With the wide variety of pets available today, crabs are becoming increasingly popular. Compared to ornamental shrimp, ornamental crabs are relatively easier to raise, making them a favorite. For beginners, there are many suitable ornamental crab options. Here are ten ornamental crab species suitable for beginners: Red-clawed Crab, Leopard-spotted Crab, South China Sea River Crab, Vampire Crab, Grayish-white Hermit Crab, Armed Round-bodied Crab, Purple Ground Crab, etc.
These species are each unique, suitable for beginners and offering enjoyment for pet lovers. By understanding the characteristics and habits of these ornamental crabs, you can better care for them and enjoy the companionship of these unique pets. Hopefully, this list will help you gain a deeper understanding and choose the right ornamental crab species for you.
1. Red-clawed hand crab
Redclawed crabs are among the most common freshwater ornamental crabs on the market, and are also native to China. They can be found in many coastal areas of China, typically inhabiting the muddy banks of near-shore freshwater rivers or nearby swamps. They prefer to live deep in burrows and sometimes even climb tree trunks. Redclawed crabs are not only easy to keep, but also relatively affordable, making them a top choice for many novice crab keepers.
When keeping red-clawed crabs, the ambient temperature generally needs to be kept at room temperature. They are omnivorous, but prefer a carnivorous diet. They can eat turtle pellets and other similar foods, but it is best to avoid feeding them apples, melon rinds, or other foods that may not be easily digestible for them.
2. Leopard-spotted crab
The leopard-spotted crab, also known as the leopard-spotted crab, is one of the ornamental crabs suitable for beginners. As one of the few river crab species suitable for deep-water rearing, its legs and claws are typically orange-red, and its entire body is covered with brown spots resembling leopard stripes, making it very attractive and highly valued for its ornamental qualities. Furthermore, the leopard-spotted crab is one of the very few crabs that are entirely aquatic, able to remain fully submerged for extended periods without suffocating. This allows it to coexist peacefully with freshwater fish, a truly rare characteristic.
3. South China Sea River Crab
Among the easiest pet crabs to keep, the South China Sea freshwater crab is a highly sought-after species. As a native species of China, it is relatively large, aggressive, and boasts vibrant and varied colors, including blue-gray, dark green, red, and brown. These characteristics have made it increasingly popular in recent years. Primarily inhabiting mountain streams, it has gradually developed into several different varieties due to isolation in different regions. It is particularly important to note that South China Sea freshwater crabs and Sumatran crabs should not be kept together; otherwise, both will suffer.
4. Vampire Crab
The Vampire Crab, also known as the Devil Crab, is considered one of the most popular ornamental crab species. It is renowned for its diverse varieties, vibrant colors, and fierce temperament. One of its distinctive features is its luminous eyes, which emit a striking yellow glow, perfectly complementing its somewhat sinister and terrifying appearance, truly living up to its name. Common Devil Crab varieties include the Hell Devil Crab, Blue-backed Devil Crab, Porcelain Doll Devil Crab, Red Apple Devil Crab, Gold Powder Devil Crab, and Electroplated Devil Crab.
These crabs typically come from tropical regions and therefore require high temperatures, necessitating the provision of heating pads and other equipment to meet their needs. Despite their temperature sensitivity, vampire crabs are generally relatively easy to feed.
5. Grayish-white hermit crab
Among the easiest pet crabs to keep, the grey hermit crab stands out, becoming one of the most popular varieties. Hermit crabs have already made a name for themselves in the United States, ranking alongside reptiles, and are becoming increasingly popular in China as well. The grey hermit crab is a highly sought-after variety in this field, with its small size and varied appearance, representing one of the most colorful hermit crab species.
This species is known for its lively and adventurous nature, enjoying climbing and molting. It is also interactive with its owner and exhibits relatively high intelligence. Therefore, keeping grey hermit crabs can be a great pleasure, especially for beginners. Hopefully, this information will help those interested in keeping pet hermit crabs to gain a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation of this lively and adorable species.
6. Armored Round-Shaped Crab
Armed rainbow crabs, also known as common rainbow crabs, are a popular species in the pet market. Adult individuals are sometimes nicknamed "soapbox crabs" by sellers due to their relatively aggressive behavior. To prevent cannibalism during transport, they are often sold in soapboxes. Besides being aggressive towards their own kind, armed rainbow crabs prey on a wide variety of creatures, including smaller crabs, small reptiles and amphibians, mollusks, fish, and insects. Their diet is incredibly diverse, encompassing almost anything. These crabs are also highly attractive due to their vibrant colors.
7. Purple Crab
Among ornamental crabs, the purple ground crab is a good choice. It is mainly distributed in the Philippines, Indonesia, various islands in the Indian Ocean, as well as Taiwan and the Xisha Islands in China. Purple ground crabs live in marine environments, typically inhabiting damp crevices on land. This type of crab is one of the most terrestrial species, capable of remaining out of water for extended periods, so water quality is not a major concern when keeping them.
Purple crabs have an appearance that closely resembles purple sweet potatoes, making them very beautiful and offering a unique visual experience. However, as seawater crabs, they require farmers to establish seawater tanks to provide them with a suitable living environment.
8. Mini Spider Crab
If you're unsure which freshwater crab to keep, I personally highly recommend the mini spider crab. This crab gets its name from its hairy body, long appendages, and small, rounded form, resembling a small spider. The mini spider crab has eight long legs and a melancholic-looking face, with two tiny claws at the ends of its front two legs that look like arrowheads. They are very small, with the largest individuals not exceeding 1 centimeter in size, and their coloration is similar to that of black shrimp.
Miniature spider crabs are relatively easy to keep in captivity and are very suitable for reef tanks. However, they are not cheap.
9. Tan's Mud Crab
The mud crab of Tansus, also known as the chili crab that has garnered much attention in recent years, is widely distributed in Japan, the east coast of Korea, and in Jiangsu, Shandong, the Bohai Bay, and the Liaodong Peninsula of mainland China. This crab primarily inhabits river estuaries and tidal flats, preferring to live in burrows. Due to its strong salt tolerance, it can survive in both brackish and fresh water, demonstrating considerable adaptability.
The Tank crab possesses self-awareness and can sever damaged legs, rapidly regenerating them through cell division, demonstrating an astonishing regenerative ability. However, it is crucial to remember that they should never be kept in deep water.
10. Chinese Imitation Crab
The red-clawed mantis crab, scientifically known as *Epithecus sinensis* , is a common species of ornamental crab. Its body color varies greatly, ranging from deep red to bright red, with some individuals exhibiting a darker greenish-red carapace. The claws gradually transition from red to white from the propodus to the tip, while the walking legs are typically orange, and the underside is white. These characteristics make it highly prized for its ornamental value.
Because red-clawed crabs are euryhaline, they can adapt to a wide range of salinity requirements and even adapt well to changes in salinity.
The list of the top ten easiest-to-keep ornamental crab species is based on a comprehensive review of online rankings and lists. These crabs each have their own unique characteristics and are suitable for aquarium enthusiasts. If you have any questions or further insights regarding this recommendation, please feel free to comment and correct us so that we can all share more accurate and comprehensive information.
