Porcelain crab

[Sarra]

What do people feed their porcelain crabs? Mine's not touching the shrimp pellets I feed, well, everything in my tank. Nor is it touching the betta bites (my goby loves them for some reason), so is there a specialized food I should get the little bugger?

 

[Grins]

It isn't touching them because they are filter feeders. They don't eat with their claws, see the little fans it swings out and towards it's mouth? It is filtering the water for food when it does that. If your tank is nutrient rich you won't need to feed anything. If you are feeding corals and such filter foods than the crab will eat that.

 

[Sarra]

Gotcha. That's what I though, but I read on the internet that they eat 'meaty bits'. I'll keep adding the filter feeder mix that I give my liverock and corals.

 

[Grins]

Here is my porcelain by the way. he is almost twice the size as he was when these were taken: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=23

 

[Sarra]

Wow, amazing pics. Thanks for the link. Mine looks almost the same, same color even. They had some darker ones at hte fish store (I special ordered 1 of these guys 3 months ago), but I liked the lighter color better. Plus, this one was healthier.

 

[Grins]

They will often get a darker purplish color as they mature.

 

[clown-lover]

I just saw mine in the tank a while back and he had almost doubled in size.. But mine has proven to be very ellusive to spying.. Even at night with the head mounted light...

 

[Grins]

Oh no doubt, they can be cryptic. I'm considering getting one or two more to see if it makes it feel more secure.

 

[Sarra]

I'm gonna get another one Monday if they still have them. In the next 2 days, I'll be installing my 'fuge tank on my main reef tank, so I'll have a little more space.