because are territorial and will use their powerful claws
they scavenge aggressively and prey on mollusks to fight ferociously if they are housed together.
and other invertebrates. Shame-Faced Crabs do, These lobsters will prey on small fish, but they
however, get along well with fish such as gobies. will also take inanimate foods.

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