Thai micro crab
Limnopilos naiyanetri
The smallest freshwater crab, with a shell under half an inch; fully aquatic and peaceful, it lives in floating plant roots alongside shrimp.
Key facts
- Body length
- 0.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 6 gallons
- Group
- 3+
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- 1.5+ years
- Diet
- Fine powdered foods, biofilm, suspended particles
- Origin
- Thailand
- Hardier than3%
- Bigger than0%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Thai micro crab tank mates
- Bladder snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Malaysian trumpet snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Mystery snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Ramshorn snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Colombian ramshornGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Rabbit snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailAssassin snail (predatory) will bully the peaceful Thai micro crab.Risky
- Great pond snailGreat pond snail needs cool water; Thai micro crabs need tropical heat.Risky
- Neon tetraThai micro crab should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraThai micro crab should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Fancy guppyThai micro crab should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Panda corydorasThai micro crab should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- OtocinclusThai micro crab should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpThai micro crab should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for Thai micro crabs: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 1 cm (carapace)
- Adult mass
- 0.01 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.01 BU
- Min. water
- 19 L net
- Group
- 3+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- filter feeder
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper, nitrate
Sources: Practical Fishkeeping: Thai micro crab · The Shrimp Farm: Thai micro crab care
Care notes
Thai micro crabs come from a single river in Thailand, where they hide among water hyacinth roots. They filter fine particles from the water with bristly legs and are active at night.
Up to ten fit a mature 5-gallon nano tank with long-rooted floating plants. They are best kept with shrimp or tiny peaceful fish, and are rarely bred in captivity.
Questions
What size tank does a thai micro crab need?
At least 6 gallons (19 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 0.4 inches without fins.
How many Thai micro crabs should be kept together?
Keep at least 3, ideally 6 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do Thai micro crabs need?
79–82 °F, pH 6.5–7 and 4–8.4 dGH. Thai micro crabs come from Thailand.
How long do Thai micro crabs live?
1.5+ years with good care.
What fish can live with Thai micro crabs?
Good tank mates include Bladder snail, Malaysian trumpet snail, Mystery snail, Ramshorn snail and Colombian ramshorn. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.