Panther crab
Parathelphusa pantherina
A spotted crab from Lake Matano on Sulawesi that needs warm, hard, alkaline water; aggressive and territorial, it may catch slow fish.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 19 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Sinking pellets, frozen shrimp, vegetables
- Origin
- Lake Matano, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Hardier than0%
- Bigger than59%
- Calmer than14%
Water: their range vs yours
Panther crab tank mates
- Assassin snailPanther crab eats snails: Assassin snail.Risky
- Bladder snailPanther crab (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- Malaysian trumpet snailPanther crab (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Malaysian trumpet snail.Risky
- Mystery snailPanther crab eats snails: Mystery snail.Risky
- Ramshorn snailPanther crab eats snails: Great ramshorn snail.Risky
- Colombian ramshornPanther crab eats snails: Colombian ramshorn.Risky
- Neon tetraPanther crab can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraPanther crab can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyPanther crab can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasPanther crab can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusPanther crab can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpPanther crab can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for panther crabs: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 10 cm (body)
- Adult mass
- 6.00 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 4.04 BU
- Min. water
- 60 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- bottom, land
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Fishkeeper: Panther crab
Care notes
Panther crabs come from Lake Matano and grow to about 4 inches. Males are extremely aggressive, even towards females, and the young hatch as tiny crabs.
Keep one at 79–86 °F and pH 7.8–8.5 in a 15-gallon tank with spots of land and a tight lid. It eats plants, though anubias and ferns may survive, and slow or bottom fish and shrimp are at risk.
Questions
What size tank does a panther crab need?
At least 19 gallons (60 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.9 inches without fins.
How many panther crabs should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do panther crabs need?
79–86 °F, pH 7.8–8.5 and 0–0 dGH. Panther crabs come from Lake Matano, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
How long do panther crabs live?
Not well documented with good care.