Thai Micro Crab Facts
The Thai Micro Crab is an incredibly small crab species that are not commonly seen in this hobby. It is a freshwater crab species that looks like a small spider and it will not get larger than 1/2 of an inch! Thai Micro Crabs are fully aquatic so they will not require any land area in their enclosure. Although they are not very commonly seen at Pet Stores, you can often find Thai Micro Crabs for sale at AquaticArts. This Micro Crab is not recommended for beginner aquarium keepers, because of their small size. If you’re looking for crabs that are larger and/or partially terrestrial, check out 9 Unique Terrestrial, Semi-Terrestrial, Brackish & Freshwater Crabs. This article will cover aquarium requirements, food and diet, tank mates, and more for the Thai Micro Crab.
Aquarium Requirements
Thai Micro Crabs are a much smaller species of crab, this makes them excellent for nano fish tanks. These crabs will do well in aquariums that are about 2 gallons or larger. Larger aquarium’s water parameters are likely to be more stable so I always recommend at least a little larger fish tank. Their enclosure should also be full of a variety of aquatic plants, and caves/rockwork for them to hide in.
Water parameters are important for aquatic animals, and it is no exception for this crab. The following are the recommended water parameters for the Thai Micro Crab:
- Temperature: 72°-82° F
- pH: 6.5 – 8.0
- KH: 6 – 15 dKH
This little crab should settle in its new home beautifully if the water parameters in the aquarium match what it needs. Keep in mind that many invertebrates are incredibly sensitive to fluctuations in water parameters such as the ones above, but also to nitrates, phosphates, and many others!
Food & Diet
For the most part, the Thai Micro Crab should be able to find food on its own. They will primarily filter feed using little hairs on their claws. However, like most crabs, they are opportunists and may try to make a meal out of some small invertebrates such as shrimp. They are too small to cause harm to most fish. If your aquarium is not completely mature, consider feeding this Micro Crab flake food or pellet food.
Tank Mates
The Thai Micro Crab is incredibly peaceful. It mostly keeps to itself and will not harm most inhabitants of the aquarium. It may take a chance at a small invertebrate, but most fish are safe around this crab. I would be more worried of certain fish trying to eat the Thai Micro Crab due to its incredibly small size. I would keep this crab with fish such as:
- Neon Tetra
- Ember Tetra
- Endler’s Live Bearers
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Other peaceful small mouthed fish
I would not house this crab with larger fish or fish that can fit the Micro Thai Crab into its mouth. Fish such as Angelfish, Rams, Kribensis, and larger may think this crab is food!
Breeding
After researching the topic, it seems that the Thai Micro Crab is incredibly hard to breed. If it breeds successfully, the offspring do not survive very long. If you have any success or more information on this topic, please consider sharing it!
Final Notes
The Thai Micro Crab is an excellent invertebrate to add to your freshwater fish tank if you have a proper setup. If you’re looking to add a crab to your aquarium, really consider this species. They will not bother fish or plants, and they are not destructive like crayfish. They can be hard to find for sale but with a little patience, one will pop up.
