
In males, the flap is pointed, whereas with females, it’s rounder and broader, and they have darker claws. On the underside of the crab is a small flap. Males typically have larger claws and have more vivid coloration. These critters are aggressive, and males will not tolerate each other, often fighting to the death. It’s imperative to tell the difference between them, as you don’t want to have more than one male crab in your tank. Male and female crabs look slightly different. The other two legs end in large, bright red claws tipped with yellow or orange.Īlthough all Red Claw crabs have the same basic coloration, each individual is slightly different in the intensity of color and shade. The crab has ten legs, eight of which are used for walking around on the substrate and for climbing. On the corners of the head are two bulging eyes set on antennae. The crab’s body and head are shades of dark brown camouflaged with spots. The actual carapace of the creature is much smaller than that, measuring just 2 to 2.5 inches wide. These beautiful little crabs are smaller than other aquarium crab species, and grow to measure just 4 inches, including their leg span. The water is relatively shallow, temperatures are tropical, and the ground is usually covered with fine sand.Īll this provides you with some excellent guidelines for creating the perfect environment in a red claw crab paludarium. In these estuaries, rivers flow into the sea, creating a mix of fresh and saltwater. Red claw crabs are naturally found in mangrove swamps in Asia.

The little crustacean’s scientific name is Perisesarma bidens. Sometimes, the creatures are also referred to as Sesarma bidens or (pseudo) Sesarma moeshi. The Red Claw Crab is also known as the Red-Clawed crab and the Mini crab. Red Claw Crab Background and Natural Habitat Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about keeping Red Claw crabs and setting up a suitable home for them. These aquatic animals don’t play well with others and are best-suited to a single species paludarium.

However, the crabs’ natural habitat is brackish bodies of water. These attractive little creatures are often kept in freshwater community tanks. If you’re looking for an interesting, quirky pet and you fancy a change from keeping tropical fish, you might consider the Red Claw crab.
