Porcelain Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes Maculatus)

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : White, Red

Diet : Carnivore, Filter Feeder

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025

Max. Size : 1"

Origin :  Indo-West Pacific

Family : Porcellanidae

Supplements : Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements

Porcelain Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes Maculatus) is a species of porcelain crab from the Indo-Pacific region. This Porcelain Crab is usually found within the stinging tentacles of a number of sea anemone species. The Porcelain Crab gets its name from the fact that it will commonly shed limbs in order to escape predators. This should not, however, be confused with fragility as the limb will regrow. 

Neopetrolisthes Maculatus is a porcelain crab species from the northwestern Pacific. A small, colorful crustacean, this porcelain crab has an exoskeleton that looks like porcelain. The carapace is covered in red spots and blotches, while the underside of the animal has fine, evenly spaced red dots. Male crabs have triangular shaped plates in its shell, while female crabs have rounded plates. Their two claws are huge, more than half the mass of the whole crab; and both claws are of the same size. Below the eyes of the porcelain crab are two maxillipeds that have long hairs that form nets for trapping plankton. In calm water, they will wave their maxillipeds back and forth. But when there is a current flowing, they will be content to hold the nets against the current. 

The Porcelain Crab usually coexists with sea anemones and does not suffer from the host's stinging tentacles. They are so calm and docile that the anemone does not sting them. They share a symbiotic bond. The crab cleans the anemone by feeding on organic matter that is stuck between tentacles and the crab naturally deters shrimp away from anemones and serves as self-defense for their tentacled home. Will sit with anemone for protection, but anemone is not required to keep them.

Porcelain Anemone Crabs are omnivorous species that feed off by filtering feeders and planktons out of water. They also eat mucus excreted by anemones which provides a natural diet, and clean up debris from within its tentacles.

Size: 1/2" to 1"