Panther crab
Parathelphusa pantherina
Submitted by GreenGo
Panther Crab, Parathelphusa pantherina
Synonyms: None known
Common Names: Leopard Crab
Category: Invertebrate
Family: Gecarcinucidae
Origin: Lake Matano, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Main Ecosystem: Shore/coast
Salinity: Freshwater
Temperament: shy
Diet: omnivore
Care: requires hiding places, iodine supplements (if not enough is in the diet), calcium supplements (again, proper diet can negate this), covered aquarium recommended but not required (see comment section)
pH: 7.5 to 8.5
Temperature: 76 to 82 degrees F (24 to 28 degrees C), though 80 to 82 degrees F (26 to 28 degrees C) is optimal
Hardness: KH: 5 to 8*** GH: 4 to 6
Potential size: 3 inches across carapace (not including legs)
Water Region: around Lake Matano under roots and logs on sand
Activity: nocturnal
Lifespan: 2 to 3 years
Color: body is orange with brown spots
Mouth: normal for a crab
Sexing: male has a thin flap on the underside (looks like a torpedo/skyscraper), female a larger flap (commonly a bit rounder than males)
Acclimation: I normally drip acclimate my crabs and other inverts (see source below for a detailed tutorial on how to drip acclimate organisms)
Breeding: Please see thread entitled “Panther Crab Breeding Project” under breeding
Comments: I’ve owned five of these crabs so far. Originally, two of them climbed out and I replaced them (hence the importance of a covered aquarium, though there was competition in the aquarium. Most organisms leave the aquarium because they're not comfortable with the water/the other inhabitants. I've kept other species of crabs in an aquarium without the lid and none left). Then, one got torn apart (a female, died trying to moult). Finally, one other one died from a failed moult, and the final one tried to find a warmer place to live after it got below freezing and I forgot to put a heater in the aquarium. Now I’m going to try again, but this time I will succeed in breeding them.
They are said to be fully aquatic, but I'd still recommend a place they can climb out of the water if desired. Out of the five I've had, I found two in the filter consistently [I think due to the first three all being males, not enough room for three territories, and the two in the filter being subordinates to the larger male that was consistently in the aquarium] and the last one, as I bought the two replacements, climbed into the hob filter overflow for some out-of-water time (I was in the process of buying the two and found out when I got home. I was extremely happy he didn't climb out)
Sources: (enter all sources below this line)
Descriptions and articles about Parathelphusa pantherina - Encyclopedia of Life (most everything else)
Water Parameter Lake Poso, Lake Matano, Lake Towuti (June 2011)) (Lake Matano water parameters, used to check pH, temp, and other water parameters)
1 Panther Crab (Parathelphusa pantherina) - 2 to 3 inch Juvenile - Fully Aquatic! | Freshwater Crabs (temp range, pH)
Panther Crab - Elite Inverts Store (life expectancy, KH, optimal temp)
Acclimation Procedure for Aquatic Life: Welcoming Home New Arrivals (drip acclimation)
*Photos are beneficial. Attach photos in this space. Photos of both the male and female are even better.
Note: In regard to photographs, photographs other than your own require permission of the owner to post in this forum. The use of copyrighted material is protected by law.
PS, I will post pics when I get mine for my breeding project. Until then, feel free to Google the common or scientific name, or even add your own pics, I know some of you keep them.
Hope this helps! Every crab, shrimp, or fish I breed will be accompanied with a new thread AND a profile for the organism. Have an awesome day!
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Aquarium Advice mobile app
Parathelphusa pantherina
Submitted by GreenGo
Panther Crab, Parathelphusa pantherina
Synonyms: None known
Common Names: Leopard Crab
Category: Invertebrate
Family: Gecarcinucidae
Origin: Lake Matano, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Main Ecosystem: Shore/coast
Salinity: Freshwater
Temperament: shy
Diet: omnivore
Care: requires hiding places, iodine supplements (if not enough is in the diet), calcium supplements (again, proper diet can negate this), covered aquarium recommended but not required (see comment section)
pH: 7.5 to 8.5
Temperature: 76 to 82 degrees F (24 to 28 degrees C), though 80 to 82 degrees F (26 to 28 degrees C) is optimal
Hardness: KH: 5 to 8*** GH: 4 to 6
Potential size: 3 inches across carapace (not including legs)
Water Region: around Lake Matano under roots and logs on sand
Activity: nocturnal
Lifespan: 2 to 3 years
Color: body is orange with brown spots
Mouth: normal for a crab
Sexing: male has a thin flap on the underside (looks like a torpedo/skyscraper), female a larger flap (commonly a bit rounder than males)
Acclimation: I normally drip acclimate my crabs and other inverts (see source below for a detailed tutorial on how to drip acclimate organisms)
Breeding: Please see thread entitled “Panther Crab Breeding Project” under breeding
Comments: I’ve owned five of these crabs so far. Originally, two of them climbed out and I replaced them (hence the importance of a covered aquarium, though there was competition in the aquarium. Most organisms leave the aquarium because they're not comfortable with the water/the other inhabitants. I've kept other species of crabs in an aquarium without the lid and none left). Then, one got torn apart (a female, died trying to moult). Finally, one other one died from a failed moult, and the final one tried to find a warmer place to live after it got below freezing and I forgot to put a heater in the aquarium. Now I’m going to try again, but this time I will succeed in breeding them.
They are said to be fully aquatic, but I'd still recommend a place they can climb out of the water if desired. Out of the five I've had, I found two in the filter consistently [I think due to the first three all being males, not enough room for three territories, and the two in the filter being subordinates to the larger male that was consistently in the aquarium] and the last one, as I bought the two replacements, climbed into the hob filter overflow for some out-of-water time (I was in the process of buying the two and found out when I got home. I was extremely happy he didn't climb out)
Sources: (enter all sources below this line)
Descriptions and articles about Parathelphusa pantherina - Encyclopedia of Life (most everything else)
Water Parameter Lake Poso, Lake Matano, Lake Towuti (June 2011)) (Lake Matano water parameters, used to check pH, temp, and other water parameters)
1 Panther Crab (Parathelphusa pantherina) - 2 to 3 inch Juvenile - Fully Aquatic! | Freshwater Crabs (temp range, pH)
Panther Crab - Elite Inverts Store (life expectancy, KH, optimal temp)
Acclimation Procedure for Aquatic Life: Welcoming Home New Arrivals (drip acclimation)
*Photos are beneficial. Attach photos in this space. Photos of both the male and female are even better.
Note: In regard to photographs, photographs other than your own require permission of the owner to post in this forum. The use of copyrighted material is protected by law.
PS, I will post pics when I get mine for my breeding project. Until then, feel free to Google the common or scientific name, or even add your own pics, I know some of you keep them.
Hope this helps! Every crab, shrimp, or fish I breed will be accompanied with a new thread AND a profile for the organism. Have an awesome day!
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Aquarium Advice mobile app
